Ok, before I start, understand I am getting very bored of writing match reports after we lose… It’s difficult to bring variety to the same issues… but that wont stop me trying.
Here goes.
I watched this documentary about killer elephants in Africa. The local elephants were killing the wildlife indiscriminately and attacking farmers cattle. Researchers went out to Kenya to find out what was going on… when they arrived they set up cameras to try and find out what was going on…what they saw was pretty shocking… they caught a young elephant trying to make love to a hippo… the hippo didn’t fancy it… so the elephant mauled it to death.
After researching the problem the scientists found out that the reason the elephants were misbehaving. The nature reserve the elephants were housed in had imported 20 young elephants to kick start their preservation project… but because the elephants were so young, they didn’t know how to behave… so they started acting up, much in the same way naughty school boys do when left to their own devices. The problem was solved by importing 4 older elephants from other nature reserves who guided the young elephants to maturity thus preventing any more misbehaviour.
Now there is a story, eh? I wonder if a couple of mature signing in January could work the same magic? Maybe it would stop Randall dry humping the ball bag… or teach Diaby to high five with his team mates when he is subbed… or give Nik B the wake up call he so throughly needs on the pitch…
Forget all those points… this team needs an injection of confidence.
The team don’t run for each other, they don’t trust each other and they don’t believe in themselves. We have a clueless bunch of above average kids… and that is why we can turnover good teams every now and then, but we struggle against poor teams. I wont give player ratings, why bother… it was pretty dire out there.
Tonight was an exercise in humiliation, and maybe a few of the maturer elephants in the team could have prevented such an event.
The kids weren’t great tonight… Rambo was off key, Vela ran around like a headless chicken, Bendtner ran around like a headless chicken after it has stopped… and some of the more mature players were terrible.
First up.
Nik B (The shame of it is at 21 he is one of the old guard).
Who said blogs don’t have an effect? I had a real issue with the pink boots… I voiced my displeasure… Nik converted to green! Brilliant. Shame his perfomance didn’t perk up… he was woeful tonight… he looked lethargic and uninterested.
I know what he needs… he needs to find the waterboy rage. In the film ‘the water boy’… Bobby Bouche finds his intensity and drive by thinking about all the people that have been mean to him…
Maybe Arsene should try this method…
‘Nik, think of all the mean comments left on Le Grove and other such blog sites… and use them as your goal scoring fuel!’
Second up, Eboue.
Tonight was his chance to redeem himself in his favoured position of right back. Well, if Eboue did anything tonight he proved a point… the point being that he is not a good right back… he is a bad player and I for one hope he carries out his threat of leaving in the summer… it would be about as traumatic as the day I found out Senderos was off to Milan.
Thirdly…Almunia.
For me he has been on a downward spiral this season. How many times do Arsenal have to succumb to simple set pieces? A corner is as dangerous as a freekick 20 yards out… no one has a clue what they are doing. When a ball finishes up in the middle of the box, 7 yards out…unchallenged, there is something wrong. Almunia should have been there to claim the cross with a big shout… if it was clear that he had bottled it… Diaby should have been there. It’s just not good enough from a goal keeping perspective and piss poor from a defensive point of view.
Surely it is about time we started calling a spade a spade. Eboue is poor, Senderos is poor, Song is poor… lets give up the game of saying ‘they’ll come good’. They wont guys… fans know a thing or two about football and if 90% of fans are saying those players wont make it… they are probably right.
Arsene Wenger reckons great wages don’t stop players making mistakes… fair point. Pay me £400,000 a week and I probably couldn’t run a nuclear power plant… but that is not the issue. Our issue is we have the 2nd highest wage bill in the country… the youngest team… and we’re the 4th best team in the Prem.
Logic says to me that something is wrong with those stats, just like there would be something wrong if I was being paid stupid money to run a power plant.
Game of Association: Which player did you think of when you saw this pic?
There is nothing admirable in backing averageness. If anything, this behaviour we’ve resorted to just highlights our desperation…We know the first team wont win anything this year… so we cry out for the youth team to be given a go… now it is apparent they are no better (well, at the moment)… we are stuck. Our only hope is a few bodies in January…
A lot of the talk this week has been aimed at showing Eboue a little more respect. Well, respect is a two way street and I think Arsene should be made aware of that.
Fielding a weakened team away in Europe when fans have paid good money; during a recession, isn’t showing respect. I also question what good throwing a game does on the back of 3 wins? How are the kids going to feel now… what effect will the loss have on the mood around the club?
We fielded a poor team and we paid the price… keep them crossed, because last time we threw a game unnecessarily it was United in the FA Cup… and we all know what happened after that…
See you in the comments section!
December 11, 2008 at 09:11
that’s along one
December 11, 2008 at 09:11
I’l read it when i get to work!
December 11, 2008 at 09:13
3rd
December 11, 2008 at 09:13
4th
December 11, 2008 at 09:15
Thats a fun post
I hope Nik goes, Eboue goes and both followed by Song
Fabianski needs time in goal, the game, the result just so sad !!
December 11, 2008 at 09:16
Sorry – Morning All
December 11, 2008 at 09:18
top 10 mofo!
December 11, 2008 at 09:21
morning all!
December 11, 2008 at 09:22
I was looking forward all day to watching the game, the slick passing, sublime football. What did I get poor quality rubbish.
Soon attendances will be affected at the Emirates and there will be no way AW will be able to explain his way out of that.
WE NEED TO BUY EXPERIENCE.
December 11, 2008 at 09:23
mornign all
another night of pure shit from the once great arsenal!!
this season is painful, i bet we have the most games where we dont score this year than ever before… i remember when people were shocked if we didnt score… now its becoming the norm
December 11, 2008 at 09:23
Morning all!
That was a blinding post to read Pedro.
One of the best I’ve read in ages. I salute you!!!!!
At least the above elephant that Pedro described showed some desire. To kill a hippo can’t be easy!
I’d kill for some of that!
December 11, 2008 at 09:24
Trying to fuck a hippo when your luck is out… we’ve all been there…!
December 11, 2008 at 09:25
Pedro – you been trying to shag Hippo’s – shame on you
December 11, 2008 at 09:26
after the goat.. its a hippo now
December 11, 2008 at 09:26
I agree we were rubbish but I would except Djourou and Denilson from blame. Denilson was everywhere but at times he seemed to be playing alone
December 11, 2008 at 09:26
14th????
Morning grovers!
December 11, 2008 at 09:27
I usually just read the comments on this site but I have to write something today.
I am totally fed up with Arsene’s comments, I don’t say he should go but we as fans deserve a little more respect.
Telling us we should be privilaged to watch this team and we need to support them is gettin on my nerves considering we have been hearing the same post match garbage for 3 years now. It’s seems his players are now losing faith judging by there performances recently.
December 11, 2008 at 09:29
big J… i agree denilson looked good last night, he tried to take charge, song was did his usual invisible man impression though
December 11, 2008 at 09:30
I don’t agree with the bit about resting players. We have Boro away at 1245 on Saturday, and I’d much rather Cesc clichy Rvp ade toure etc are fresh for that rather than travelling all the wayto Portugal to play in an effectively meaningless match. I’m actually glad we have come 2nd- maybe now we will get barca or bayern and actually remember how to play well again!
Eboue was useless tonight. Slow and painful to watch. Not the worst defender on the pitch tho- silvestre was utterly abysmal and I hope to Christ clichy doesn’t get injured.
December 11, 2008 at 09:30
Djourou was our plus point last night.
We desperately need experienced and world class players for the youngsters with real potential to fulfill that potential.
January cant come soon enough…..
WRIGHTY! how u doing sir??
December 11, 2008 at 09:30
The whole team bar Ramsey and Wilshere should be ashamed.
It was like watching a pre-season friendly.
I don’t wanna dig anyone out because the except for the two mentioned the rest were shit.
BUT……………
Niklas Bendtner. Oh man. Oh oh oh oh man.
I (along with others) have defended him so much. He really seems disinterested at the moment.
He thinks he’s made it. Thats not true. Its just the beginnig for him and if he doesn’t begin to put in the hard work then he will end up at Birmingham again……..
December 11, 2008 at 09:31
femster…
mental strength, sharpness, playing with the hand-brake on (whatever the fuck that means), team spirit, young team, potential, outstanding quality, unlucky
that is wengers post match vocab these days
December 11, 2008 at 09:31
Surely last night was the final straw for a lot of players.
How can the young players improve if there’s no-one to learn from…..Wilshere cant learn from Ramsey….who cant learn from Song….who cant learn from Denilson…..who cant learn from Diaby…..who cant learn from Bischoff….who cant learn from Walcott…..who cant learn from Bendtner ETC ETC…
Almunia told it like it was last night, as did David Platt, Wenger just glossed over it all as usual.
At the end of last season i thought we needed 2-3 top class players to be champions, after we virtually put the club up for sale i thought we needed 5 top class players, right now i dont see how we can compete with UTD without 7-8 players, and we all know we will at best sign 2-3 between now and this time next season.
I think Diaby’s defending for the first goal puts to bed the idea that he can play alongside Cesc in a more defensive role. For me Eboue, Silvestre, Song, Diaby & Bendtner should have no future at the club…..unfortunately theyre going nowhere.
December 11, 2008 at 09:31
oh and ‘belief’
December 11, 2008 at 09:32
Wrighty, you fountain of goonerish knowledge…
who could we potentially face in the CL now???
December 11, 2008 at 09:32
I’m good thank you Micheal P.
How are you doing? How is the sore subject of “quitting” going matey?
December 11, 2008 at 09:33
Pedro, i remember this documentary. Although i think we could use a killer elephant or 2 in out team right now….our team is full of overpaid Meercats!
December 11, 2008 at 09:33
arsene tanked that game. he felt we have a better chance of beating panathinaikos, bayern, roma or juve than there was of us beating (or drawing) inter, chelsea, lyon, real or atletico. i may be wrong but if his gambit pays off, and we build in january (and we better fucking build), we could be in a good position come the quarter, and semi-finals.
that said though, it could still back-fire. if we were to draw man utd or liverpool, i would be feeling pretty shit about it all, although liverpool may be alright. they are over-rated. barca are the top team in the comp though and if we draw them then we are fucked!
hopefully we get a good draw though and the AKB’s get something to yell about, lol. just gimme some signings and a few more points and i’ll be content though. =D
December 11, 2008 at 09:34
Last night our mature elephants played with all the deftness of err……elephants. Top post Pedro
December 11, 2008 at 09:35
great name mr bartram
December 11, 2008 at 09:35
I think we could face Roma, Panathanaikos, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Juventus.
My moneys on Barca!
But I don’t care who we face because we fear no-one!! Says Wenger!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 09:37
i hope to fuck we get pana, barca will be an embarrassment
December 11, 2008 at 09:37
M.silvestere is the reason we keep getting fucked up and I ‘m so amazed U gunners didn’t say a Shit about him..!!!
Look at him, Slow, shakky big head+ass, never good in 1 and 1 situation and can’t read the game very well. He’s so Careless and doesn’t really have Tha Arsenal Blood 2 play 4 us.
Arsene wenger should do some thing about him cauz as long as he plays we just gunner keep loosing. he (silvestere) should be Fuckking Released man
December 11, 2008 at 09:38
Wrighty…spot on.
Ramsey, Wilshere, and i would include Djourou…..were the only players who deserve any credit and to be any part of this club.
To be fair, Denilson played well also, so I would actually say he deserves a chance too.
But the rest should take a good hard look at themselves and get their fucking act together.
And Benbtner….like some others on here, i always felt he would come good.,..i am now not so sure of NikB having the quality to be an Arsenal player…not even as a sub….
Last night was a very bad night….
December 11, 2008 at 09:38
Don’t laugh at me……………
Despite last nights pile of poop I STILL think Arsenal will win the Champions League. I really do.
Its just a gut feeling……….
December 11, 2008 at 09:39
wrighty, im with you on winning the CL.
I said it fromt the beginning of the season.
Then again, I also was confident that we would win the CC!!!
December 11, 2008 at 09:40
Wrighty – you have indeed supported Nik, you bad man, I however have not – and Im just a girl !!
December 11, 2008 at 09:40
frrom uefa.com:
Draw conditions
* Teams from the same association cannot be drawn against each other.
* The winners and runners-up of the same group cannot be drawn against each other.
* Group winners cannot be drawn against each other.
* Group runners-up cannot be drawn against each other.
* All group runners-up will play their first-leg matches at home.
seems we can’t draw man u or liverpool. leaving AS Roma, Panathinaikos FC, Barcelona and Bayern München. 1/4 should be a win but gilberto will want to prove a point, 2/4 are decent and a fair game (ribery will be tough though), and 1/4 is a tough bet (bloody barca). hope it works arsene.
December 11, 2008 at 09:40
Morning all, I only had the radio commentary for last night’s pitiful performance and the overall impression I got was no one was any good, with the exception of maybe Denilson in the second half and LJW for his cameo. Poor ball retention and lack of belief(and quality obviously)meant we were toothless in the attacking third. It seemed Diaby was very rusty and invited trouble in front of the back four and Bendtner had yet another piss poor performance.
Pedro – I was so sure the headline for the post was going to be along the lines of “Wenger – do you feel guilty now?” It’s a slightly risky title you’ve used – you might get the PC police out if they think you’re referring to the Passmaster only.
Still I like the David Attenborough slant to your post. Should the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs be read in hushed tones ?
Trying to look on the upside maybe this will drive home, to Wenger, the fact we are woefully short on quality AND numbers; January 2009 will define Wenger’s legacy I believe.
December 11, 2008 at 09:40
Could it be a blessing in disguise that we finished second?
Now we miss out on being drawn against Inter, Real, Lyon, Villareal, Athletico or Sporting.
Of the teams that came top, only Barcelona and Bayern look tough. Roma, Pana and Juve are all more than beatable.
It all depends which Arsenal turns up.
December 11, 2008 at 09:40
hi grovers
December 11, 2008 at 09:41
juve too, opps.
December 11, 2008 at 09:42
Wrighty…i am a non-smoker and have managed to stay that way since tuesday night.
The fact that I didnt spark up last night is massive!!!
If i can resist sparking up after the stressful game last night…i will be fine! (fingers crossed)
December 11, 2008 at 09:43
Yo Pedro,
That was a certain breath of fresh air ,yet also educating the vulgar crowd!
Thumbs up pal!
December 11, 2008 at 09:43
bayern even were made to look average by fiorentina (who ended up in the uefa cup) in the 2nd game they played. i wouldn’t bank on them having a shit game though with ribery on song as he is. oh well.
December 11, 2008 at 09:43
Now there is a story, eh? I wonder if a couple of mature signing in January could work the same magic?
you mean stop our young players from trying to root hippo’s ?
sure ill go along with that !
December 11, 2008 at 09:44
There is no need to rub my face in it Rico!
December 11, 2008 at 09:45
Well done Micheal P!
Keep it up mate!
As for the Champions League, I can see it now.
December 11, 2008 at 09:45
Wrighty
December 11, 2008 at 09:45
With Ribery on Song? That image doesn’t even bear thinking about James. Poor old Alexandre.
December 11, 2008 at 09:45
We’ve qualified for the next round. What have we learned from this experience?
Questions were raised as to which players are passengers rather than match winners. There were quite a few on display, that motley crew together would struggle against a championship team.
Wenger commented that it’s more important to chase the title than to beat Porto, but the fact that we have little if any strength in depth just goes to show, it was no coincidence that we’ve lost so many league games this season.
We’ve got to let it go, however we were totally outplayed in the second half. Not being scared of anyone is a good mentality to have, but you have to have the right not to be scared, it’s like a dog barking at a moving car, the dog is too stupid to be scared and understand that should it collide with the car, it would never be able to bark again. We were far from equal to Porto last night, they played better and could have won by an even greater margin.
This loss, the Carling cup loss against Burnley and all other league losses when we were favourites to win can be attributed to inexperience, faith that one day these players will be swans (when?) and must prompt Arsene Wenger to strengthen the team, this is our seventh loss of the season, it’s never been this bad under Arsene Wenger. Don’t bark at moving cars, they won’t be scared!
December 11, 2008 at 09:46
Funny thing is this downward turn really started with the F.A. cup match that he threw against UTD and he didnt even seem to care that day, since then some of the players have lost their minds…i wonder who is running the ship at the moment?
I was watching from club level on Sat and saw some amazing scene’s as Arsene was telling Eboue to get back and defend and Eboue head was so lost he was not even listening to ‘le boss’ for 3 mins this went on until Wenger just sat down and the Pat Rice took over shouting at Eboue and then even turned to Arsene and told him to get Eboue off and Arsene just sat there looking. ODD!
December 11, 2008 at 09:46
My mind is made up.
Eboue, Song and NikB.
Please pack your bags and leave…..NOW!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 09:49
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AT THE CLUB ??
MONEY OR NO MONEY FOR TRANSFERS ?( I mean real money, not having to sell before buying)
IS WENGER ACTUALLY TOWING THE PARTY LINE?
OR HAS WENGER BECOME BIGGER THAN THE CLUB & WAS THE EXPERIMENT HIS & HIS ALONE IRRESPECTIVE OF MONEY AVAILABLE ?
Either way NONE of us know what the fuck is going on no matter that many have conflicting views on where we are now.
Either way the squad is a total unbalanced mess.
December 11, 2008 at 09:50
Finest…how are you sir?
The one positive from the game was that i resisted the MASSIVE urge to spark up…. and im not talking about a cigarette either!!!
I never thought about it like that, but you’re right, that the downturn did start from that game at manure….
im praying for a miracle in january….and that the ghost of Xmas present visits AW this year!!!
SPEND ARSENE. YOU HAVE TO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 09:50
Mik Silvestere should Released and Punched in the Head…I just hate this Fuckker . I think I can play better than him.
December 11, 2008 at 09:53
that was so bad I am almost wordless (but not quite)
Silvestre, Eboue, Song, Bendtner – these players are so poor they should be despatched asap. Wneger won’t do this and so you have to question the great man and whether he is still up for the job.
Gallas, Diaby – both so talented but highly unlikely to produce consistent performances under wenger
Almunia – quite good keeper but falls short of Arsenal greatness
Djourou, Denilson – still need to mature. Denilson arguably best player on pitch but still not always convincing and absolutely not the player to replace Flamini. Playing alongside Song is a tall order for anyone. Would like to see him as stand in for Cesc alongside top drawer DM (recal ladt year when he played alonside Diarra)
Ramsey, Vela – at least you can forgive their inexperience and feel comfortable both will be great players of the future. flashes of brilliance laced with naivity last night.
Wenger- I feel so torn as he has done so much for Arsenal (Beties Mee was in charge when I started following) but he just seems to have lost the plot. Is it really the case that we have to persist with such poor stand ins because we can’t or won’t spend money? Good housekeeping is admirable and necessary from long term but we if we persist with sub standard players we will lose money anyway. Let’s hope that Gazidis’ arrival in January sparks a new era
December 11, 2008 at 09:54
BENDTNER a second Div player.Eboue a second Class player,Diaby a Reserve player,Almunia a Reserve player,Rambo should be fine First class,Wilshere a very good player but luck physique,Vela should be ok.Agree Pedro?
December 11, 2008 at 09:54
First of all I would like to congratulate this blog – one of the few I read everyday in the morning and then check in in the afternoon to read the comments. I have not really had the time to comment consistantly because I think my whole workday would go into that — Ohh, only to have a trust fund…..
I have noticed that this blog always predicts us as winners. We will always win each and every day. I used to be like that….. sadly the team this year has got me feeling that we are more lucky when we win this year. One can say that winning Chelsea and Man U was down to spirit and a little bit of luck. Then there are games like Wigan last weekend where I found that we were actually not that bad. I thought that the team got a harsh reaction after that game – ok, we only won 1-0 but we had two shots that hit the post — if they had gone in —- would we have celebrated great football?
I don´t like it when my ,,friends” let me down – I was a great fan of Nik in the beginning of the season – I would have taken him over Ade every single day — now I feel that everytime he is on the pitch we will lose. I think that Nik is our best TnT player… and I do not mean that he is such a dynamite player — The TnT stands for ,,Touch and Tackle” I feel that every time he touches the ball he has to tackle to win it back and rarely makes the effort to even try…..
So many players have been called out this season – - – Song: what a worthless waste of space — Denilson – I think he never makes the right moves — and how can we rely on a team the fast-breaks as terrible as we do…. we seem to start the fast break and then send it back to midfield…. just to start over.
This is making me depressed – Maybe just maybe Wenger will realize that he needs additions in Jan — That means we might buy one player. I am started to be worried every single weekend — Will we win Boro on Saturday??? I´m not really sure. I feel that this team only achieves greatness against the big three only there we find the spirit.
I wonder – what happens in the end of the season – we will finish fourth – and that will mean that Wenger stays. But who else? FAB to go? I don´t really think so — but I am afraid of players like Diaby, Vela, Ramsey and even Van Persie will like to take their challenge somewhere else.
Wenger —- you have a good team there —- play the decent players, you seem to be holding on like a man that buys stocks that are constantly loosing but you never look at other stocks that seem to be rising… You sell the players that have been proven — your stubborness is terrifying and what will happen to Vela when Dudu comes in? Arsne – play the right players — please —- make us proud —-
December 11, 2008 at 09:54
Excellent point about R-E-S-P-E-C-T. If we the fans are being taken for a ride here, we should make it very clear that we wont stand up to this. My heart goes out to those fans that went through all that trouble to travel to Portugal to watch this shitty display by players getting paid more in a week then some fans get paid in a year. That to me is lack of respect and IS NOT FAIR for the fan. We need to redress this and in my opinion we could achieve this by a. a policy of boycotting Arsenal goods so it hurts them in their pockets b. refusing to pay the extortinate tickets prices (more for everyone except STH) c. prehaps take a leaf out of other supporters books and protesting e.g. outisde the Emirates, turning backs to play like some Italian fans, or the silent treatment. Wrong or right, the booing of Ebooue on Saturday GOT THE MESSAGE accross to Mr Wenger.
December 11, 2008 at 09:58
Literally, the only way to justify the team selection of yesterday is to SMASH boro on saturday and get Pana in the CL draw!!!!
What are the odds???
December 11, 2008 at 09:58
I think we should give Silvestere Money just 2 make him leave and never play again 4 us ..Why on earth did Le Boss signed him..!!
December 11, 2008 at 10:00
Porto…….. we wouldn’t have beaten Port Vale with that performance last night.
Diaby had what is now officially known as ‘having an Eboue’, so that substitution made sense, bur taking off Ramsay??? Yet another bizzare change from our manager.
As for Bendtner, I hope he never plays for The Arsenal again.
December 11, 2008 at 10:01
Last night we were spineless.
there were poor performances all over the pitch
Only JD20, and Ramsey played well. Wilshire did OK, but he was not on for long.
Silvestre, is now probably Wenger’s worst signing. I thought he would be good but he was CRAP.
I hope he took off Ramsey as he is going to play on Saturday.
December 11, 2008 at 10:04
How many times did we pass the ball into the corner —- and there was no one there?
How many times did St. Nik lose the ball —- or make a bad pass and therefore stop the offence?
How many more times must we see Song on the pitch?
December 11, 2008 at 10:05
its astounding that Ramsey (the best player on the pitch yesterday) was substituted by Arsene Wenger …WHY!?…it beats me.
One thing is for sure…
1. Messi came good at a young age
2. Ronaldo came go at a young age….(an i feel he would not have been that good had he come to Arsenal….)
3. Almost no-one in the current team is capable of winning a game all by himself…(something that a Big Team needs to survive)
Also I have always said that it would be good for the supporters to at least boycott one home game…that way the message would be sent to the board that Fans and Supporters deserve respect and deserve that their team is actually challenging for and winning trophies…It seems that the board and Arsene are just content with fans paying money for the team to barely get into the CL every season…hence the board is happy as long as the club keeps making money.
Don’t let us deceive ourselves, this Arsenal team is not good enough to win any cup this season….and any other infact….we’ll be lucky to win the FA CUP.
The annoying thing is that at the end of the day, players are getting more expensive hence Wenger would actually end up spending more to get quality Wenger would only be forced to get better quality players than the ones he already has.
Thus the whole project of having to build players has already being destroyed by the fact time, money and reputation of the club has being wasted trying to develop players when at the end of the day…they have not turned out good enough to win anything for the club.
Whether we like it or not….this team is just a bunch of above average players…it says a lot that even the best player in the team (Fabregas) would not be guaranteed a place in either the Man Utd team or the Barcelona team….yet we expect the team to win trophies.
Am sorry but it really seems that Wenger has stagnated just like he stagnated at AS Monaco….the earlier we realise this the better for the club.
December 11, 2008 at 10:07
The likes of Vela, Rambo & Wilshere should get their chance alonside Cesc, Sagna, Clichy, RVP & Adebayor. What’s the point in playing them with Song, Eboue, Silvestre & Bendtner. It’s not fair on them.
December 11, 2008 at 10:08
Ramsey, Wilshere, Vela, Djourou and Denilson are the only players who should remain with us after yesterday. And Gallas – although his performance was poor last night.
The rest…..leave right now.
December 11, 2008 at 10:09
Smoking is healthier than fascism Michael P, if you smoke remember you are doing it because you want to, if you want to stop you will.
My question is, we are defnittely going to have players suspended/injured over the course of the season, and when that happens, who are we supposed to rely on?
The whole team didn’t play well last night, and the fact that Eboue and Song are supposed to be first team Arsenal players is mind boggling.
December 11, 2008 at 10:10
My followership of Arsenal is fairly recent. I actually started following Arsenal when Kanu joined Arsenal as is the case with most Nigerian Gunners.
I think at the moment the fans and the club have different goals. We the fans want trophies, the club doesnt care about trophies just keeping the business afloat the credit imploding world we are living in and while i laud the focus, there shud be a balance. Its pretty obvious that we need to change our spending patterns to hve a hope in hell of winning any trophy ever again..yes ever again..it hurts that the club i love has adopted a stance that makes it impossible to win..but i’ll keep loving her.
December 11, 2008 at 10:10
Morning all, boy have we seen all this before eh, I don’t really know what Wenger looks at when he sees this team play, I counted one shot and he took that player off.
I would like to see a few of our players sent to replace the hippos, great read Pedro!
December 11, 2008 at 10:10
Should we be looking forward to January, or should we be scared at the thought or what or what may not turn up.
Be sure our rivals outside the top 4 will be buying.
December 11, 2008 at 10:11
We already have Nelly Sylvestre
December 11, 2008 at 10:11
Like it or not but the majority of our supporters are fair weather fans, and if Wenger continues his policy of fielding weakened teams the fair weather fans will stop buying tickets.
Yes arsenal have the record for largest season ticket waiting list, or club membership but at the end of the day fans will chose which games to go to and they will avoid games where Wenger dis-respects supporters by fielding a team to lose or draw.
December 11, 2008 at 10:12
Well for a lighter note…..
How amazing will the crowd reaction be when Eduardo comes in on the 75 min during the Liverpool game?
What a christmas present that will be.
December 11, 2008 at 10:13
Whats worrying me is that we don’t even look like scoring goals at the moment.
Positives last night were Wilshire and Denilson (who i think has come on a level this season) and after getting nutegged in his first 5 seconds on the pitch i thought Randall put himself about quite well. Vela also worked hard but in the wrong areas of the pitch.
The rest were very poor.
There is a hunger missing for sure. The likes of Song, Gibbs, Nik B, Diaby should be seeing this sort of game as a chance to stake a claim. Instead the Wenger approach of this game deosn’t matter seems to be catching on.
December 11, 2008 at 10:14
Sorry I missed out Ramsey as a positive. He worked hard but Nik didn’t help by disappearing behind defenders instead of showing for the ball all night.
December 11, 2008 at 10:14
Terrific analogy this morning Pedro – that was spot on.
December 11, 2008 at 10:17
i honestly would put half of our squad for sale, honestly…..
we need to change a lot of things…..
bendtner, song, eboue, silvestre, diaby, almunia, kolo toure, gallas
have to go…….
i seriously think we should bid for Alex from chelsea, he is good and good run of games he will be great
December 11, 2008 at 10:19
the result isnt that big of a problem last night… there are teams in both sets (1st & 2nd place qualifies) that would cause us problems… its another shit emotionless gutless, enthusiasmless performance
December 11, 2008 at 10:21
Almunia’s comments last night were appalling.
We did not give 100%
Top of the class Manuel.
He did not know what to say, he was poor, he was Captain, there was no communication throughout the game.
The best defender was the youngest defender – Djourou.
The best midfielder was the youngest midfielder Ramsey.
Someone made a great point, saying the young players should be playing with Adebayor, Fabregas, Clichy and Sagna.
I felt sorry for Merida and Simpson. I thought they might have started, or played a part in the game.
Whilst Diaby was at fault for the 1st goal, he had to be subbed, as he has just come back from injury.
Ramsey and Cesc, in the middle, and we will look like a new team. Wenger got his team tactics wrong in the 1st half. OK, fair enough. But normally he corrects things at half time. We actually played worse.
December 11, 2008 at 10:22
Arse&Nose… I don’t think the fans are fair weather… if they were all flush with cash still, there would be no problem shifting tickets…
The problem is fans have no money… and spending £50 to watch dross is no longer viable in most peoples minds. Why waste £50 to watch your team lose when that money could go towards the mortgage of the kids christmas presents.
If we were challenging on all fronts… I think the fans would go that extra mile… but like you say, disrespecting the fans when they don’t have much money is a bit out of order.
December 11, 2008 at 10:23
Alex from Chelsea, on the surface looks good, but I think with Silvestre we should learn, if one of our rivals dont rate a player, he wont be good enough for us either.
December 11, 2008 at 10:23
Morning all……
December 11, 2008 at 10:23
Your point about it not mattering all that much is spot on QoS, it is infectious, if
after the loss an excuse such as balancing priorities can be offered, it means it didn’t mean that much to Wenger or the team. It’s true, priorities must be balanced, but, if you’re playing with a second string team they must all be in contention for the first team. There was no evidence of competition for places last night, players know they’ll get more chances if they perform badly. If the first teamdrop form, who is ready to step into their shoes?
December 11, 2008 at 10:23
i can’t believe how everyone is turning against Bendtner after a few poor performances, it wasn’t too long ago we were discussing how is the future of the team. come on boys and girls, lighten up!
December 11, 2008 at 10:23
QoS – Still think we are only 2 players short???
December 11, 2008 at 10:24
it was the true youngsters that played well. Wilshere, Ramsey, Gibbs, and Vela. I thought all did themselves justice. Vela and Ramsey were both out of position but did not hide and did not misplace 5 yard passes all night like their older team-mates.
Bendtner was so poor. that was his worst game in an Arsenal shirt. he may have the talent but if he hasn’t got the heart then sorry, he’s not good enough for Arsenal. cant wait for Eduardo to come back and give us an option.
Gallas wants out. thats is very clear. when the ball came to him, instead of passing it to another player he was hoofing it out for a throw. he couldn;t be bothered to think about a pass, very lazy indeed.
Diaby was poor, but it was his first game back and he can be better than that. Denilson was everywhere BUT he lacks quality. I want my defensive mid to be everywhere and my attacking mid to show some quality. Den showed zero quality. he has no vision.
Silvestre is mega slow. Djourou was OK. Almunia was average at best and Fabi would have come for that corner.
December 11, 2008 at 10:24
anyone think that after this year we still deserve to be mentioned as ‘title contenders’??
December 11, 2008 at 10:24
v disappointing night
sylvestre was shocking at LB
shocking, he seems to look so poor in games where you look to him as one of our experienced heads
December 11, 2008 at 10:24
timao – it’s about his effort levels…..
December 11, 2008 at 10:25
I agree Pedro, 50 pounds for 90 minutes of entertainment is very expensive.
December 11, 2008 at 10:26
but i rate Alex, i seen him play for psv against and he was brillant, he can bring that form if he has good run of games and well there is not many defenders around
December 11, 2008 at 10:26
i don’t believe for a second that any of them out there give less than maximum effort… that would really surprise me
December 11, 2008 at 10:27
There is no way on earth you can say Bentner gave maximum effort last night….
December 11, 2008 at 10:27
Timao… a few bad performances?
I am his biggest fan… and I am starting to look like an ass for sticking up for him all the time!
He has shown very little this season…
Mind you… he doesn’t have the best support does he? Well… bar the Burnley game…
December 11, 2008 at 10:28
Finest… it’s all the other costs that go with it… especially if you have kids.
Food, train ticket, program… drinks. It’s easily £75-£100 a game…
I feel bad for the away fans… I wonder how many Euros they shelled out for last night?
December 11, 2008 at 10:28
What struck me last night was the lack of speed and mobility. They used to be our trademarks. Now players dont know how to move and find space and they certainly don’t know how to move the ball quickly to turn defence into attack.
Denilson and Song were like Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee in the first half. They were so close they were getting in each other’s way and denying the other one space to operate. We looked like a collection of 11 players not a team. What worried me was the midfield only had Fabregas missing and it looked totally out of its depth against a fairly average Porto side.
December 11, 2008 at 10:29
I like watching the kids and the class players like Cesc, Sagna and clichy, its all the dross in between that I cant stomach.
Mind you Randall is crap. cant see what wenger sees in him. if he goes to lets say a championship team, he will not even get in their side. mark my words. Burnley could see it. Wenger has too much faith in crap players.
he will probably end up in the blue square south.
December 11, 2008 at 10:29
if that was maximum effort then the team needs to do allot of stamina training and eat some fucking energy bars
December 11, 2008 at 10:29
There are a lot of players in our team that AW is just to stubborn to admit that he couldn’t turn into superstars. So he keeps trying and trying and playing them and playing them…..
He is obsessed with turning unknowns into Henrys and Vieiras. That’s why he won’t buy….
December 11, 2008 at 10:30
Most people earn less than 10 pounds an hour, suppose they get paid 80 pounds a day, then they’re taxed, they have to blow a whole days wages to watch a game, it is a huge ask, it is not entertainment for the average working person.
December 11, 2008 at 10:30
Timao,
I’ve defended Bendtner for ages. I still think he CAN become a good player but he thinks he’s there already.
He’s only at the beginning and needs to apply hard work to his potential.
I’m not saying he will be a good as Thierry Henry or Denis Bergkamp but they only became great through hard work and endless hours on the training pitch.
It seems to me at the moment Bendtner is only concentrating on not getting his GREEN or PINK football boots dirty.
December 11, 2008 at 10:30
Morning all, that was shocking. Absolute shit.
December 11, 2008 at 10:31
but it really is just a few games that he hasn’t performed in – how long since we defeated wigan in the cc, not that many. he scored a cracking goal in the meantime as well. last night he looked lost because leading the line on your own against a top defence is tough and he is still learning.
December 11, 2008 at 10:33
timao – u can argue that if he was up front on his own but he had ‘his best friend in the whole wide world’ Carlos Vela there with him and his every touch was shameful….
December 11, 2008 at 10:33
Thats right Timoa.
He is still learning but only we can see that. He thinks he is there. ALREADY. He’s not but he can be!
December 11, 2008 at 10:33
wrighty… they both had natural gifts tho…
henry had amazing pace his skill and finishing wil have taken allot of work but there is natural ability there to
bergkamp was vision and again amazing technical ability
bentder has neither… and not allot else
December 11, 2008 at 10:34
Brighty.
If we buy the right players, 2 players could/ will make the difference.
I think we need a DM, and a CM.
But you can buy all the players you want, you can only have 11 out on the field at one time.
Fabianski, needs a run of games, and the same back four in front of him.
Sagna Kolo Djrouou and Clichy to start with
A midfield of Walcott, Alonso, Cesc and Nasri, would be great
And the front of RVP and Adebayor.
That team, gelled, could beat most teams.
The problem is getting the same 11 players out on the pitch at the same time.
Hangerland as CB for me.
December 11, 2008 at 10:34
I’m not convinced Wrighty….
December 11, 2008 at 10:34
anyway, i sincerely doubt we will buy anyone in Janaury, so we might as well enjoy what we’ve got
December 11, 2008 at 10:35
Gazzap… for me, breaking into a top 4 team at 18 should be a privelage only allowed to the best players… it shouldn’t be a right.
Everyone gets a chance these days… and sometimes I think even the poor players get a chance as a shop window exercise (Paul Rodgers).
Sarge, spot on analysis… the movement is terrible. Next time we play, notice how often players are static… that never happened in the best teams.
December 11, 2008 at 10:35
Your right Pedro, in todays economic climate people will have to prioritise what their 50quid will be spent on. I would feel like I was mugged if paid 50quid to watch a bunch of kids get battered, so yes it doesnt matter what type of fan you are all of us would have to think twice about watching drivel.
December 11, 2008 at 10:36
Anyone notice, our kids knocked out Villa in the FA Youth Cup.
Villa are a strong outfit, so that was a good away win for the lads.
December 11, 2008 at 10:36
Mark C – I still think we need a world class striker – Villa, Torres ilk.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t think we will buy anyone like that but I think we need one…
December 11, 2008 at 10:37
ramsey was played out of poosition. he showed that he needs to grow in terms of strength, i am concirned by his lack of pace and the way he gave the ball away so easily last night on several occasions, watch the replay if you disagree, i just have. and who cares if we didnt win the group we were never going to with the team that was put out last night. i dont understand the outrage of some people after this game. it is not important, everyone terrified of barca who got stuffed in their last champions leauge game. why are some surprised at the quality of some players it is not news. there are several players playing for us who in other top clubs would only be in the reserves, and i think so should ours, and i mean jack, aron, carlos denilson, the list could go on.
December 11, 2008 at 10:37
Timao, it was’t the fact that his was up top on his own it was his touch, his passing and his lack of willingness to work hard off the ball that was woeful. The guy has talent but we only see that in flashes. It takes alot more than just talent to make a top class player. Even Smudger was slating him last night and he is the Trevor Brooking of Sky.
December 11, 2008 at 10:38
A&N… it’s fine for games like Burnley… you know what you are paying for… but I am sure the tickets for away Champs league games go on sale months in advance.
You’re not paying to see a 2nd team in Europes premier competition are you? It must be doubly painful… the exhange rate on the Euro is shocking! £1 -? e1.07
December 11, 2008 at 10:38
SEASON TICKET WAIT LIST !
Are we really to believe the club still have 30/40/50k wait list !!
In this economic climate & now with the worst squad in Wenger’s tenure, why would punters be queuing to spend minimum £1000/1300 a season when they are starting to struggle sell out for most games. More & more games are going on general sale, quite a change from a year ago.
I know of at least 2 people who cannot justify keeping their s/t next season, due to financial hardship.
The Club need to wake up quick, very quick.
December 11, 2008 at 10:39
If that is true – season ticket waiting list of 30k plus why the hell didnt we build a bigger ground?
December 11, 2008 at 10:40
pedro… like what i said yesterday… £43 for the cheapest ticket to watch the plymouth game… itll probably be the same team as we saw yesterday… no fucking way
December 11, 2008 at 10:40
hey pedro your spot on , no movement, when jack came on he made his trademark run across the back four but everyone stood still, why, i think cause their too young to be playing
December 11, 2008 at 10:41
Brighty, I agree it would be great to have a world class striker.
Our team is based our Fabregas.
If we take the weight off his shoulders by getting Alonso, then he can take control of the game, and provide better balls for our strikers, who are good.
With Eduardo, Vela and Walcott, we only need one of them to make the step up, and we then have the goals we need.
December 11, 2008 at 10:42
Tactically Wenger seems to have let the team abandon the basics that he built our success on – counter attacking at pace, playing triangles around people….
December 11, 2008 at 10:43
having read all your comments, i wonder whether any gooners out there know what the real problem is. the real problem is arsène wenger. the old man has simply lost the plot: playing inexperience, using players out of position even those like eboue (who just returned from a niggling injury, i don’t blame eboue really and we forget that he had a splendid time when we reached the final in 2006) and using players like nikki b who no longer have a clue on what to do. not calling for the coach to be removed but wenger is the problem people!
December 11, 2008 at 10:48
saminator
The problem, is Wenger has TOO much faith in certian players.
Last night they did not perform, they let him down.
Brighty is spot on saying we did not play on the counter attack.
We did not have any pace, it was on the bench.
December 11, 2008 at 10:48
The reason the waiting list is so long is because we had to pay to get on the list…
December 11, 2008 at 10:48
when’s the draw for the next round?
December 11, 2008 at 10:50
I just pray he does something next month but know he won’t…
I can see it now ‘ we have a strong squad with a great spirit, we have Walcott to come back, Eduardo and Rosicky….’
December 11, 2008 at 10:50
Friday week
December 11, 2008 at 10:51
saminator, thanks very much for educating us dimwits.
December 11, 2008 at 10:51
I am not sure Ramsey was one of the good players last night. I thought he was really rather poor. Poor ball retention, poor decision making and poor passing generally. He showed his age and inexperience and I would not think he is ready for the first team on that performane. Denilson played well as did JJ. Nik B was really poor and seems to have lost his way and confidence. gallas was a mistake waiting to happen as was Silvestre. Song I thought was ok. he made a number of good atckles and worked hard. he is not dynamic and maybe thats what people dont like about him. I thought he was one of our better players. Vela looks like class in waiting. His touch is dgood and when he goes at the opposition he makes things happen. diaby was great and poor. At times you think shit he is the nuts as he ghosts past an oppenent or flicks it round them. then he forgets where he is and gives it away.
Jack did ok but is still no whwre near erdy for 90 mins.
So all in all we were crap with a few ok performances.
next up Bayern Munich I jsut no we will get them
December 11, 2008 at 10:52
I am pretty sure there is a 5 or 6 year wait for a season ticket.
The whole ground cant be allocated to season tickets, a set %age needs to go to Silver members, and Red Members.
Depending on who we play, dictates, the amount of seats we allocate to the away team.
As we have sold, say 45k season tickets (that is a pure guess), we have got the money come what may.
At the end of next year, when people re-new their club level seats and boxes, that is when pressure may show.
Arsenal have passed on the VAT reduction to general allocation seats, and season ticket renewals will be at the lower rate of VAT.
December 11, 2008 at 10:53
shocking game, worst in a long time,
hello all
December 11, 2008 at 10:54
If we bought Podolski woul dhe be cup tied in the CL – Don’t know if he has played for Bayern in it – I assume he has….
December 11, 2008 at 10:54
19th December Brighty…
December 11, 2008 at 10:55
Chris, you are right, that must be the worst performance we have had in the CL for a long time.
December 11, 2008 at 10:56
Hi Chris.
So… Pana in the next round… the return of Gilberto! It’s on the cards isn’t it?
December 11, 2008 at 10:56
Dave T
Wilshire is still 16.
I think he turns 17 on Jan 1.
Wenger wont allow him to play more than 60 mins.
That is why he did not come on, against Wigan.
December 11, 2008 at 10:58
Hey, does anyone fancy talking about property?
haha! I kid!
There are few headlines on newsnow that go along the lines of, ‘I don’t care’… I don’t know how people can feel that way?
I’m gutted every time we lose? It’s like a big cloud over my head till the next game…
December 11, 2008 at 10:58
Mark – Do u reckon Arsene sees what we see??? He must do…. so why does he persist? Surely he can’t honestly think people are going to want to pay fortunes to continue to watch this drivel….
December 11, 2008 at 10:59
Pedro – It’s more the return of Thierry that is on the cards….
December 11, 2008 at 10:59
I have been a season ticket holder for 15 years but I am seriously beginning to consider next season. I will have to see what wenger does in Jan but I refuse to bankrupt myself to watch dross. I can easily get tickets through other means ie Dad’s Silver and a friend’s season ticket, so I will still go to games but I cant afford £1100 up front anymore. Watching Henry and Pires, you would go into debt for, but not for this lot.
December 11, 2008 at 10:59
pedro… i know how u feel mate… the worst thing is its an all too familiar cloud these days.
December 11, 2008 at 11:00
I don’t think we possess the players to play the fast game at the moment stop. Song and the Brazilian Ray Wilkins can’t move the ball quick enough or deliver the ball accurately enough on a consistent basis. Our forwards aren’t blessed with tremendous pace and the midfield doesn’t join the front line quick enough when we counter attack. The only players who can replicate this brand of football are all fucking injured
December 11, 2008 at 11:00
gazzap – I am in exactly the same boat and couldn’t agree more.
December 11, 2008 at 11:03
Shite players = Shite performances!
Why are we all still so surprised when AW picks players of the calibre of Eboue, Diaby, Bentner, Song etc etc we play like shite????
These players are at best reserves and should not be in the first team of a so-called Top 4 club.
Players like Denilson should be integrated into a first team to play alongside proven, experienced winners. Not be just another youth player in a team of youth players. How can constantly losing be of any value to a young player, especially losing in the manner which has become the norm. Surely it would be more beneficial for him to play in a side containing 7,8,9 world class players to guide him along……..This whole situation is bollocks, and i’m getting tired of gearing our manager’s lame arsed excuses for the constant failures of these players.
December 11, 2008 at 11:04
Gaazap, I’m not sure it would ever get to the stage when I would consider chopping my ticket in. But totally with you on the point about getting value for money
December 11, 2008 at 11:04
Gazzap, I would expect 40,000 people are thinking the same thing… except at this point in time… Arsenal will really struggle to fill the seats again.
Having a 40,000 waiting list is one thing… having 40,000 with the cash to go through with the transaction is another.
December 11, 2008 at 11:05
ddm – “but zer is a great spirit within the squad”
December 11, 2008 at 11:07
gazzap, i’m in a similar boat too. I’ve been debating it for a long while. 2 kids now and a bigger mortgage don’t help in this climate.
December 11, 2008 at 11:08
yep gazza- superstar prices and no superstars!
December 11, 2008 at 11:08
Howdy Pedro
Why didn’t Wenger sign http://antipodeanbantams.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/mark-against-post-angle-smi.jpg when he had the chance. He would have been a bargain.
He is better than The Waiter & the other bloke Fabianski(spelling) will never make it.
Arsenal are light on for depth, & the problems lie squarely with those/he who make(s) the decision(s) not to spend.
December 11, 2008 at 11:12
how often this season have we heard: “we lacked a little bit sharpness”
I’m sure it’s his most common quote these days. AND ITS FUCKING DECEMBER! WTF is going to happen come march when we really are knackered?
December 11, 2008 at 11:12
I think i’m right in saying we have the most expensive football tickets in the world and that Man Us most expensive ticket is cheaper than Arsenals cheapest ticket.
Arsenal fans are not all mugs and wont be ripped off forever. If you pay top prices you expect top football and top players.
December 11, 2008 at 11:13
gnarley, i think he didn’t sign him because he wears terry tightops and looks a bit gay.
December 11, 2008 at 11:14
Brighty – yes I still think we are only two players short.
Last night didn’t really tell us anything about our first team.
December 11, 2008 at 11:14
wait until next year at least before writing us off, a 4-game winning run and everything will look very different. before you say it won’t happen, let’s just see.
December 11, 2008 at 11:14
dead right pedro
a lot of fans must of thought this game against the 2nd tier pick in the comp might of been the deciding game … if you looked at the fixtures in advance this was probably the most juicy of all the games to see in the 1st round matches ..
1st V 2nd in the group, away .. it promised to be a slug fest …
and all it ended up being was a mugging !
December 11, 2008 at 11:15
I tell you what else as well, a lot of corporates will fail to renew next year, and when they stop coming and spending Arsenal will really suffer, I also predict that waiting list won’t be there next season.
Let’s talk more about Hippo shagging, that was cool.
December 11, 2008 at 11:15
chipo – ‘but zer is a great spirit within this team’
Do u know what fucked me off the most – in his post match interview Wenger said we played well in the first half???? then he changed it to before we conceded a goal…. bollox did we play well at all…we created nothing…..
December 11, 2008 at 11:16
I am convinced that these overpaid arseholes, who trot about the park should be named. Mind you that goes for the fuck’n lot of them. Greasy money grabbing cunts that one week feel like getting a touch, still get paid though, then the next week might have an off day. How dare you lazy pricks carry on like that.
I challenge anyone on here to watch a game of Rugby Union, or Australian Rules or Thugby League, & when they come off the ground they are totally exhausted. But these soccer players are fuck’n nancy boys who get a tap on the angle & play has to stop. Fuck it I’m sick of it.
Fuck off Eboue, Bendtner & Denilson. You are not up to it.
December 11, 2008 at 11:17
QoS – Maybe but it old us a hell of a lot about our quality in depth..
December 11, 2008 at 11:17
I remember many moons ago we were after singing Kerry Dixon……………i remember saying to my brother at the time “if we sign that c*nt, that’s me and Arsenal finished, they can have my season ticket back, i love my club but Dixon’s is a c*nt and i can’t cheer him”. Now i find us with a team full of Dixon’s……….
December 11, 2008 at 11:18
Let criticize those who deserved it yesterday.
Wenger because he again fielded 4 central midfielders and a striker in midfield.
This exempts Ramsey and Vela from stick, not because they weren’t bad, because they were awful, but because they can’t play on the wings.
Almunia pretty much faultless on the goal -> Diaby
JD was good
Gallas not good
Silvestre really bad
Eboue not good
Song – clocked up 150 meters of running during the whole match, must be record low.
Denilson – not good, but considering he had to cover for Song as well I don’t blame him.
Bendtner – despite what people say, he created our only three chances and this with a midfield not bothering to cross the halfway line.
Wilshire – tried, but can’t expect to much from a 16 old.
Gibbs – should have started on the left, maybe.
Diaby – words can’t describe how bad he was.
Most important additions in january – a winger since Rosicky is never returning, and a central midfielder, who actually runs. would be great with just a little bit of movement in the team again.
December 11, 2008 at 11:18
Surely Tomas Rosicky has the best payed job in the world for literally doing fuck all.
December 11, 2008 at 11:18
Brighty mate we did have a shot in the first half, nothing in the second, but at least we had a shot.
Now does anyone else find Hippos attractive?
December 11, 2008 at 11:19
wenger seems to think what he says everyone will just agree with and it’ll cover up the fact we are shit.
he’s getting more and more difficult to relate to and understand these days.. all this ’spirit, belief, intelligence’ bullshit is really getting to me… when does another manager rave about how intelligent his team is… give me a thick as shit player with amazing football ability all day long rather than 9 languages arsenal’s most intelligent player senderos
December 11, 2008 at 11:19
Mildly Geoff if I have the hangover horn.
December 11, 2008 at 11:19
good post again
morning everyone!!
totally agree with the post
1. the fans might not be football management material, but we arent stupid, football runs deep in our veins, otherwise we wouldnt be supporters, weve followed football long enough to know a good player when we see one and weve watched some of the players at our club long enough to know theres a few bits of dead wood floating about.
2. the wage bills a joke, half the team dont deserve to get paid what they do, theyve never achieved anything yet and they dont perform on the pitch when needed, it seriously needs looking into,
3. what really concerns me is that the kids didnt come on until we were 2-0 down anyway. that team was made up of first team squad players and we were humiliated, it just showed everyone who weak our squad is,
4. we should be winning that group easily if we are genuine CL contenders, by fielding that team we sent the wrong message out to our rivals, its a defeat that we not only have to pisk ourselves up from, AGAIN, but it showed the rest of europe that we are there for the taking if certain players play.
5. the fans, especially those who travelled, dindnt deserve that, wenger should be fielding a strong team and expecting a result every game,that team just suggested we were settling for second best, sounds familiar doesnt it.
December 11, 2008 at 11:20
The state of football as a collective of overpaid pansies is 100% the fault of the Italians & Spanish. They and there latin girlie attitudes hijacked football for years, & since then the rest of the world has had to pay more for these wimps or be left behind. & FIFA has pandered to them for years as well.
December 11, 2008 at 11:21
That prick FTK has posted a very negative post on his 5 comment a day blog. How hypocritical.
December 11, 2008 at 11:21
lol@geoff
December 11, 2008 at 11:21
Well Steve thanks, I’m glad it’s not just me!
December 11, 2008 at 11:23
Brighty I think it told us that our quality in depth isn’t up to all being played at the same time for sure.
If you took the equivalents of RVP, Ade, Cesc, Sagna, Clichy, Dudu + the two players we need to sign out of Utd, Liverpool or Chelsea i think they’d get beat by a motivated Porto at home as well.
December 11, 2008 at 11:23
Something I’d like opinions on – do the hacks at press conferences actually ask the questions we raise regularly ? I.e. why are you not addressing the lack of quality and lack of depth ?
Surely even the dim witted, clueless hacks we have should be able to ask him to address the inconsistencies in his approach to squad size and age ?
If they do ask questions like this do they get edited out of the transmitted version ? Arse.com will obviously edit out anything that makes Wenger look anything other than perfect.
December 11, 2008 at 11:23
Steve, I’m glad I’m not the only one who gets that… I call it the beer horn! haha!
I was looking for picks of a hippo this morning and the only funny one I could find was a blonde kid on the back of a hippo… I was going to make a lewd joke about one of our youth team players but I thought that might be a bit offensive!
December 11, 2008 at 11:23
Oh and Nasri.
That’s a lot of Squad missing.
December 11, 2008 at 11:24
Brighty – Bollocks to great spirit, i’d take a couple of players who hate each other but know how to beat the oppo, like Cole & Sherringham!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 11:24
Ok for me that leaves a goalkeeper, two centrebacks, at least two midfielders…..
December 11, 2008 at 11:25
chary, they are probably enjoying our shit season too much and dont wanna bring it up in case wenger does something about it!
December 11, 2008 at 11:25
lol@ddm
December 11, 2008 at 11:27
Geoff, you have club level right?
Did you pay up front/ commit to your tickets for 4 years?
And this is the 3rd season, so June 2010, you COULD walk away.
Or am I wrong.
December 11, 2008 at 11:27
I guess my point is that our squad depth is ok IF we get the two players I think we need PLUS we don’t have the situation where we are needing to field a completely makeshift team.
I blame Wengers decision to send out such a vastly weakened team rather than squad depth per se.
December 11, 2008 at 11:28
Geoff – Hippo shagging is one thing, but Muffin the Mule is an altogether more interesting proposition
December 11, 2008 at 11:28
Geoff, that still doesn’t make it normal.
December 11, 2008 at 11:29
Q.O.S, I admire your optimism but I belive that we are at least 4 good players short of a team that could challenge.
December 11, 2008 at 11:30
*believe
December 11, 2008 at 11:30
QOS, two players would have suffice in the summer if Hleb and Flamini had stayed… not now though, we are at least 4 decent players away from a world class team.
December 11, 2008 at 11:31
Chary, they probably do but I wouldn’t be surprised if he blanked those questions or he did answer it would be his usual stock response ‘ these players have talent blah blah blah. It’s like listening to a fucking railway timetable. After a while you know what’s coming next. Anyway, he isn’t going to justify himself to those pricks by giving them the truth.
December 11, 2008 at 11:31
I concurr
December 11, 2008 at 11:32
id say a few of our boys would be up for a hippo or 2 !
the only problems are they would are pass back and forth and no one will shoot in the final 3rd
it would leave the hippo just sexually frustrated !
December 11, 2008 at 11:32
Pedro I dont agree with the post, You are 100% correct. I have just contradicted myself. Im I going mental over Arsenal?
Top Post couldnt agree more
December 11, 2008 at 11:33
So… who would take Alex?
December 11, 2008 at 11:33
You are mad franchise!
December 11, 2008 at 11:34
It was painful last night. When you find yourself flicking between that and a guy with motor neurone disease topping himself you can imagine what fun it was round mine last night…
December 11, 2008 at 11:34
Geoff – Your ‘interests’ in Hippos is verging on the unhealthy son, but as you mentioned it, only in the dark and if she’s oiled up!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 11:34
and bendtner definitely would rather look cool going through his shoe closet and sing karaoke than entertain a hippo !
however im sure if he had anymore nights on the tiles with gallas he might end up waking up with one !
December 11, 2008 at 11:35
Geoff,
I went to the zoo in the summer and found myself strangely attracted to the main mamma of a hippo…………
December 11, 2008 at 11:35
Pedro Says:
December 11, 2008 at 11:33 am
So… who would take Alex?
fulham ? wigan ? west brom ?
December 11, 2008 at 11:36
Pedro – so about this xmas drink……..
December 11, 2008 at 11:36
I now truly believe we are a minimum of SIX players short of being where we were four seasons ago!
December 11, 2008 at 11:36
Ethan he did. Bruce’s daughter
December 11, 2008 at 11:37
Wrighty7
are you sure it wasnt a london night club wrighty ?
December 11, 2008 at 11:39
ethan – I don’t even think those clubs would be interested in that slug! I’d put him down for a team like Charlton…….
December 11, 2008 at 11:39
Qos
from earlier , i think we need 4 more players not 2 !
we need 5 to be in contention … but 4 would make us competitive .
remember our never ending injury woes ..
if you only got 2 its a sure bet that one would always be injured ..
arsene likes em like that !!
December 11, 2008 at 11:40
Did someone mention a Crimbo drink
December 11, 2008 at 11:40
Arsenal Tom – I hadn’t thought of it like that, but I wouldn”t put it past them(the hacks) to be revelling in our current predicamnet; it’s manna from heaven for those Manskum worshipping cnuts..
Sarge – Wenger as an automated timetable , not true, I get more joy listening to a timetable.
December 11, 2008 at 11:41
DDM
as long as we get shot of him i dont care where he goes !
but can you see arsene selling any of them ?
he still has faith in them !
December 11, 2008 at 11:41
ddm – Pedro was on about one yesterday pre Liverpool match me thinks…..
December 11, 2008 at 11:42
Alex from Chelsea –
On the surface he seems to be the defender we are after.
He is not as good as Terry, and so cant force his way into the team.
I liked him at PSV, and he has done OK at Chelsea, but has not blown us away.
Would he be another Silvestre, top 4 reject??
December 11, 2008 at 11:42
Hello Grovers,
I have to agree with your post Pedro. I am sick off what is going on at The Arsenal this season, it is far worse than what we have been subjected to over the last couple of seasons. This time the board and AW are taking the piss. The game yesterday was a CL game and they treated it worse than the CC. The display was absolute wank, and I believe AW has completely lost the plot. You would think that after half time we get a reaction from the team but I saw nothing. Like pedro mentioned this team has lost the spirit and desire that AW bangs on about, and surely getting beat by Porto just makes moral even lower than it is.
Fuck you AW and PHW for screwing up my team.
As for privileged, you should be fucking privileged for coaching a club like The Arsenal. Go fuck yourselves you arrogant toss-spots.
Sorry for the language but I cant handle the dribble that comes out of his mouth lately.
As for the Eboue, Nikki B, Song, Almunia debate: They would not lace the boots of any top 4 players, so why the fuck are they in our team. OUT OUT OUT
December 11, 2008 at 11:43
Don’t say that Mark – that’s exactly what AW goes for…
December 11, 2008 at 11:44
Hmmmm Pre-Crimbo drink hmmmmmmm slobber slobber slobber, any chance of a few Hippos popping along
December 11, 2008 at 11:45
4 players where Steve?
Don’t get me wrong i’d like 4 players but i think two is NEEDED.
December 11, 2008 at 11:47
QoS – Ok here’s a better question for ya. How many players do u think we will buy in Jan??
December 11, 2008 at 11:48
We have no hieght at the back, we lack width and have no strength in the middle of the park. The goalkeeper is average at best and the squad is wafer thin. Actually, now i have typed that i think we need more than 4.
December 11, 2008 at 11:48
Agreed about our noticable lack of attacking pace
Its Sooo easy for teams to play against us at the moment.
if they get 2 banks of four behind the ball while we perform our ponderous attacking. They only have to defend the width of the penalty area as we never cross and if we do there is never anyone to get on the end of it.
Teams are happy for us to have possession knowing that they can hit us on the counter and will be happy to get corners and exploit our weekness at these.
Despite what some pundits say, our current play is not the most attractive or exciting in england, it seems to be possession for the sake of it but going nowhere.
December 11, 2008 at 11:48
I don’t have a massive amount of faith that we’ll buy anyone to be hon Brighty! But I hope to be wrong.
December 11, 2008 at 11:49
Brighty, we meet in the Small and Beautiful on the blackstock road before games. I think a few of the Grovers are going to be there before the Liverpool game if you fancy it?
December 11, 2008 at 11:49
… and anyone else for that matter!
December 11, 2008 at 11:50
3 would do…
2 wingers… hleb/rosicky style but with proper legs
1 CM
December 11, 2008 at 11:50
A new Centre Back would be nice but I rate Johan so i’d be happy with he and a motivated Gallas? With Silly as cover. Sagna and Clichy are great and having Eboue and Gibbs/Traore as cover for them doesn’t look too bad.
The problem is when we have to play all our cover at the same time!
December 11, 2008 at 11:52
Steve, I was reading up on Giorgio Chiellini, and some of the sites info is brilliant:
‘Musically, his tastes aren’t clearly defined. He does appreciate Luciano Ligabue, as he’s the singer-songwriter that strikes and moves him the most.’
but what about if he invited me round?
‘If he were to invite you to dinner, he’d feed you spaghetti made with lemon sauce, probably washed down with some nice fresh Chianti.’
and finally the most important piece of info:
‘His look is simple and sober. He prefers wearing sportswear.’
He is also doing a degree in his spare time.
December 11, 2008 at 11:53
Agree we need two new midfield players. That’s where I would buy to be honest.
I’d take an attacking player in the Rosicky style (arshavin?) and a proper defensive midfield player. Then i’d have Denilson feeling hard done to and thus motivated and Song pushing them as cover.
December 11, 2008 at 11:54
Pedro I might come for a drink but i dont have tickets for the game
December 11, 2008 at 11:55
Juve have a smart website.
http://www.juventus.com/site/eng/homepage.asp
December 11, 2008 at 11:56
If only 2 then a mental centre mid and a skillful winger with a good shot for me, then pray we dont get any injuries.
December 11, 2008 at 12:00
Thats pretty much how I see it too gazzup.
I think Wenger is right in one respect, too many first team quality players means somebody has got to sit out. And i’d want players like Denilson to have opportunities because i think he’s going to be a terrific player in 18months time.
December 11, 2008 at 12:00
Mark C I can walk away at anytime, there is no binding contract.
Wrighty, perhaps we should start ‘Hippos reunited’ a kind of dating site for men with interesting tastes.
December 11, 2008 at 12:00
I used to work on Blackstock Road…
December 11, 2008 at 12:02
Pedro – just had a look. Headline quote from Nedved ‘ I like Juve because they get what they want’ (paraphrased) nice philosphy. Arsenal’s philopshy , Can we have that? How much? Not paying that. OK we’ll do with we’ve got thanks’
December 11, 2008 at 12:04
*philosophy of course
December 11, 2008 at 12:04
Geoff, what is the 4 year rule?
I dont think I have dreamt it up.
Have they promised to keep the prices the same for 4 years?
Perhaps it is for the boxes, a snip at 65k a season for 10 seats.
December 11, 2008 at 12:06
Afternoon All,
It took me till now to put my frustration to one side, after the disgrace that was last night. We were pathetic – and that is being kind.
We are carrying so many crap players, it is unreal. Watching this current crop of overpaid so called footballers is penance and very hard to do. Why do we always have to take 4 passes when 2 will do ? Why can we not get our defenders to pick up correctly at corners ? So many things not right.
Can we please all stop referring to the younger players as KIDS. In doing so we give them some form of excuse to be SHITE. Once they put on the senior shirt of the club, they are young men. No more KIDS talk please – it is painful at this stage.
December 11, 2008 at 12:08
QoS….i agree. Denilson will become an excellent player. The current crop around him (well, most of them) are holding him back…and a few others.
Song, Eboue, Bendtner….OUT IN JAN!!!!!!
Alonso, De Rossi, Alex, Sneijder….BUT IN JAN!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 12:10
we can debate all day until the hippos come home.fact is wenger is paid a lot of money and he is ultimately responsible,he can either demand money if it’s there or the board should do what rod stewart does every 10 years and exchange him for a younger more fertile and ambitious model.the man has literally run out of spunk/
December 11, 2008 at 12:11
Also it goes without saying that if we sell anyone we must replace with someone that’s ready to play first team football.
i.e. if we lose Gallas or Toure then we need a monster centre back as well as the two midfield players.
December 11, 2008 at 12:20
kelsy the hippo’s don’t want to come the elephant might want to fuck them than kill them
December 11, 2008 at 12:22
alex is available
December 11, 2008 at 12:22
Mark C that was if you paid it up front, for four years, the price would not have changed.
I said, yeah, sure I’ll pay up front! So hence mine is renewed annually.
December 11, 2008 at 12:22
Do we need to start a “Sack Arsene” campaign to make him listen?
This man will now make some comments which go like this – “I will not be afraid to buy in the January window”. PHW will go on record saying “We trust Arsene. If he wants to buy, we will make the funds available”.
There will be suitable business around the Grove. Gazidis will be spotted jetting here and there. Myles will post about players that Gazidis is talking to, etc., etc.
Then, on the 10th of January, Arsene will complain about high the transfer fees are and how the football market is out of sync with the rest of the world which is in recession. Danny will be trotted out to comment about the latent promise of the scholars.
We will have a brilliant January and will not lose to anyone.
Then, the day after the transfer window has closed, and we haven’t bought anyone, Arsene will say – oh well, see how well the youngsters performed in January. We can win the title.
We will lose three games in February and get thrown out of the FA Cup.
Then Arsene will say – Oh, but I did have dinner with De Rossi’s mum.
Enough – I can’t take the lies anymore.
December 11, 2008 at 12:22
So is it a done deal that we’re all getting lashed before the bin dippers game???
December 11, 2008 at 12:25
If we don’t sign anyone in Jan I’m off to Dignitas in Switzerland….
December 11, 2008 at 12:25
Even assuming we don’t have the money, this is the best time to borrow! Rafa and Red Nose have built whole teams on red ink….
What’s the point of having a beautiful stadium built on debt of we can’t keep it filled every day? The only way to keep the fans coming is by winning!
December 11, 2008 at 12:26
Steve, it cetainly is.
Guest list thus far:
Odub, Bud, Steve, Geoff, Pedro, Brighty, Franchise, Chary (?)
December 11, 2008 at 12:27
Morning guys,
Does anybody know of a way where we can send our thoughts to the board or Wenger?
Great article Pedro…. as always… just a shame the people that need to read it won’t see it
December 11, 2008 at 12:27
PDT – you are nearly there, but I think things have changed.
Wenger no longer is the guy who does the deal, agrees the price.
He provides targets to Gazidas, who’s job is to get the players at a price the club is happy with.
We therefore cant blame Wenger if we cant get the players he wants, it is the clubs fault.
If Wenger does not want any players, or wants the wrong ones, that is a different story.
SACK WENGER is a way off I think.
He will know he is cocking it up, and he will leave before the club sack him.
December 11, 2008 at 12:27
has anyone heard about the upson rumour flying about today
December 11, 2008 at 12:28
Steve…. are you the same Steve that called arsenal insider a hypocrit this morning?
December 11, 2008 at 12:29
Eduardo will come back and score a bagful of goals over Jan and Feb. There will be encouraging news about Rosicky’s recovery, including videos on Youtube. The Arsenal PR machine will be in full voice to convince us stupid fans that there is a future.
And then the transfer window will slam shut.
December 11, 2008 at 12:29
Found out last week Cesc lives in the road parallel to mine…. Perhaps I can ask him to pass our thoughts on to the board and AW
December 11, 2008 at 12:29
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7776602.stm
At last , the refs will get some help at freekicks! hope FIFA sanction it worldwide.
December 11, 2008 at 12:29
Mark… behave yourself… in the last 2 seasons since Wenger has been in charge of signing players (since Dein left) our team has deteriated big time.
And some of Wengers tactical decisions over the last couple of seasons have been infuriating
December 11, 2008 at 12:30
Yes Jay I am.
December 11, 2008 at 12:31
That’ll be great Pedro, looking forward to it.
December 11, 2008 at 12:32
Good man Steve… That prick has been slagging grovers off for months because we have the back bone and football know how to spot and discuss Wengers thoughts and now today he comes out and writes an article saying what we were saying in June… fucking hypocrite
December 11, 2008 at 12:33
Mark C, I think AW thinks his experiment is less than six months away from maturing. Imagine this team at the beginning of next season :
Fabianski
Sagna-Djourou-New Tall CB-Clichy
Theo (Jack as backup)-Cesc-Diaby/Ramsey-Rosicky/Nasri
RvP-Ade with Eduardo as backup
If they hang together and play for each other, this can really be a great team. I think AW thinks he can get through this season betting on the FA Cup and the kids will come through for him next year.
December 11, 2008 at 12:33
If I had a choice between beating either Middlesbrough or Porto I would have chosen Brough and so did Wenger hence the reason for resting the likes of Cesc etc. Wenger put out the team that most people anticipated and most of us thought that it was good enough to win, including myself.
It went wrong, mostly due to the hippo like performances of the more mature players; Wenger tried to make the most of it at two nil by giving the really young players some experience and Jack Wilshire got some which is probably the only slither of a silver lining from last night.
Finishing second is not the end of the world; we seem to raise our game against the bigger clubs manu, chelsea you know the story, so if it’s Barcelona bring it on.
As for all this talk about giving up the ticket; you are staring the abyss in the face boys and in this case the abyss takes the form gardening on a Saturday afternoon, just think about that: gardening boys, fucking gardening, that’s like Bentner playing in wellies.
December 11, 2008 at 12:33
faults not thoughts… i think watching Arsenal this season is killing off my brain cells
December 11, 2008 at 12:35
Gazzap – that is my point. Wenger gets too deep about signing players, paying the right price.
That wont happen now the new CEO is in place.
I am sure Wenger can produce a list of top talent we need, we know he can do that.
The new guy should be able to secure the deals.
December 11, 2008 at 12:35
The guy is a cock jay. I just found it fucking hilarious that he is now beating from our drum.
December 11, 2008 at 12:39
Apparently Clichy would love to play with Fanni
December 11, 2008 at 12:41
i am giving up my skysports subscription….its fucking depressing watching the gunners at the moment.
If we buy in good players in Jan, I’ll re-subscribe…if not, I’ll be happy(??) with MotD coverage.
December 11, 2008 at 12:42
PDT,
Lets stop calling them kids please
Young men wearing the senior club shirt
Kids mentality lends itself to forgiveness, and shite football being allowable for a period
December 11, 2008 at 12:43
IS that right Brighty??
Funny enough, Graeme Le Saux always wanted to play with Koch.
December 11, 2008 at 12:43
elephants pounding hippos…..now, there’s an image to remain with you for the day….
December 11, 2008 at 12:43
London. I wont be gardening mate. I will still watch every minute of every arsenal game and still feel the pain, but I just be ripped off every other week for the privelege. I’ll just be ripped off once a month instead!
A bar round my way shows every single game using a dodgy satellite for the away games not on TV.
December 11, 2008 at 12:43
Adebayor told skysports –
“This season, we have the best team since I joined the club. It is the one with the biggest potential, compared to the last two seasons. We just have to have more faith in our abilities.”
December 11, 2008 at 12:44
Agree goonerjay – puts me to sleep also !
December 11, 2008 at 12:44
London… that is a harrowing thought… I wouldn’t even know what to do… I’d prefer to do a tescos shop or something… and I hate that place!
I wonder how long it will be before you can buy a tv season ticket for your team?
December 11, 2008 at 12:45
Live near the Claddagh Ring do ya gazzap??
December 11, 2008 at 12:47
Clad-a-Ring? Keep you nose out of my private business!
No idea where that is, but I live south of the river.
December 11, 2008 at 12:47
ha berbatov not playin on saturday they reckon hes injured
December 11, 2008 at 12:48
Pedro…a tv season ticket…nice idea mate…u wanna copyright that one!
December 11, 2008 at 12:48
lol @gazza
December 11, 2008 at 12:51
Anyone seen this?!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1093454/Juventus-chief-London-Serie-A-stakes-battle-AC-Milan-Arsenals-Gallas.html?ITO=1490
December 11, 2008 at 12:52
brighty have you heard about upson coming in january
December 11, 2008 at 12:53
Anyone coming in January would be nice at the moment!!
Upson would be great…
December 11, 2008 at 12:53
pedro where is bud ?
he went to the canary islands and never returned ?
December 11, 2008 at 12:54
We almost won the league last season finished 4 points behind Mancs, were ousted from CL after a closely contested two legs against pool where we were hard done by refreeing decisions.At the nd of it all Arsene comes out and says Im gonna sign two players in the next two weeks to assure the fans. Yes assure the fans. Now we are struggling in all competitions we are in the team is obviously not good enough and he tells us that we are lucky and privileged to support this young team. Is Arsene on drugs?
December 11, 2008 at 12:54
he met a few of the local canary’s and decided to stay ?
December 11, 2008 at 12:54
I dont like Gallas and if he goes I wont be sad but wenger must replace him with a proven top quality centre back. I dont mean Senderos. If he cant then Gallas cannot be allowed to leave. Song or Hoyte would be next in line to replace him from the current squad.
December 11, 2008 at 12:54
Bren – that’s exactly the point! You can’t throw kids into battle and expect them to be men!
I spent an afternoon in the LA airport where this large group of teenagers, both boys and girls, were being shipped off to one of the air force bases before they flew to Iraq. They were kids, goofing around with each other, and I was terrified thinking about what lay in wait for them at the other end.
It is unfair to expect a bunch of kids to carry the hopes of millions of fans. There is the odd prodigy like Cesc who is talented enough, but we have to realize that there are only so many Cescs in a lifetime.
December 11, 2008 at 12:55
Hi Grovers – very entertaining post Pedro.
I forecast a loss yesterday and was disappointed to be correct. My sooth-saying extends to a scrappy win against Boro’ and the manager talking bollocks after the game. What odds would you get for us beating pool 2:1 as well?
Someone said on here yesterday that only the top 3 prem sides will get into the CL next year – is this correct?
December 11, 2008 at 12:55
Tough times in the world of recruitment Ethan…
December 11, 2008 at 12:56
Guys i just watched the arsenal U18’s playing charlton on arsenal .com. Now i know its only U18’s and evrything bla bla bla and all the rest of it but the boy coquelin cud do a hell of a lot better job in cm next to cesc than song or denilson can!!!! The boys passing is amazing with either foot!!!!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 12:57
Now our hopes and dreams rest with a guy in a suit – Ivan Gazidis.
Anyone heard of a Ivan The Great? The only one I heard of was Ivan the Terrible!
Hope it is not an omen….
December 11, 2008 at 13:00
QoS, how many of the folks on this board think that we have the luxury of 18 months?
December 11, 2008 at 13:02
arsenal want a fannihttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyvZqGkftt4
December 11, 2008 at 13:04
I love Fanni. I don’t care which position he plays, how much he costs or if he is any good we just have to buy him.
December 11, 2008 at 13:05
steve do you like fanni then
December 11, 2008 at 13:07
If you had to name the top 4 forwards, the top 8 midfielders, the top 8 Defenders and the top 2 GKs (ie, two Top Prem XIs), how many of our lads would a chance of getting in? Cesc, Gael and Sagna. That’s it!
Every other Big Four club would have between six and eight players with a realistic chance of getting in. That’s the difference between us and them.
December 11, 2008 at 13:09
Slow day today….I think we are all sick and tired of seeing the team play this way. If we fought and lost, it wouldn’t be so bad.
December 11, 2008 at 13:09
If Juve want Gallas we should demand Chiellini in return.
What worries me is that wont happen… we wont get a replacement and we’ll go the rest of the season with Song and JD.
Can you imagine?
December 11, 2008 at 13:10
Brighty
Do you live NW London
The ring is in Hendon right?
December 11, 2008 at 13:10
BBK, Fanni and Arsenal are the only things I get excited about.
December 11, 2008 at 13:11
Steve, and beer right?
December 11, 2008 at 13:14
lollllllll steve
December 11, 2008 at 13:14
That goes without saying Pedro.
December 11, 2008 at 13:16
Wenger is out of order! thats all i can contribute with for the moment. This squads just reeks averageness and just the thought of a transfer window going to waste like in the summer just makes me furious.
How did it become like this? Whats wrong with the board. Don’t they know that economy and success on the pitch goes hand in hand. This transfer window will probably be Wengers most decisive ever. Lets just pray i makes it right this time.
And thanks for a nice blog btw
December 11, 2008 at 13:26
That CB at Porto Bruno Alves looks solid
December 11, 2008 at 13:27
Rod Fanni! LOL
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uyvZqGkftt4
December 11, 2008 at 13:27
I’m gonna go Rod-a-fanni
December 11, 2008 at 13:28
What worries me is that Wenger 100 percent believed this team could win in Porto.
December 11, 2008 at 13:30
Arda Turan
Matthew Upson
and Xabi Alonso for me
December 11, 2008 at 13:32
Geoff, I love the Waterboy… …great flick
Homer Simpson = Alex Song/Emmanuel Eboue/Denilson/Silvestre/Gallas/Abou Diaby/Bendtner
I really feel sorry for all those who made the trip out there to be treated to such an abject display… …it looked like they had never played together.
The fact that 3 out of four midfielders needed replacing say’s it all! the fact that wanger took off the best player first made a mockery of his demise!
Wanger you created the best team ever in the Premiership! do something quickly because if not, we are about to see the club decend into mediocrity and everything you worked for will have been wasted.
YOUR PROJECT HAS FAILED AND THE BLAME IS ON YOU WANGER!
last note on the eboooeing subject, did anyone mention that Eboue means (roughly translated) to boo at!
Ratings
Almunia 5
Eboue 2
Gallas 3
Djourou 7
Silvestre 2
Ramsey 8
Denilson 4
Song 3
Diaby 4
Bendtner 5
Vela 6
Wilshere 7
Gibbs 6
Randall 4
I am so depressed because, if we were just going there to turn up why play Song and Denilson surely it would have been Ideal to play
Wilshere Diaby Ramsey Merida in midfield…
December 11, 2008 at 13:32
hello grovers. when is the CL DRAW
December 11, 2008 at 13:33
Franchise
ill take them 3 aswell i like them all and would add alot
December 11, 2008 at 13:36
Pedro, re your 12.26 – Ill be in Lanzarote when we play the Bin dippers so sadly I can’t make it, but I’ll be there for the Bolton game on the 10th – if I haven’t followed Brighty to Dignitas by then, after Wenger saying about transfers in: “we have quality in the squad and I believe in the youngsters etc…..”
December 11, 2008 at 13:39
Alex is reported eager to quit Chelsea in order to secure regular first team football.
Swap for Gallas?
December 11, 2008 at 13:41
if you had a midfield of Cesc and Alonso u could easily slot LJW on one wing and a more experienced wide man on the other. thatrs how u give yuong players experience u play them with good players not crap players like eboue and Song
December 11, 2008 at 13:41
Folks, we can all salivate at the the thoughts of signing fresh blood in January, but we won’t get it unless we can give the manager a real jolt. A “Sack Arsene” campaign can do it. I don’t think Wenger should be sacked, but AW will feel the pressure if such a campaign gathers steam. I don’t think he gets the urgency of the situation.
December 11, 2008 at 13:41
Gunner8, Wenger took a gamble last night and it did not pay off.
It could backfire on us, or it could work out in our favour.
Who knows who we will get in the next round.
Inter or Barca are the 2 to avoid, but they are in different pots now, and they could even face each other.
Wenger played 8 players who are not first teamers. Almunia, Gallas, and Denilson, are the only ones who would normally start a game if all are fit.
That is piss poor.
We have to beat Boro to justify the selection.
Having a couple of players off form is 1 thing, but Gallas included there were plenty off form last night.
Lets hope he does sign some players in Jan, but we arent out of the CL, the EPL or the FA Cup.
December 11, 2008 at 13:41
Alex and Djourou would be a good pairing IMO
December 11, 2008 at 13:42
Alex is another very average CB. We have enough average players, now we need some outstanding players.
December 11, 2008 at 13:45
Franchise, IF we had Alonso and Cesc in midfield, all clubs would fear us.
With Djrouou coming through, and our main strikers looking OK, we would claw back our spine.
Obviously if we had a new keeper, and a new CB, the spine would then be stronger.
December 11, 2008 at 13:45
Alex is not average PDT
December 11, 2008 at 13:45
Mark C – I live in Hampstead but yeh the ring is in Hendon…
December 11, 2008 at 13:47
Mark C, but it wasn’t really a gamble
Almunia, Eboue, Gallas, Djourou, Silvestre, Denilson, Song, Diaby, Bendtner are all established first teamers FFS!
The fact that the most inexperienced players were Ramsey and Vela (+Djourou), they were arguably the only players who played well… …as did Jack and Kieran so I don’t buy that!
It is just that as soon as I saw the teamsheet I knew that team was rubbish Song and Denilson as CM’s just does not work! it is worse than last season’s Gilberto and Song.
December 11, 2008 at 13:48
Cesc and Alonso with Diaby as an Alonso understudy. I feel for Diaby Arsene is using him like a prostitute. The first few games he played b4 he broke his ankle he was deployed centrally now he plays as a left wideman. fuck
December 11, 2008 at 13:51
Don’t ever feel sorry for them Franchise. Like I said about Eboue crying – if they ever feel that shit they can always buy themselves a Ferrari to cheer themselves up…
December 11, 2008 at 13:51
Lads watch this. haha
this really takes the piss,
http://sport.rtl.de/fussball/euro2008_79464.php?media=video2&set_id=16097
December 11, 2008 at 13:52
We missed the boat on signing Hildebrand (ON A FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Wenger will do nothing it is time he understood that we are not happy to watch his experiment anymore, but he will just cocoon himself and his players!
I read from someone else a long time ago that Fergie’s success was theat he changed his assistant every 3-4 years (usually when they got poached for head coaching jobs) Kidd, McLaren, Quiroz twice and the bloke he has now… …they all give Fergie a fresh perspectivve on his squad and tactics. Even though they have never succceded in management they have helped Fergie!
Wenger has had Rice and Primovac since he came to Highbury, WE ARE STALE!
December 11, 2008 at 13:54
Franchise, do you think Alex is outstanding? Can he be our Vidic?
December 11, 2008 at 13:55
Guys and girls, we are all sitting in front of our screens writing about what and who the club needs, but come the end of Jan the club will be no better off than it is now. That is the sad truth about our club right now, the people in charge just dont give a shit, and AW has lost the plot and our players have ALL lost the bottle.
Yes we need 2 midfeilders, 1 CB, and a world class GK, but it seems none of these will materialise. I wish I can be as optomistic as some of you, but I just cant see it happening. If anything we will loose players and not buy any replacements.
Our thin squad is just going to get thinner.
I said one month ago that we will not finish in the top 4 and the more I see us play the more I am convinced of that.
December 11, 2008 at 13:55
Morning gooners… i was on a flight and couldn’t watch the game. looking at the scoreline and all the comments… and looking at our possible opponents in the next round I can’t help thinking…. did we throw the game on purpose ? Only Barca’s a top line threat. Juve is dangerous but hey we beat ACM at the San siro….
Are we actually berating a team for making a smart decision ?
December 11, 2008 at 13:55
Gunner8, it is a gamble, because he dropped 6 or 7 players.
Yes Song, and Eboue and Silvestre have played prem games, but they are not 1st team material.
If he would have played Gibbs, Merida, Randall from the start, and we had lost, OK no problem, but he has faith in these squad players that have not progressed as quickly as he would like.
Eboue, Song, Silvestre, Bendtner and Gallas are all going backwards.
Move them out of the way, and let someone else have a turn.
If you had Ramsey playing RM, but the team was the rest of the Arsenal XI, the pressure would be off him. Same with Wilshire, Vela, etc.
December 11, 2008 at 13:55
Gunner8 – excellent point on Rice and Primovac. They seem to be yesmen.
December 11, 2008 at 13:56
Yes PDT he is very good in the air and is quite quick he is also good in taking free kicks
December 11, 2008 at 13:57
Pascal Cygan! That brings back memories!
What I would give to have good old Pascal and Oleg back!
December 11, 2008 at 13:58
OK, Franchise, I will go watch a few Chelski games….
There was a lot of hype around him last year but I don’t get him.
December 11, 2008 at 13:58
on your game of association i thought of Wenger with the words “what to do what to do?” whilst weeping!
December 11, 2008 at 13:58
GK can be addressed in the summer. realistically what we need is CB, CM, Winger
December 11, 2008 at 14:00
PDT, thanks for remembering..
December 11, 2008 at 14:00
3 players that would walk into the first team
December 11, 2008 at 14:02
Pascal no-one throws a game intentionally (unless they’ve got Grobbelar, Fashanu or Hans Segers playing for them). Losing was one thing, but losing with a performance like that is something else.
No it’s not smart. Being happy just to qualify smacks of mediocrity. The next phase is a lottery and there is no such thing as a favourable draw. Remember PSV a couple of years ago.
December 11, 2008 at 14:04
PDT – I never said we have the luxury of 18months – I said that Denilson will be a terrific player in 18mths.
I completely agree that we need a world class player for that position right now.
If we had that, then for sure we could give Denilson time to develop at a reasonable and proper rate rather than Mr Wengers ludicrous view that his progress can be accelerted simply by playing him in a struggling team!
December 11, 2008 at 14:04
sarge, i hope you’re right …. because that gives me one more more chance to say this…Jay Simpson in Nik B out.
December 11, 2008 at 14:06
Franchise do you think we need a centre back and to lose one we’ve got?
December 11, 2008 at 14:06
Pascal I’m more hoping Dudu is back in the frame and firing on all cylinders sooner rather than later
December 11, 2008 at 14:08
off the topic a bit
Did anyone notice, that David Platt, called Diaby – Abu Dhabi.
Perhaps he was thinking of his Xmas break.
December 11, 2008 at 14:08
Looking at the way the side is lining up – he’ll play Dudu on the right wing I think!
December 11, 2008 at 14:09
Yes Franchise 3 players to walk in to the team not kids who might play in 2015
December 11, 2008 at 14:09
David PLatt had a proper go yesterday didn’t he?
December 11, 2008 at 14:11
With Djourou and Gallas as our first choice pair (assuming Gallas wants to play for us) I don’t think our centre backs are bad.
And cover in the form of Toure and Silvestre is adequate I think.
December 11, 2008 at 14:11
QoS hopefully he’ll get a bit of playing time in over Xmas. I do remember him popping up on the left a bit last season.
Now that will be a novelty, Wenger playing someone in a familiar position.
December 11, 2008 at 14:12
QoS everytime I hear Platt he’s always having a dig. I get the feeling that he still feels hard done by getting rowed out in ‘98.
December 11, 2008 at 14:13
You might be right Sarge, I could see that going down. Still leaves us a bit weak on the right with Walcott and Rosicky injured though doesn’t it?
December 11, 2008 at 14:13
QoS, I would sell Senderos to Milan but I doubt they would want to buy he has played only once for them. The CB situation is tricky
Gallas has 1 and half years left on his current deal do we wait until the end of the season b4 we sell or do we sell him in January
Silvestre at best is a nice have on the bench for his experience especially if Gallas is gonna go
Djourou def has a future as a starter
Toure needs to show he can still perform at top level
to be honest i wouldnt be too sad to see Toure or Gallas sold in January and replaced by a premiership based CB
December 11, 2008 at 14:15
Fair enough Franchise, i wouldn’t disagree with that. If we have a decent offer for Gallas we should let him go and that would then take my wish list up to 3 players.
December 11, 2008 at 14:15
Possibly QoS, but how about switching Nasri out there (if and when he’s fit). He has a tendency to come inside too much when playing out on the left.
December 11, 2008 at 14:16
Just a random thought but you know what Geoff and Pedro should do – a podcast with 3 members of the Grove in a sort of Sunday Supplement type format.
That would be great.
December 11, 2008 at 14:17
If we could defend better against Mancs and the Chavs last season both away games and Pool in the CL we might have won the league and at least progressed further in the CL. If we had held on at old trafford and won the game we would have ended on 83 points and they would have had 81 points. if we had drawn at both chelsea and mancs we would have ended up with 82 points mancs with 82 and chelsea with 80. Mancs would have won it on goal differences but it would have been much more respectable considering we were on top for most of the season at least 6 months
December 11, 2008 at 14:18
QoS… michael has guaranteed us 3 players already.
my choices…
arshavin
de rossi
cheliini
chances are we’ll get the their 20 yr old versions though
December 11, 2008 at 14:18
I’ve never seen Nasri on the right really Sarge but its got to be a better option than Eboue. Assuming of course he can string more than two games togeether.
December 11, 2008 at 14:18
Not a bad idea. You mean a sort of Sunday Supplement with a twist i.e. some sense talked.
December 11, 2008 at 14:20
What about Arsenal Wenger street football search for a star for our January squad ramp-up. Top prize is a guaranteed first team slot
December 11, 2008 at 14:20
defending has been our bottle neck for the last 4 years. Not being able to break teams is a recent development
December 11, 2008 at 14:21
QoS – off the subject, but did you live in Portsmouth 4 or 5 years ago??
December 11, 2008 at 14:22
That’s the problem QoS. If RvP has chocolate legs then Nasri’s are made of After Eight sticks. The balance of the midfield as a whole is all wrong. Too many square pegs in round holes especially when it comes to cover.
December 11, 2008 at 14:23
Farnchise, we should have won the league last season, we were the best side in it. We were robbed by dreadful refeering decisions. Drogba’s first goal vs Chelsea was offside, Ades disallowed goal vs M’Boro – The penalty vs B’rum and the penalty not given vs Liverpool in the league game.
It was the worst run of decisions I can remember going against us. And i know Luck is a damn poor excuse but its rare you get such a bad run.
Its why I maintain two players as good as Flamini and Hleb coming in and we’d be flying this season. Wengers big mistake was made in the summer transfer window. Hopefully he’ll put it right this January.
December 11, 2008 at 14:24
Franchise not farnchise!!
Nope never lived in Portsmouth insidealbania why?
December 11, 2008 at 14:28
I was checking your page and I was pretty sure the girl (I am assuming is you) was on a course I was studying there. Never mind
December 11, 2008 at 14:28
its hard to beleive we finished 4 points behind Man U last season. If we had held that lead at OT and the draw at Brum we would have been champions. Imagine how we’d feel now had we been champions.
The fall from grace would be unimaginable. Champions playing like a mid table outfit. In some ways at least we are not current champions as I would find that just too embarassing.
The only real difference between last years team and this is the loss of Flamini. Nasri has already had more output than Hleb.
December 11, 2008 at 14:32
QoS i dont really like blaming referees cos we’ve got our fair share too. VP goal against chelsea? Toures foul on camara against wigan last week? Chelsea’s second goal last season at the brige toure was ball watching. Anelka flicked the ball to didier and toure stuck one of his feet backwards to intercept it like a ballerina. one of the worst defending u wld see. Very Bramblesque
December 11, 2008 at 14:33
But you make your own luck. Would fergie have replaced good players with shit players? no he wouldn’t. he’d have had quality waiting in the wings and thats why they are champions and we are mid table (with £70m in the bank and the 2nd highest wage bill.)
December 11, 2008 at 14:33
If we’d have won the league my bet is we’d have kept Flamini.
Wengers big gamble was imagining he had Rosicky coming back, a replacement for Hleb in Nasri and that either Song, Denilson or possibly Eboue would step up to the Flamini position.
If Rosicky had been fit, he might just have gotten away with it. I think Denilson would have looked a lot better player this season if he’d got Rosicky to link the play up.
December 11, 2008 at 14:35
gazzap i disagree nasri has had a few games and a few stinkers he doesnt set games alive like hleb used to do with his acceleration. nasri hardly gets on the other side of defenders. rosicky too is missed. Hleb, rosicky, Fab, Flam even Eboue played some good combination football last season. mouth watering
December 11, 2008 at 14:36
I agree Franchise and I don’t like blaming refs either because you’re right we’ve had the benefit a couple of times this season BUT the flip side is that our bad luck came all in one go and at the worst possible time.
Besides i count the VP goal as the balance for the one he scored that was wrongly disallowed for offside against them.
December 11, 2008 at 14:36
Mark C Says
Yes Song, and Eboue and Silvestre have played prem games, but they are not 1st team material.
Eboue, Song, Silvestre, Bendtner and Gallas are all going backwards.
Move them out of the way, and let someone else have a turn.
If you had Ramsey playing RM, but the team was the rest of the Arsenal XI, the pressure would be off him. Same with Wilshire, Vela, etc.
Mark C, Disagree with the first point and agree completly with the other 2
December 11, 2008 at 14:38
There was one bit yesterday when Diaby should have motored away from a defender but instead turned back and lost the ball and i thought to myself THAT’s where we miss Hleb he’d have left the defender for dead and moved into a big wide space beyond him.
December 11, 2008 at 14:38
a few good i meant
December 11, 2008 at 14:38
errrr meaning Wenger thinks they are forst team material Eboue is his right wing no.1 choice b4 Walcott forced his way in, Song is his no.1 DM choice and Silvestre was brought to play next to Gallas, as Toure was forced out!
December 11, 2008 at 14:39
That’s a good point Gunner8. The problem this season is the sheer number of inexperienced players playing at the same time – not that they are in the squad.
December 11, 2008 at 14:39
http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/11058/Bendtner_set_to_rescue_Baggies.aspx
if only half of this was true.
December 11, 2008 at 14:39
nasri and hleb are very different, hleb ran all day and created so much space. nasri shoots and scores more but has no pace. he’s still young tho, the fact he plays in the 1st team makes u forget he’s only 21
December 11, 2008 at 14:39
I think JD did really well last night, other than the one time he got sucked out of position. Billy looked like he just can’t be bothered much anymore. I thought Ramsey and Denilson gave it a go and I liked the attitude of Gibbs and LJW when they came on. All the others were pants!
I give us a more than even chance against any of the 5 teams we can get with the exception of Barca.
If we can sign 2 experienced players and get Edu firing by Feb 24th and keep everyone fit, I agree with Wrighty7, we can win the ECL, but it will need a lot of luck to go our way too, especially with the draw and other matches.
December 11, 2008 at 14:40
I think Silly was brought in as squad cover not to replace Toure – its just that Toure’s form has been so poor that Silly has ended up playing.
December 11, 2008 at 14:41
Silvestre, proved last night he is not able cover for Arsenal.
He does not have the legs.
He needs to go to PSG.
December 11, 2008 at 14:41
Yes partially I agree. Hleb was better at keeping the ball and was more consistent but his actual impact on winning games was not that high. He was the sort of the player you needed to keep the ball when we were in front. Nasri is still new to the league and I think his consistency will come. In time i’d rather have Nasri than Hleb. what you really need is a Nasri with someone like Rosicky who has the nous. we dont really have that kind of player to balance the midfield out now. thats where the experience is needed to help guide the young players.
December 11, 2008 at 14:42
I hope Toure can come back.
I have serious doubts over Gallas.
That is why we need a CB – Hangerland for me.
December 11, 2008 at 14:42
I thought Randall had a go to be fair as well.
Although I was amused by him getting nutmegged inside of 10 seconds you could almost here the Porto playing saying “welcome to where the big boys play, twunt!”
December 11, 2008 at 14:42
QoS i agree our bad refereeing decisions came at a point when we could do with them. The squad had done well for 8-9 months were tired, injuries etc and that point the we could at least have gotten was what we deserved i.e. fair officiating.
December 11, 2008 at 14:43
* sorry without them
December 11, 2008 at 14:44
He might not have the legs as a LB Mark C but he would be a decent CB. Scholes doesnt have the legs anymore thats why fergie would never play him wide even in an emergency scenario
December 11, 2008 at 14:44
Yeah, when the penalty was given against us and Birmingham and then straight afterwards we had a perfectly good goal disallowed vs M’Boro i knew then that the league was gone.
December 11, 2008 at 14:46
gazzap hleb was a very good player for us he was frustrating at times but he was one of the key players last season. the guy won a lot of tackles. he covered his full back. he game the team enough to cover for his lack of goal scoring. we seriously miss him u might not want to agree but we do
December 11, 2008 at 14:47
gazzap… i think in a year or 2 he’ll be awesome for us, once he’s more used to getting kicked and pushed around every week and starts cutting in from the left and shooting like mr pires did.
December 11, 2008 at 14:51
nasri would come good but i doubt if he would ever be as industrious as hleb. Hleb made fab4 look like gold, nasri has not had the same effect so far. that might come eventually but from what i see thus far fromhim he jinks too much and he does not have the acceleration to get past players like hleb did
December 11, 2008 at 14:51
Silly is ok as our 4th choice Centre Back in my opinion, he can come in and do a job. He actually looked a bit heavy last night though i thought.
December 11, 2008 at 14:51
Good points QOS
December 11, 2008 at 14:53
i thought we should have played gallas at LB and left silv in the middle, gallas has more pace than silv
December 11, 2008 at 14:57
Does anyone know what a depth charge is?? Apparently I was drinking them last night.
December 11, 2008 at 14:59
Franchise, I never said we dont miss Hleb. At times he was worth the admission price alone, the things he could do with the ball. I already said he kept the ball better than anyone else and thats what we need right now. Not sure where you got it that I dont think we miss him. But would I rather have an improving Nasri who I think will cope with the prem in time, who looks like scoring 12-15 goals a season to Hleb who scores 2 goals a season. I’d like to have them both but if only one I’d take Nasri. Just my opionion.
December 11, 2008 at 15:00
i hear u gazzap
December 11, 2008 at 15:01
to be fair hleb has like 6-7 years on nasri
December 11, 2008 at 15:02
most of the players we sent out on loan are not getting games at the clubs they left for. so that is just a waste of time IMO
December 11, 2008 at 15:05
Afternoon Grovers!
I just saw that Rooney challenge… he really is a despicable cunt…
December 11, 2008 at 15:08
got a link pedro?
December 11, 2008 at 15:09
I wouldn’t say so Franchise, they have to get used to impresssing the manager to get picked, what would be the use of getting guaranteed games rather than being chosen on merit? If they’re not being picked, it means the manager of that team has someone he prefers. They have to get used to the routine of fighting for a place in the team, if we want them to get guaranteed games we need to use the emergency loan system.
December 11, 2008 at 15:13
finest when u loan a player out its to get experience, get them to a club where they are good enough to play week in week out. whats the point in loaning a player to a club to sit on the bench? they could have just stayed behind and trained with the first team and fight for their place in our side. u loan a player to get playing experience not life experience. let em understand the pressures of performing weekly.
December 11, 2008 at 15:13
Queen, nice to see you coming around to my way of thinking regarding Hleb!
All my rants about his effect on the side are all becoming very self-evident aren’t they?
December 11, 2008 at 15:14
Fear nobody? Thats what u think boss!! The fans are fearing for the future of this team if you dont invest in some experienced players in january or at worst, the summer!!
December 11, 2008 at 15:15
I didn’t want to pick out individuals but in the first half,almunia was our only good player,eboue’s confidence is gone,i said before the game nic should only be used as a sub and wenger yet again came out with his favorite word BELIEF,which apparently wasn’t there.he can’t motivate the players anymore and we are just going downhill.if we beat boro or not will make no difference.we do need thes 3 called experienced internations,michael p suggested,can you really see us buying them.even one good player wouldn’t make a difference and finally if/when theo.eduardo and sicknote return it will be too late.
i wrote this as the posts changed this morning,so here it is again.
December 11, 2008 at 15:16
loaning players out has never worked for arsenal anyway. IMO it has been an exit route.
December 11, 2008 at 15:17
if i remember correctly a.cole is one of the only loan successes we have had in recent years
December 11, 2008 at 15:18
And Wenger had agreed a fee with Crystal Palace for Cole, a few hundred grand.
If it wasn’t Silvinho’s passport problem, Cole would have left.
December 11, 2008 at 15:20
really paulinho?
December 11, 2008 at 15:24
Yep, he was on the way to Palace but Wenger had to blood him because of Silvinho’s inability to get the passport renewed. Luckily he turned our rather good.
December 11, 2008 at 15:25
To be fair Paulinho – you did make some good points and for the record i’ve never said that Hleb was a bad player.
My contention was that we were missing the Flamsters energy more and that he allowed to Fabregas to play. And also that Nasri has more end product. I stand by that view but for sure yesterday, we clearly lacked a Hleb type player.
In Wengers sides we’ve always had at least two, sometimes three players who could link the play.
Bergkamp – Pires
Hleb – Fabregas – Rosicky
right now we’ve only got one. Fabregas.
December 11, 2008 at 15:26
FAb and Adebayor are currently our best link up players. ade has improved in that aspect a lot
December 11, 2008 at 15:30
God I miss Bobby Pires. The little shuffling bugger.
December 11, 2008 at 15:31
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/1848476/
Rooney’s disgraceful night here. I bet SSN are sweeping it under the carpet as per usual.
December 11, 2008 at 15:32
Kelsey… Almunia was at fault for the first goal. I wouldn’t say he played well at all.
December 11, 2008 at 15:33
Last season we had the intricacy but still lacked viable goal scoring threat. Hleb never scored, Fabregas’s goal glut had that purple patch feel to it, and Eboue was a complete waste of time in nearly every sense apart from this mythical defensive balance. Rosicky was a massive loss in that department.
This season we have got the artillery up top but we lack the lubrication in midfield to get those players into threatening areas. Vela looked well up for it last night early doors but he gradually wilted due to being starved of possession. A common tale this season.
December 11, 2008 at 15:34
Excellent post Pedro. The elephant story sums it all up. Oddly, I feel kind of better know. None of the players in last night’s game cut it bar Ramsey, Wilshire and perhaps Djourou who still aren’t good enough for a true Arsenal 11. The rest should be playing Championship football. What an unbelievably bad game, disgracefully bad, depressingly bad. Oh well, I’m getting used to it.
December 11, 2008 at 15:36
Paulinho if we didnt loose Rosicky in Jan i bet he would have scored a few crucial goals that might have won us the league
December 11, 2008 at 15:38
Last night was just pure sole destroying I want to believe in the youngsters but they are just not good enough
Song is so gormless its untrue he would be a great championship player
Eboue is just poor passmaster indeed
Diaby & Bedndtner show signs but at times I wonder why they bother
Denilson is just too lightweight maybe a couple more years
If it was me id bring in 3 experienced players a GK,CB,DM for heavens sake Arsene your breaking my frikkin heart
December 11, 2008 at 15:40
The only way to do that Franchise would be to loan them out to a club which is a league below the one or two below the Championship. When they’re on loan they need to fight for a place in the team, I agree with that concept, if they’re on loan and not getting match time it means they’re not yet ready to be competing for us. It’s no about life experience, it’s about real pressure, staying at the club would give them the same santized atmosphere they’re already in. If you loan an Arsenal player out to Barnet or Brentford, they’re more than likely to get a game or two, but going out on loan is on the assumption that they’re already good enough to compete for a place, and they’ll be chosen if they’re better than what he has available.
December 11, 2008 at 15:40
rooney is an animal… we could some of his aggression in our team
December 11, 2008 at 15:41
I’m sure of it Franchise as well. Hleb, Rosicky, Fabregas, and Flamini. Is there a better midfield in world football than that? Okay, maybe Barca.
I would take a fully fit Rosicky back any day before Eduardo. We’re missing vibrancy and intelligence from wide areas and Rosicky brings that. Eduardo will make minimal difference when he comes back. Cause the problem ain’t up front.
December 11, 2008 at 15:42
December 11, 2008 at 15:42
you know what…
I miss the feeling seeing the players walming up…i miss the passion…i miss the famous back four…i miss henry scoring that goal against manchester united…i miss that goal henry scored against tottenham…i miss being with my dad,my grandad &my brother watching the best team the world has ever known…i miss the unbeatables…i miss ian wright…i miss tony adams…i miss the goal adams scored against everton…i miss the derby games…i miss the tension…I miss the pride…i miss how everyone is seen as one and only person at highbury-a gunner
December 11, 2008 at 15:43
paulinho the problem lays in the defence which as gooners have we ever said that we have poor CBs?????
December 11, 2008 at 15:43
Timmy, that is the worry for me… ‘getting used to it’.
I’m gutted we lost, but I don’t get that horrible dull feeling in the pit my stomach anymore… I’m kind of half expecting a defeat… which is a pretty bad place to be.
December 11, 2008 at 15:45
i feel exactly the same richaldo99
December 11, 2008 at 15:45
pedro,i said in the first half almunia played well,generally the whole team looked lethargic,no direction to their play,no real team work,just completely flat,berefit of ideas.morale is at an all time low.Why? this wasn’t the CC team that started last night,most have played first team football,each player seemed to be covering whoever was on the ball incase they made a mistake as opposed to marking the opposition.how much longer are we going to take this.now wenger wants to loan out simpson,randall and possibly vela.as someone else sais loaning out means they are not good enough in wenger’s eyes and in song and bedtner’s case he was spot on.
December 11, 2008 at 15:45
any predictions for borough?? im not confident!!!
December 11, 2008 at 15:46
Pedro that feelings like when the women you love leaves the first time its bad but it gets easier with every one this is where we are!
AW is breakin our frikkin hearts with this experiment
December 11, 2008 at 15:46
Denilson is lightweight and that wont change. He also takes too long on the ball and his first touch could do with improving. finally he has little vision and cant pick a creative pass. We have been crap all season and Den has been in the team all season. Personally I think he is crap, but I understand that others on here quite like him. Up to you.
The only player we have that is worse than him is Randall but at least he is 18! that shouldn’t be an excuse. you should only be pulling on an Arsenal first team shirt when you are good enough. if you are not good enough you work hard somewhere else until you are. wenger doesn’t understand this and is disrespecting the value of being a first team player. as someone said earlier, if you are as talented as Cesc then fine play at 17, if not go away and come back in 3 years.
December 11, 2008 at 15:47
AFC53, the main problem is not defence, although it’s obvious is not perfect. We saw that last year.
Problem is our midfield is terrible. Isn’t the midfield the only difference from last year?
Midfield is the cause, defensive frailties are symptoms.
December 11, 2008 at 15:49
You know we could all say the problem is due to too many stars just like Real had a few years back if only……
We need to bring in someon in CM who just wants to tackle me personally id go for Parker at west ham!
December 11, 2008 at 15:51
Paulinho the problem is the confidence has completely gone we made a massive mistake letting Flamini go him and Cesc would have been a dream partnership for years.
December 11, 2008 at 15:52
quite entertaining post Pedro, I’m guess more entertainting than watching the match cos i missed it, again! This is wierd cos I miss more arsenal games than le grove posts, u know we are in shit times when losing stops hurting – its happened way too often!
laters grovers
December 11, 2008 at 15:53
Pedro, I can’t remember feeling so emotionally depleted when thinking of what’s going on at Arsenal or when seeing our starting eleven. We shouldn’t be going through this and especially for so long. It’s not doing our health any good!
December 11, 2008 at 15:55
I have asked for 3 presents for christmas Scott Parker,Chris Kirkland & Johnathon Woodgate
Fingers crossed !!
December 11, 2008 at 15:56
I reckon we’re going to tonk the Boro by 4 or 5 : )
but then… my friends do know me as the most optimistic gooner in the land haha
Rich
December 11, 2008 at 15:57
Scott Parker???? Are we turning into Hull or Stoke??????? If that is the level of our ambition now we may as well pack it in.
December 11, 2008 at 15:58
AFC53 now adays u build teams from the back. if u cant score and we cant score let it be a draw. we could have won more trophies under wenger if he paid a lil bit more attention to defending. all his focus is on scoring goals. not even brazil the so called best team in the world can sustain that anymore. we need to learn how to defend.
December 11, 2008 at 16:00
AFC53 ur list aint bad at all but those three are regular crocks we’ve got enough of them already
December 11, 2008 at 16:01
Ade is due another hat trick
December 11, 2008 at 16:03
AFC53
I hope your Father Christmas has a reindeer accident on his way to your house.
December 11, 2008 at 16:05
Here’s something to cheer everyone up : )
December 11, 2008 at 16:07
There is a God:
“Arsenal’s Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner is reportedly on his way to the Hawthorns in January on a six month loan deal. The 20-year-old has been targeted by Tony Mowbray following the news that Ishmail Miller is out for the season and Arsene Wenger looks set to sanction the move. “
December 11, 2008 at 16:09
Include me on that too richaldo99…….
December 11, 2008 at 16:09
richaldo99
Them was the Days…
i loved it when that happend when i was at a match as each stand used to clap one and other when the other stand Sang.
somthing we cant do now and somthing i miss greatly
December 11, 2008 at 16:10
Thank the fucking lord gazzap. I’ll drive the cunt up there if need be.
December 11, 2008 at 16:13
I still feel choked when I look at clips of that day. I sat in my seat for ages after the game not wanting to leave. Although Roger Doultry singing made me more keen to get the fuck out.
December 11, 2008 at 16:14
I’d rather see him go somewhere like Bolton, to be honest, i reckon all he needs is a good kick up the ****
Got the skills, just lacks the motivation….
Rich mildly drunk at 16.14, but who’s couting : )
December 11, 2008 at 16:15
i think they should have made the Emirates as a more Squre shaped statium rather then making it a Full curcle. they could have still joind the Corners together,
so with an actull side of each part of the Picth then fans could still sing the “this is the North Stand” and so on.
as normal the fans dont get asked these kinda question. like they way they just Sprung on to us the New arsenal Crest
December 11, 2008 at 16:17
Ah too late now bro, however, if the clock end boys went down that end….
and the north end boys stayed down the North end….
the chants could live on ; )
I’m dreaming of course : (
December 11, 2008 at 16:17
Oh and Raif mate….. it’s the NORTH BANK!!!! lol
December 11, 2008 at 16:19
The problem is now mate most of the new brigade have no idea what it was all about. I’d have to stand up and shout “we’re the green quadrant”
December 11, 2008 at 16:20
i’ve heard many people North Stand, aswell as Bank.
tho i never new what was the original one. thank you. not like we will be sining it again any time soon.
December 11, 2008 at 16:22
Steve
i fucking hat this quadrant bullshit. its so stupid and gives no indication of any identity whats so ever.
and just kills of any possible song to shout about on ur side of the stadium.
December 11, 2008 at 16:23
North Stand….. that’s in Sheffield mate haha
‘Fight Fight where ever you may be,
We are the North Bank Highbury!
And we’ll go down in History!
Cus we are the North Bank Highbury!’
Man i feel old… i’m off to Pub haha
have a good one people!
Richaldo
December 11, 2008 at 16:24
My heart says 3-1 to The Arse
but my head says 1-0 to Boro 
December 11, 2008 at 16:25
at the moment, with our current squad, what is our strongest starting 11?
Here is mine
———Fabianski————-
Sagna—-JD—Gallas—-Clichy
Walcott–Cesc–Toure—Nasri
———RvP——————-
—————–Adebayor——
Am I the only one who thinks Kolo could definately do a good job in DM????????
December 11, 2008 at 16:26
Fucking quadrant .
and to top it off there is no RED quadrant.
ermmm last i checkd mr arsenal people. RED was and still is our main Colour,
i know its silly to moan about the Colour of the quadrants, but its the principles that count,
and itmakes me think even more the clubs History and traditions are just being killed off all together
December 11, 2008 at 16:26
Im going with 3-0 to the Gunners on saturday.
Wenger will have no excuses if we lose…..or, will he?????
December 11, 2008 at 16:26
We’re the Clock End, we’re the Clock End, we’re the Clock End Highbuuuuuuuurieeee!
December 11, 2008 at 16:27
Nah Michael, i have been beating that drum for ages.
December 11, 2008 at 16:27
yes Michael P. Toure is lucky to be a football player. he is just a very good athlete
December 11, 2008 at 16:27
Michael P
Wenger will ALWAYS have an excuses.
would you like me to list a few?
December 11, 2008 at 16:28
Bertie Mee said to Bill shankley have you heard of the North Bank Highbury, Shanks said no i don’t think so but i’ve heard of the Arsenal AGGRO.
December 11, 2008 at 16:29
raif – who’s fucking wonderful idea was it to have an ORANGE fucking quadrant??
If you gotta have fucking quadrants, have Red, White, Blue and Yellow……fuckwits!
December 11, 2008 at 16:31
and who’s idea was it to come out to a song that has nothing to do with football
December 11, 2008 at 16:32
the fucking wonder of you what a shit song
December 11, 2008 at 16:32
Mine’s GREEN dennis. Fucking GREEN FFS. Who wants to sit in a fucking GREEN quadrant? In fact, Who wants to sit in a cunting quadrantat all? I didn’t even know what a quadrant was before I was forced to fucking sit in one.
December 11, 2008 at 16:33
dennisdamenace
my point ex-Fucking-actly.
thats what i was saying when i first saw the thing., justkeep the blody thing as our normal Colours.
but go round the country to other ground and they will always name there stands to some kind of Historical fact to the club
i think they sould have names the stand ofter some of the great players of the club,
like the
- the Dennis Bergkamp stand
- tthe Tony Adams stand
and so on.
think of the songs we could have sang then
December 11, 2008 at 16:33
Franchise…..Kolo is a good footballer, so we’ll have to disagree.
The guy was part of the Invicibles mate….you’ve been drinking again, havent you??
December 11, 2008 at 16:34
Have I gone mad or did they come out to the A-Team tune for a season?
December 11, 2008 at 16:35
BOY BETTER KNOW
are you talking about that stupid Song they play before a Match???
i tihnk thats there stupid idea of trying to do a liverpool were they have
“We wont walk alone” or some shit like that. its fucking crap
December 11, 2008 at 16:36
yes raif i am talking about that song
December 11, 2008 at 16:36
That’s right raif. That’s why Spurs have the famous ‘Dirty yid cunt stand’ on all four sides of their shithole.
December 11, 2008 at 16:37
I thought I quadrant was a measure of beer…
December 11, 2008 at 16:37
Fucking quadrants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Arrrhhhhhhh,
December 11, 2008 at 16:39
im in the fucking orange quad-rant
December 11, 2008 at 16:40
Really Mike P? take a deep breath and reevaluate Kolo. there is nothing special about him. he is a very good athlete but as a CB he panicks too much. Many atimes he messes up badly but he is lucky that he is fast enough to recover. he wouldnt make a short list of 15 CB in the world. he woukld be lucky to be in the top 20.
December 11, 2008 at 16:42
all these fucking munich cunts on talk sport defending that pikey cunt rooney
December 11, 2008 at 16:42
the english equivalent of Kolo IMO is Micah Richards. Top athlete, ok footballer nothin special
December 11, 2008 at 16:43
I did not realize that we haven’t beaten Middlesboro away since Robert Pires’ goal in the 2004-2005 season. Yikes. This game worries me.
December 11, 2008 at 16:44
I think Arsenal have started to give me grey and white hairs . . . this is lunacy.
December 11, 2008 at 16:44
i think we’ve lost twice maryland since then. the riverside has been a graveyard for the top 4 teams in the last 4 years
December 11, 2008 at 16:45
Eyes right skin back tight, Bolloxs to the front. We’re the boys who make more noise when we’re on the cunt. We’re the boys in red and white and we’d rather fuck than fight. We’re the gooners from the East Stand Highbureeeeeeee.
Steve / QoS 0 had a shufty at that prick’s site (out of sheer curiosity). You gave them boys a helluva beating. Where the fuck do some of these people come from? Can’t even offer a cohesive or rational argument.
December 11, 2008 at 16:46
Just woke up and someone toldme that Rooney should be banned for 20games for what he did. Anyone care to enlighten me??
December 11, 2008 at 16:46
EIE SARGE… WE ARE THE HERD
December 11, 2008 at 16:46
Franchise . . . I hate graveyards. I have often wondered why certain teams give us such troubles . . . Middlesboro, Bolton, Wigan, etc.
We will have to play very well to take 3 points away from Boro this weekend.
December 11, 2008 at 16:47
the pikey cunt stamped on the geezah’s face
December 11, 2008 at 16:47
He fucked a 90 year old przzie Stu.
Oh, and he stamped on some shit Danish bloke.
December 11, 2008 at 16:48
Stu, humm . . . what is this Rooney talk?
December 11, 2008 at 16:49
The board & Management compeletely lost touch with the heartbeat of the club long time ago.
The whole stadium doesn’t feel like a Home Ground.
Theres more fucking non english letters/words depicting an airline on the outside walls than the name of the club.
December 11, 2008 at 16:49
EIE……we are the HERD BBK
December 11, 2008 at 16:50
BBK
Your right, the penny has dropped: that is exactly what they are trying to do. They want us to stand there singing that dreary piece of Elvis shit while waving our scarves like the bin dippers do to you’ll never walk alone. That’s scary
December 11, 2008 at 16:51
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7777021.stm
the police are saying the will ban for life the people chanting against Sol.
So does that mean, if someone chants pedo stuff to Wenger they will be banned?
There will only be Arsenal fans left, who can watch football.
December 11, 2008 at 16:54
We’ll all be banned for standing up in their nice shiny new stadium Mark. And for telling some over officious fat fuck of a steward to cunt off before you put him on his arse. Oh sorry, that’s just me.
December 11, 2008 at 16:55
Can you imagine, every ground will have a ‘Political Diversive Officer Against Persecution’ at every game to monitor what might offend ‘Peoples unable to defend’ themselves.
Next will be Human Right Solicitors to issue summons..
The whole thing has become SHITE.
December 11, 2008 at 16:56
I am assuming that the Steve in the comments here, is the same Steve whose comments I just had the pleasure of reading on Arsenalinsider.
On Song:
‘“Quite slow” is that the understatement of the year?? I saw him running down Holloway Road once and Stephen Hawking overtook him.’
Hilarious. First time reader over here, nice site boys. You seem to get a lot of stick over at insider, a bit unfairly if you ask me.
Up the Arse!
December 11, 2008 at 16:57
Have a good evening Grovers. it has to be better than yesterday.
December 11, 2008 at 16:57
bbk – I’m in the orange quadrant too, lower tier with all the nutters!
December 11, 2008 at 16:57
Cheers Le Arse. Right, i’m off. Adios
December 11, 2008 at 16:57
Laters Steve.
December 11, 2008 at 16:58
Laters Steve.
December 11, 2008 at 17:00
DDM Me too. We have our own little crew right at the back directly behind our bench. Had a bit of trouble with the stewards last year. Couple of old fellas. Looked liked a couple of refugees from the Last of the Summer Wine.
December 11, 2008 at 17:00
Pedro,
a request no more posts about the highbury flats,it’s doing my head in.
arsenal players are to many chiefs not enough indians.
the new 1989 kiy lookalike is a kiss of death.
just spoke with another grover,who said exactly as i felt,that we both half expect to lose nowadays and it doesn’t hurt so much as before,because our standards have dropped so much.don’t misunderstand me,i want us to win everytime but i just feel we are not in the race nowadays.
boro away.We can’t keep a clean sheet and can’t score so i feel another defeat is on the cards.
i have got the friday jokes ready if anyone wants cheering up.
December 11, 2008 at 17:01
Kelsey shhhhh! I think we’ve avoided the subject all day!
December 11, 2008 at 17:02
im in the BLUE quadrant
Entrance H lower tier
December 11, 2008 at 17:02
Been over on arsenal insider most of the day that berk ftk been winding them up all day so easy read steves comment about song im still pissing myself laughing
December 11, 2008 at 17:02
Boomshanka Steve……
December 11, 2008 at 17:06
pedro what quadrant are u and geoff in?
December 11, 2008 at 17:07
DJ has been very very good 4 us but I don’t think he’ll become ‘’world class’’ under Wenger. DJ needs 2 work with a top defensive coach 2 improve his positioning and other aspects of his game in fact the whole team do.
And I 100% agree with U Pedro. Personally I think some fans need a reality check we are never ever gonna win any major trophies under Wenger. The AKB who keep talking about lack of funds need 2 understand Wenger’s poor team selection has nothing 2 do with money.
December 11, 2008 at 17:08
also lads i would just like to point out SONG is the JA JA BINKS of the Arsenal team
December 11, 2008 at 17:12
Welcome to Le Grove Reggie.
December 11, 2008 at 17:14
THE WONDER OF YOU OHHHHHHH OH OH………
December 11, 2008 at 17:14
Raif… I don’t even know mate. We are in the quadrant nearest Arsenal station… block 55.
December 11, 2008 at 17:14
Raif, how were your birthday drinks?
December 11, 2008 at 17:15
December 11, 2008 at 17:16
Hey Sarge, how goes it? We’re about halfway back in the corner near that nutta with the drum
December 11, 2008 at 17:17
Max Clifford is earning his money then,Sol is a very good client
December 11, 2008 at 17:21
It has often been told that English players are not up to Arsenal standards and that foreign players do. So we have Eboue, Song, Bendtner, Denilson, Almunia, Diaby as examples of top class qualities and yet we can’t win anything since Arsene Wenger brought in his wholesale foreign-buy policy.
All the foreign players he’s brought in since 2004 bar a few have been crap. He keeps looking outside for players and continue to ignore English players who’re used to playing in the EPL.
Is Arsene Wenger the new Brian Clough as Howard opined at ‘Cultured left Foot’
For those who may not know, Clough was the manager who won many titles for Forest including European Cups and was the same Clough who led Forest into relegation.
Is Arsene, Arsenal’s Clough in the making?
December 11, 2008 at 17:21
im getting a strange feeling this may be wengers last season at the club !
i wonder if anyone else is feeling as if arsenes run out of ideas and may leave in the summer ?
December 11, 2008 at 17:23
Pedro:
i think ur in the Blue quadrant aswe.. im sure you walk around the side of the stadium were its the mosr Narrow and has some Big fences were the train tracks are on the other side.
and the Drinks was good thanks. ofcourse i couldnt do much with the baby around but all was well. i had me some Nice Cheesecake aswell
December 11, 2008 at 17:26
Aswell as Song Being the JA JA BINKS of the Arsenal Team
i also think EBOUE is DONKEY from Shrek.
December 11, 2008 at 17:26
I hope it was new yorks finest raif…!
December 11, 2008 at 17:27
and mikel Silvestre is Uncle Fester
December 11, 2008 at 17:28
Actully Pedro it was sainsbury’s finest
December 11, 2008 at 17:31
to be honest i think we need at least one new player for every position because our current team is not cutting it at all really apart from wins against the chavs and united we have looked average to poor for most of the season so far! our only effective central midfielder is cesc and arguably denilson, song and diaby don’t look good enough and we need another winger because walcotts injured god knows when rosickys back and apart from that our only decent winger is nasri! upfront van persie and ade look rather mediocre this season bedntners toilet! eduardos back soon but who knows if he will be the same player he was and lets not even get started on our defence we need a big centre back in there to tighten things up.
December 11, 2008 at 17:31
harlan,
you could argue the same for the other top 4 teams,how many english players have come through their club ranks since 2004. i know what you mean,ans there are those who thought bentley was god(not me).
i met brian Clough when we played Derby.He was the nearest thing to fergie,in present day terms.totally ruthless,took no shit from anymore but drink killed him plus the the scandal with the ticket money laundering.
wenger hasn’t got that ruthless touch anymore,look at him he is 59 and looks 70.i believe he is need of medical and pyschiatric treatment.All genisus are boarding on insanity .
December 11, 2008 at 17:34
Harlan
Howard is a xenophobic bigot; they can keep him and all he represents.
December 11, 2008 at 17:38
Brian clough was the forerunner of fergie.he took no shit from anyone,was toatally ruthless until drink and tickey money laundering killed him.
how many english players have come through the other top 4 teams isince 2004.wenger let bentley go,some thought he was wrong,but not me.The problem is wenger he is 59 looks over 70 and i think he is ill,seriously mental or otherwise.
December 11, 2008 at 17:40
sorry about that first post didnt register
December 11, 2008 at 17:44
When Wenger showed up we were basically a midtable team or higher. Wenger thinks that because he has done so much good for the club that he is alowed to leave us as a midtable club. But thats just unacceptable. Any other board would have sacked Wenger by now regardless of what he has done.
There are no signes of promise anymore. The kids? Everyone has been saying that in a few years we will conquer the world of football but for how many years have people been saying that?
December 11, 2008 at 17:46
Pedro..
do you like?
http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=legrove3yf0.jpg
December 11, 2008 at 17:54
Longer Sleeve aswell
http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=legrove4od4.jpg
different Text on the item fromt he last one
December 11, 2008 at 18:04
just to make my day the £sterling is now equal to the euro, fuck.
December 11, 2008 at 18:13
So witch are the Clubs thats more linkly to go Bust or End up Selling players Bcos they need the Money.
West Ham Looks like its going that way!
Maybe liverpool as there 200 mill in the red so i have heard, or somthing along them lines.
December 11, 2008 at 18:13
Witch..
December 11, 2008 at 18:14
oppss. didnt mean to send that,
Witch out of all the possible clubs would have players thats worth buying ?
December 11, 2008 at 18:15
Nice stuff Raif, maybe QoS can sell them on her site
December 11, 2008 at 18:17
Ahhh yes. thats right she could lol..
December 11, 2008 at 18:18
I would get Upson, Green, and maybe Bellend from West ham
December 11, 2008 at 18:19
Upson and Green are the only WHU players that could nearly get into a top4 team. Maybe Noble is he wasnt a dirty cunt.
December 11, 2008 at 18:20
Thought you all could use a funny . . .
December 11, 2008 at 18:24
Just watched that link to Rooney’s dirty play last night. The dirty pikey scouse cunt. If he was a foreigner (and not a manc player) he’d be slaughtered. Piece of trailer trash shit.
December 11, 2008 at 18:27
goonermichael
yep to right. thats the english media for u mate. hypacritical cunts they are
December 11, 2008 at 18:35
Is this have a go at Bendtner day…………if you get no service from the midfield then your screwed!
December 11, 2008 at 18:35
By the way what has happened to the YoungGuns link on the blog roll, it does not seem to work… anyone knows???
December 11, 2008 at 18:42
lol great post today, i love waterboy. shame about the game last night
December 11, 2008 at 18:55
Geoff, I saw that special on the rogue elephant’s. They were killing rhino’s as well. It’s all about the bull(s) . . . ha!
December 11, 2008 at 19:02
Great post Pedro.
The shirts are fukin brilliant Raif.
All that quadrant shit makes you feel like a customer at a pop concert, i hate it.
December 11, 2008 at 19:10
chozzer
Hello mate, thanks about the Shirts
and yeah the quadrants are a right waste of time. and a waste of a name.
Our Board loves to make money som im actully suprsied they didnt try to Sell the Naming Rights to each quadrant in the stadium.
December 11, 2008 at 19:20
how much money did the club get naming the stadium the emirates and is it a permanent deal so the name can’t be changed……anybody
December 11, 2008 at 19:23
hi guys,
kelsey, someone might correct me here but i believe the club made a deal for about 100mil over about 10years for the stadium.
it is a permanent deal but this ivan bloke is a contract lawyer , he’ll find a loophole somewhere.
December 11, 2008 at 19:24
ivan has already said hes looking into the sponserships, he must have something up his sleeve already.
December 11, 2008 at 19:31
kelsey
Jon Jon is right it was 100mil for naming rights for the stadium and the Shirts. i think the Stadium was for 15 years and the shirt was 10 years,
December 11, 2008 at 19:33
Sorry it was
eight-year shirt sponsorship
December 11, 2008 at 19:35
thats right raif,
i knew it was something like that
when you compare them deals to the likes of manutd, we got ripped off big time
i cant give exact figures but they get twice as much over a shorter period
we were that desperate for cash that edelman took the first offer that came along
December 11, 2008 at 19:40
JonJon – it really is shocking mate,
as i remember when i first new about the deal i thought to my self that we got shafted big time.
as a Joint Deal of 100 mill for Stadium name and Shirt Sponsor was kinda shit, as we could have possibly got 100mill for the Shirt Sponsor alone.
it was bad business doing the deal for both of them.
December 11, 2008 at 19:46
it definatley wasnt well thought out raif,
to say the club finances are suposed to be in good hands, it certainly doesnt fill you with confidence does it??
December 11, 2008 at 19:51
AIG/Man U. are in Newsweek this week, as the Mancs are in dire straits with AIG. AIG are close to pulling the deal out, which would mean that they would look like the Hammers of West Ham . . . tough toasties for them.
December 11, 2008 at 19:52
The 79 FA cup final is on Setanta. Never seen it before apart form the goals. Any good?
December 11, 2008 at 19:53
not at all man. i Pity the Fools..
also i wounder how much we get a year for the Emirates Shirt Deal.
Man Utd Get 14 million a year, and used to Get 9 mill from Vodafone the last time.
we did get 6 mill a year from 02.
AND HERES THE STUPID BIT. we get 3 mill a year for the stadium. so if its only 3mill. i hate to think how much we get for the bloody shirts.
No wonder the New Ceo wants to Get new deals.
but to be honest i wonder if we can actully Secure a Deal big enough since we havent won fuck all and been playing Utter shit. as when we was with 02 we was winning stuff wasnt we
December 11, 2008 at 19:53
i heard the same maryland,
i also heard that manu have already lined up another deal.
December 11, 2008 at 19:54
raif, what does my avatar appear as???
December 11, 2008 at 20:05
Mr T – JonJon
December 11, 2008 at 20:05
Liam Brady wasnt half bad.
December 11, 2008 at 20:06
thanks lads,had to go away for a while,so as you say we got shafted bigtime. i just dont like the name with our heritage.i mentioned yesterday real get 50 million for a 5 year shirt deal and so will barca.
aig is unique in the fact that the u.s. government will bail them out and they are not a bank,perhaps you know better
December 11, 2008 at 20:07
stu, i was there mate.brady was the messi of the 70’s.
December 11, 2008 at 20:09
Kelsey, so I hear. Everyone keeps saying things like that.
December 11, 2008 at 20:09
Kelsey, it’s still not over and done with regarding AIG. At this point they are talking about breaking up the company and selling it to potential suiters. Either way, AIG won’t be able to fulfill their contractual obligations to Man U. I am not surprised that they have someone else lined up. Maybe they will get Pampers . . . wouldn’t that be lovely.
December 11, 2008 at 20:10
cheers insidealbania
i changed it a couple of days ago but it still comes up as my old avatat on my screen, at least i know it worked. i just cant see it for myself,
stu.. liam brady was a genius, i never got to watch him play live but my grandad had loads of videos of arsenal games and seasons of the past and i used to sit and admire brady for hours on end. what a player!!!
December 11, 2008 at 20:11
JonJon
thats why i said I pity the fools lol. Bcos i saw ur avatar
December 11, 2008 at 20:11
As a US taxpayer, if they pay out AIG, which allows them to pay for Man Ure . . . I am going to throw all my tea into the Boston Harbor . . . I mean it
.
December 11, 2008 at 20:11
woolworths
December 11, 2008 at 20:13
marylandgunner
i wasnt aware people from the Us drank Tea, i thought only uds Limeys drank tea
haha
December 11, 2008 at 20:14
jonjon dont make me look that old talking about your grandad
brady ran the team and he had an awesome leftfoot.come to think of it he could takeover if they promote from within,because i think patrice is older than wenger
December 11, 2008 at 20:15
raif,
i wish i could see it!!
i thought you could mate, thats why i asked.
i needed to know for sure,
i wanted a picture of bergkamp, but i couldnt find a decent one, so mr T is the next best thing. I aint gettin on no plane!!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 20:16
LMAO. hahahaha i like the Link as BA BARACUS didnt like planes either. i like it.
December 11, 2008 at 20:17
Jon Jon
what web browser do you use?
December 11, 2008 at 20:17
i thought aig was the largest insurance company in the world and insure banks.
December 11, 2008 at 20:17
I thought Brady was in charge of the scouting not management. As far as i know Banfield and Bould are reserve managers.
December 11, 2008 at 20:17
Ok so what is all this talk about Shaggin hippo’s?
December 11, 2008 at 20:19
lol…ure right Raif…i dont think they drink tea either!
December 11, 2008 at 20:20
Does anyone else think the front row at the emirates is too far away from the pitch.
Was thinking about van persie running along the front row at the bridge high fiving with the gooners. Not gonna happen at the emirates.
I think we lose the ability to intimidate the opposition as we did at Highbury.
Found these fish eye lens photos of the stadium. Hope you like.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ieyasu/939738269/
December 11, 2008 at 20:22
im not sure what a web browser is raif, im not too technical when it comes to PC’s
i was reading Le Grove for months before i learned how to set up myself and comment.
My knowledge is pretty basic, Avenells been teaching me certain stuff so ive got by, it was avenell who taught me who to get an avatar.
Im learning though, i just need a bit of a helping hand at times.
December 11, 2008 at 20:22
Raif, I love tea . . . but my vice is Starbucks . . . it’s the modern day equivilent of crack.
December 11, 2008 at 20:22
Chozzer, completely agree. The fans arent close enought to the putch. At Highbury the fans could spit on the players (not that anyone would do that) but at the Grove the fans are too far away.
December 11, 2008 at 20:23
Raif, also . . . it was a joke . . . Boston Tea Party (Major US historical event), threw all of their tea into the Boston Harbor because the tax on tea was excessive. That is why coffee got a foothold in the US.
December 11, 2008 at 20:24
Stu,i am not sure i thought he was on the youth development side but he knows a lot about football.hasn’t he just recently taken a job with the irish national team
December 11, 2008 at 20:24
chozzer,
i was discussing the same thing the other day with a mate.
if they added a few seats and made the fans closer, i reckon they could get a good couple of thousand easy with all the room there is.
December 11, 2008 at 20:27
marylandgunner
lol i know dude. i was just messing about. as most Americans i know and have spoken to its all about Starbucks. like what you just said.
other then that Dispite us Brits loving tea. theres more then enough Coffee drinkers to say other wise lol..
December 11, 2008 at 20:28
JonJon
what do you use to actully view things on the web?
it must be Internet explorer my guess
December 11, 2008 at 20:28
Hey, what happened to young-guns?
December 11, 2008 at 20:30
Raif, as long as my jokes are historically correct . . . that’s all that is important to me . . . and Arsenal winning. Since we seem to be doing a spotty job at winning, Starbucks is the only consistency right now . . . sad.
December 11, 2008 at 20:30
Pedro, the TV show?
December 11, 2008 at 20:30
Raif… nice t-shirts! haha!
December 11, 2008 at 20:33
yes raif thats right,
the mrs is the internet expert, she set it up, i just have a play on my laptop like the novice i am.
but internet explorer sounds right.
December 11, 2008 at 20:34
marylandgunner
HAHAH you are right my friend. you know come to think about it i havent Sat down in a Starbucks before. just had a Hot chocolate once to take away…
Pedro..
like the shirts i see. haha.
December 11, 2008 at 20:35
Pedro, insidealbania said the same thing 6.35
December 11, 2008 at 20:36
JonJon
try going on this Website. and download Fire Fox 3
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/
once you download it go onto Word press and log on as normal. after that go onto Legrove Via Fire Fox and see if ur Avatar shows up then
December 11, 2008 at 20:39
JonJon
also Fire Fox is a better and more Secure Browser then internet expert.
also you can import ur Faves aswell witch is good. so u dont need to do them Manually
December 11, 2008 at 20:41
This seems to work. Praps they’ve moved to join you.
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/
December 11, 2008 at 20:42
Alot of Blogs are Jumping on WordPress now.
December 11, 2008 at 20:47
cheers for that raif, ill have a look later.
December 11, 2008 at 20:48
Chozzer… he was originally on wordpress… then he moved to .org for adverts etc… so I guess something must have broken!
December 11, 2008 at 20:48
My last name is Templeton . . . so Templeton Peck (A.K.A. Face) has a special place in my heart.
December 11, 2008 at 20:52
got to go,
i wish you all a good evening and i’ll speak to all tomorrow
December 11, 2008 at 20:55
LATERS JONJON
December 11, 2008 at 20:56
Pedro, have you seen arsenal insider today. I know it’s shite but their poorly written post says all the stuff that grovers have been saying for months and a few grovers have had a go in the comments section. FTK my arse.
December 11, 2008 at 20:59
This stop/start up/down type experience I am getting from the Wenger Boys is not good for the spirit
But a win over Boro this weekend, any sort of win (0-1 would do) would go a long way to putting some optimism back in the old GG9.
Come on Arsenal, have a red hot go!!!!!!!
No guts, no glory!!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 21:03
Chozzer, I’ve heard he got a bit of a grilling!
Every time someone has a pop at us… they always end up looking stupid…
I haven’t had a look but I am sure the comments are funny if Steve had anything to do with them!
December 11, 2008 at 21:06
gnarleygeorge9
we need to get a few games Won on the trot, i’ll be happy with a few 1 – 0 wins under our belts, and as much as i want us to win with Style, ill be happy with somthing a Little Less stylish,
all that matters is the 3 points
December 11, 2008 at 21:17
Evening Grovers,
Anyone around???
December 11, 2008 at 21:19
Me thinks that we should invest in some German efficiency! Any Bundesliga highlights i see always impress me. They always seem technically good on the ball.
December 11, 2008 at 21:27
Ja Stu!
December 11, 2008 at 21:28
Stu
Bastin Shwen **somthing or other*** Sitger i like him. and his a Solid Professional aswell
http://sport.rtl.de/fussball/euro2008_79464.php?media=video2&set_id=16097
December 11, 2008 at 21:28
Your post was spot on but i almost stopped reading when you dissed Almunia. He is one of the best keepers we’ve ever had. He made us look good on the night as he always has (but for a few mistakes made by even the greatest keepers in the world). If we had fabianski in post, we would be 14th now rather than 4th. Remember him against Burnley? Hideous!!
Anyway, Long Live The Arsenal.
December 11, 2008 at 21:30
Evening Wrighty, saw your post. Wish I could be as optimistic. Juve look really good, we all know how good Barca are doing and Bayern are on great form too. Unles we work a miracle and avoid them i the draw I really fear for us.
December 11, 2008 at 21:31
wrighty7
hi mate. is the CL DRAW TOMORROW??
also check out the link i gave to stu on my last comment
December 11, 2008 at 21:32
evening wrighty
December 11, 2008 at 21:32
Raif, Bastian must have amazing self controll to let them do that during his interview. I would have at least hit one of them.
December 11, 2008 at 21:33
Me, I think that is taking it a bit to far! Best ever? He hasn’t won a trophy yet! Seaman, Wilson, Jennings, Lukic… Lehmann…!
Almunia was very consistent last year… not so this year I’m afraid. He has made a lot of mistakes.
December 11, 2008 at 21:33
Stu
hahahahahahaha
only god knows what was going though his head at that moment
December 11, 2008 at 21:36
Raif,
The Champions League draw is NEXT Friday matey. 19th December.
Stu,
I think it will be our year in the Champions League. I really do!
December 11, 2008 at 21:37
ahhh nice one..
did u check out that link lol…
December 11, 2008 at 21:38
Obviously Almunia is still a few years off his peak, being a keeper, but imo he asnt shown enough natural ability to suggest that hes going to get much better. Whereas Fabianski has shown that he will decide early what he is going to do and do it. Fabianski is very highly spoken of within Arsenal and by the goalkeeper coach, who ever that is.
December 11, 2008 at 21:40
Guys and Gals,
On Almunia. I think he is a good goalie but I don’t feel he is top class.
If goalkeepers were put into a system of rankings, like the leagues in England, I’d say he makes the Championship.
People like Casillas, Buffon are Premiership.
Keepers like Gomes are Blue Square Premiership.
Catch my drift??
I think that Almunia has improved since being at the club but I bet a lot of that goes down to Mad Jens keeping him on his toes.
December 11, 2008 at 21:42
Ha ha Raif!
VIVA ESPANA!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 21:42
I said before and i would still rather that we have Fabianski in goal learning from his mistakes rather that Almunia in goal making the same mistakes time after time.
December 11, 2008 at 21:45
Well said Wrighty. He is ok… but probably wont ever match the greats.
Fabianski might… he has raw talent… but very raw.
December 11, 2008 at 21:49
Hola
Just recovering from last night. What a shit show.
We need a rethink. People always talk about the spine of the team being of massive importance. Almunia, WG, ?? , Ade is not exactly fearsome is it.
Compare to Friedel, Laursen, Barry, Abonglohar/Carew.
Sad that even Villa look better at the moment. action must be taken, and taken fast,
December 11, 2008 at 21:51
Jeez, I have just read Me’s comment of 9.28.
I can only assume he has been partaking of illicit substances, !!
December 11, 2008 at 21:52
Don’t be jealous raddy
December 11, 2008 at 21:52
Dutch gunner….thank you so much. Silvestre is the major reason we are shit! I strongly believe Manure used some black magic on Wenger and got him to sign the shite silvestre, who in turn was pais by manure to sabotage arsenal!! …Ha ha ha ha….that sounds funny to me even…lol. On a serious note, when we get rid of Silvestre, we get rid of 30% of our problems. Getting rid of Bendtner will get rid of another 20%. Eboue, Denilson, Gallas together will get rid of another 20%. 11 new experienced players will take care of the rest!!
December 11, 2008 at 21:53
Hi there Raddy!
What you talking about mate? I rate Almunia higher than Seaman!
December 11, 2008 at 21:54
How do you know I’m not Pedro ?
December 11, 2008 at 21:55
Me,
Do you think Wenger will sign 11, yes 11 new experienced players mate???
In that case I want the Spanish national team because we already have Cesc and Alonso could be the 11th!!! LOL
December 11, 2008 at 21:56
Touche Raddy!
Friedel is a top class keeper… Laursen and Barry are good… Carew isn’t as good as Ade.
We need to buy in some mature quality…
December 11, 2008 at 21:58
My goodness Wrighty.
On second thoughts , you are right.
Almunia is better than Seaman, Jennings, Wilson, Kelsey, Lukic etc. It must have been all those years chasing the dragon that caused my delusion. Sorry……..
December 11, 2008 at 22:00
Well I think that it has been seen and said so many times, you just have to wonder is Arsene is really on the same planet. We have a squad made up of some very good players – Fabregas, Van Persie, Clichy, Sagna – some good players with potential – Nasri, Walcott, Eduardo, Djourou, – Some Squad players – Adebeyor, Silvestre – some good young players who have potential – Denilson, Ramsey, Wilshire, Vela, Gibbs, Fabianski……. but then we have a lot of VERY average players – Diaby, Song, Almunia, Bendtner, Eboue (and I am trying to be kind in putting him in here), Gallas.
When you assess it like this……. you understand why we keep seeing bad performances and results, because we simply do not have the top quality in depth to achieve consistancy and results.
Now I don’t know if this is generally known but……..
Wengers dream (or is it folly) of being able to build a young all conquering side failed at Monaco where he pretty much did the same as he is doing now at Arsenal ie. he won the French cupin 1991 & finsihed runners up in the league in 1991 & 1992 then he brought in young unknown players on the cheap …. mainly from Africa …. shipped out the experienced players …… dropped out of the top 4 and in 1994 after 3 tropkyless years the team started off badly and Wenger was sacked when his teams performances continued to deteriorate and they dropped to 14th in the table.
Maybe that is all just coincidence??? But it looks to me as if maybe, just maybe AW dropped into the perfect situation at Arsenal with a team already on the rise and with just a bit of tweaking things went well..that is until Arsene then had to replace and build the side himself……… are we now seeing the true abilities (or failures) of Arsene Wenger….. where he is repeating the same mistakes he made before …….
Who knows? like I said maybe it’s just coincidence, but Monaco had a sucessfull team who with Arsene as manager went into decline and they saw the light and sacked him before it was too late……. but even then it took them 5 more years to recover and win the French League again …….. lets hope we are not too blinded by his earlier success too see the “light” before it is too late for us!!!
December 11, 2008 at 22:01
Raddy,
That list sums it up really mate. Look at that quality over the years…………..
*SIGH*
December 11, 2008 at 22:01
We need a complete reshuffle of the squad. It will definatly cost a pretty penny but will be worth it for the better of the club.
Out of the current squad I would only keep Fab, JD, Sagna, Clichy, (maybe Kolo as a squad player), Cesc, Nasri, Theo, Rosicky(if he ever wakes up), Vela, Nik(im one of the few that want him to succeed) and the thus far untested youngsters.
Everyone else is replacable. Did I forget anyone??
December 11, 2008 at 22:02
I agree anout Carew Pedro.
It was just to make a point about how far we have to go to become contenders. I fear we need more than just 3 to compete.
December 11, 2008 at 22:03
Wrighty 7….that’s just wishful thinking on my part. I think Wenger will be two 12 yr olds in January. Then he’ll do us a favor and sign a 13yr old keeper, a 15yrs old striker and a 4 yrs old defender in the summer….LOL!!!
The whole spannish team sounds yummy though….lol
December 11, 2008 at 22:04
Stu,
Wilshere!
December 11, 2008 at 22:05
Wrighty, I have missed your optimism. Dammit, where were you yesterday? I was sulking, eating junk food, crying in my pillow . . . my wife had to slap me.
I too think that this is our year in the CL. I bet you we get Juve, and we beat them. Barca will go to Chelsea, and they will be out, and I will be happy again.
December 11, 2008 at 22:05
Me, we don’t slag each other on here.
Make you point but don’t accuse someone of not being a gooner.
You said something that wouldn’t be backed by any gooner in the world… you got a bit of light hearted stick… so deal with it or tell us why he is one of the best.
Seaman played in teams far worse than the current one.
Almunia has been average all season, you can’t deny that… we’ve all seen the clangers.
December 11, 2008 at 22:08
Me. I didn’t insult you – I insulted your opinion, which I happen to think is nonsense, As is your claim to know a decent player…. You may well be a brilliant bloke, you may be the finest looking man on the planet. You could even be as cool as Geoff and Pedro, BUT, you sure as hell do not know a great goalkeeper.
December 11, 2008 at 22:08
Seaman got us points but Almuni hasnt won us any points really. The highlight of his career has been saving a penalty against the Spuds but hasnt done much else that springs to mind.
December 11, 2008 at 22:09
Ramsey.
December 11, 2008 at 22:10
MarylandGunner!
I was doing the same yesterday matey! I had the right hump but then a shining light came through the curtains and I………………………saw the light!
Arsenal will be Champions League winners! Its GUNNER happen!
December 11, 2008 at 22:14
That shining light Wrighty…… It didn’t happen at the end of the ‘hump’ did it ? Did it last about 7 seconds ?
December 11, 2008 at 22:14
Stu, that’s not entirely true. Last season (yes, it’s last year, but a valid point all the same), Almunia saved a penalty from Keane, and kept us in the game. He saved a huge penalty in the Villa game (yes we lost, but blocking a PK ain’t easy). He has made some great saves to keep us level, as he did in the Kiev game.
He isn’t the greatest ever, but right now, there aren’t too many keepers that I would be looking to throw an Arsenal jersey on. Just my two cents.
December 11, 2008 at 22:16
Pedro…if you saw his insult as “Light hearted stick” then why didn’t you give me the benefit of the doubt too? Bias maybe? Well since you asked, I saw seaman make so many mistakes in his time that i Loved him simply becos he played for my team. Lehman, in my opinion, was the worst keeper ever to play for Arsenal. He was a temperamental cry baby who always caused his team more harm than good. So he had one good season?
And in all honesty, i’d rather have a boring-boring arsenal of old than a team that played like they did against Porto (young team right?), Stoke, Man City and even some of the games they ever won.
Like i said, the only reason we are 4th is cos of Alminia’s saves. I’m not so that i’ve seen teams create chances against arsenal like they have this season. It’s shocking to watch. And, maybe gunners on here will not agree with me on Almunia but i know 1000s who agree.
December 11, 2008 at 22:18
SEVEN seconds???!!!!
Maybe 3 seconds Raddy!!
Ha ha
December 11, 2008 at 22:18
Me… you are on… I only removed the offending comment!
I don’t have a bias to anyone!
December 11, 2008 at 22:19
Wrighty, what I love about the CL (and hate) is that the victor has chance on his side. You have to play strategy, and we tend to fare well against European teams. If we can steer clear of the English teams, I think we have a genuine shot at the title . . . and Barca.
December 11, 2008 at 22:20
Except for Pedro.
December 11, 2008 at 22:20
December 11, 2008 at 22:21
Me,
The only reason Arsenal are fourth mate is because we have been so inconsistent it’s untrue.
Almunia hasn’t kept us from going any lower. He has been as inconsistant as the rest.
THATS why we are fourth……..
December 11, 2008 at 22:21
Pedro.. Are you up for an hour mate?
December 11, 2008 at 22:23
MarylandGunner,
Our possession football suits the Champions League. It’s a far slower pace than the English Premiership and there is no team better in Europe than Arsenal at keeping the ball.
You need the luck of the draw and people will say if Arsenal draw an English team, then we will struggle because they know how to play against us. I beg to differ.
If a side resorts to the usual bully boy tactics employed by Premiership teams then the European referees will stamp down on it. The harsh tackles will not be allowed.
Liverpool and Chelsea have knocked us out in the past but we outplayed them both in those ties. I’d say a great deal of luck enabled them to overcome us. Surely that luck would change?
Successful sides are built on the foundations of a solid defence. The defence made up of Gallas, Djourou, Clichy and Sagna is more than solid enough to keep clean sheets.
Arsenal always have goals in them. We can score against anyone, especially those crucial away goals.
If we can keep it tight in the home games then we can beat anyone over two legs. Teams will not want to face us.
December 11, 2008 at 22:23
No problem Pedro. We all just write our opinions here. Hell, Arsene will have the same players this weekend. In fact, he’s going to buy orlando clay next season (no one by that name by the way). An unknown player who is cheap and average. May even cost less than Silvestre. I just love me my Arsenal!!
December 11, 2008 at 22:23
Me…. I dont mean to be rude but if i could I would laugh in your face. The type of laugh that cant be helped no matter what! The type of blurting, spontaneous laugh that would easily make any contents of mu mouth spray onto you serious face! Lehmann, the worst keeper to play for Arsenal?!! I dont know every keeper to play for us but he certainly isnt near the worst. He won the FA cup final for us, went ubeaten in his first season with us (regardless of te defence) and despite his, at times, idiotic mistakes pulled off some amazing saves. Not to mention his CL clean sheet record.
December 11, 2008 at 22:24
Fuck off Avenell………….
December 11, 2008 at 22:26
Yoooooooooooou Fuck off! Wrighty..
December 11, 2008 at 22:27
I loved Mad Jens!!!
His shenanigans had me in stitches every week!
He was a character and most of all, a WINNER.
And you can’t have too many winners.
December 11, 2008 at 22:27
Wrighty 7 i beg to differ. We shouldn’t even be 4th if the truth be told. We have been blessed by the “big team” luck. You play bad and you win. Alminia has helped. he’s been inconsistent but not as much as the rest of the team. The outfield players make him look bad.
December 11, 2008 at 22:31
Stu….laughing is good so laugh bra. So Lehman is a better Keeper than Friedle becos he won cups and friedel didn’t? So Henry was not one of the greatest strikers in the world cos he never won the World footballer or the Ballon Do’or? So Okocha is the the greatest player to player for Nigeria and Africa cos he didn;t win trophies and never won the African footballer Award? Pleaseeeee…….
December 11, 2008 at 22:31
All sorted then me! Good to have you on board.
I’m hitting bedforshire in a big way… have a great night everyone!
Keep it goonerish
December 11, 2008 at 22:32
Jens made 2 mistakes last season and was duly dropped for the rest of the season, having to look on as Almunia unfairly took his place. Aside from those 2 errors, Jens only mistakes were to do with his temper, not is goalkeeping.
December 11, 2008 at 22:33
Me,
I dont think we have been blessed with “big team” luck my friend.
Look at the amount of times we have played bad, I count at least 5 times and we were punished 5 times by horrible defeats that we deserved to lose every time.
The fact is this Arsenal team is the easiest to play of the top four. Teams don’t fear us anymore.
I don’t think the rest of the side make Almunia look bad, they haven’t helped but he has done that himself.
December 11, 2008 at 22:34
this team is not strong enough for anything this season that is the bottom line
December 11, 2008 at 22:34
Lehmann was one of the best keepers in the world for at least two seasons… his form was sensational… he was part of the invincibles, he got to a champions league final, won an FA Cup on his own, and got to the semis of a world cup!
He is an achiever… Friedel is a failed liverpool keeper… a journeyman.
December 11, 2008 at 22:34
Night Pedro
Keep it Goonerish mate…………….
December 11, 2008 at 22:35
PEDROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Are you there?
December 11, 2008 at 22:36
Oh here comes Mr Pessimistic ha ha, hows things BBK??
I told you Arsenal would do Chelsea mate!
December 11, 2008 at 22:37
I am indeed Avenell… I had to stay around for this one!
December 11, 2008 at 22:39
Whats happening??????????
December 11, 2008 at 22:39
How are you by the way?
December 11, 2008 at 22:39
hey wrighty cool m8 you got it spot on
December 11, 2008 at 22:40
Wrighty, we have played bad at least 50 times this season……oh yeah, we haven’t played that many games. We were so lucky against wigan it was painful to watch. So were we against Dynamo.And, that’s just to mention 2.
I do agree that we are easy to play. Even Boro isn’t that easy to play. Neither is Everton, Portsmouth, hell…sunderland gave us a tough tough time. That’s based on tactics and players. Players who are slight and easily bullied. Everyone knows how to play us, the was Porto played us. Don’t give us space on the ball and we don’t know what to do. Mate, we’ve been lucky most times
December 11, 2008 at 22:41
Its a shame for Lehmanns sake that he didnt join a bigger club before us and that Kahn and he were the same age. But Jens got there eventually, shame he didnt win anything for Germany tho.
December 11, 2008 at 22:42
Wrighty, spot on. What we saw at Porto on Wednesday was shambollock. It was a lack of desire, inconsistency of play, and a team that was not matched well to the game at hand.
I agree with the European ref piece.
December 11, 2008 at 22:42
Well boys, goodnight and y’all keep your opinions and optimism riding high. Long Live The Arsenal!!
December 11, 2008 at 22:45
BBK,
What do you SERIOUSLY think Arsenal will achieve this season mate?
I think if Mr Wenger signs a couple of players we can finish 4th comfortably maybe even 3rd.
The Champions League, we will win it.
The FA Cup, maybe win that as well. At least Semi-Finals.
I’d be happy with that!
December 11, 2008 at 22:47
Night Me……
December 11, 2008 at 22:47
i think the fa cup is possible other then that top 4 is a must,cant see the league or champions league coming our way
December 11, 2008 at 22:47
Pedro… I have just and made you a christmas pressi, to say thanks for your time and effort
I will e mail it up to you!!!!
December 11, 2008 at 22:48
By the way, my comment at 10:45 was open to anyone to answer. Not just BBK.
December 11, 2008 at 22:49
Don’t worry about the top four finish BBK. That will happen mate.
December 11, 2008 at 22:51
this team lacks aduquate defensive stability in order to protect the back 4, without that there is no chance of silverware coming our way
December 11, 2008 at 22:52
Agreed BBK.
We definitely need a midfielder who protects the back four. We lack that.
December 11, 2008 at 22:54
if wenger identify’s a good ready made holding midfielder in jan then maybe other then that not holding my breath
December 11, 2008 at 22:56
have you heard of any possible ins and out in jan wrighty
December 11, 2008 at 22:59
Dont we need to win the FA cup season or is it next season. There is the new shit uefa rule that only the top3 will get the CL while the 4th spot goes to the FA cup winners. Stupid rule it may be but we still need CL football. Without it Wenger is sue to lose his job.
Platini trying to fuck us over once again.
December 11, 2008 at 23:00
Only the old storys mate like Alonso coming. I’d love that!
Micheal P, a regular Grover, has said that there will be three signings in January. He has been told by someone at Arsenal but no names.
December 11, 2008 at 23:02
Maybe Wenger will take the FA Cup seriously again then Stu!
He used too! We have a great record in the FA Cup under Wenger.
December 11, 2008 at 23:02
Stu… That’s not true..CL still goes to fourth place, but you have to beat a team from Italy or Spain or a higher ranked nation..
December 11, 2008 at 23:03
BBK,
Do you like Roll Deep by any chance?
I love Wiley
December 11, 2008 at 23:03
In the qualifier..
December 11, 2008 at 23:03
Heeeeeeeeeeeey Avenell!!
You keep popping backwards and forwards like a yo-yo! Ha ha
December 11, 2008 at 23:13
i like wiley but skepta and boy better know r doing it right about now wrighty
December 11, 2008 at 23:17
Wrighty7 / BBK
Are you Talking Music??
if your into Underground Hip Hop i recommend
” Immortal Technique ”
&
” Jedi Mind Tricks ”
also Gnarls Barkley’s latest album (The Odd Couple) is very good.
i believe the Genre is Neo soul
December 11, 2008 at 23:18
hey raif whats goin on you cool m8
December 11, 2008 at 23:19
raif do you like dub-step or drum n bass
December 11, 2008 at 23:21
Hey Raif!
BBK/Raif
I was looking at Youtube yesterday and found some blinding clashes. Wiley V Kano on Lord of the Mic was good.
I love the Wiley/Lethal Bizzle clash.
I thought Skepta’s Rolex Sweep would be bigger than what it was though.
December 11, 2008 at 23:21
Random question for everyone–
If you were on a plane that crashes up in some mountains, it is freezing cold, many people die and there is no food at all. Surrounded by miles of nothing but snow and hills, with nobody knowing where ye have crashed – Would you resort to canabalism??
December 11, 2008 at 23:22
Stu,
You’ve just watched that film, Alive haven’t you mate?
December 11, 2008 at 23:22
its electro wrighty they are trying to capitalise on that sort of genre wrighty.them clashes are really old now m8
December 11, 2008 at 23:23
Its just on now ya. I saw it about 10 years ago but forgot.
You didnt answer the question.
December 11, 2008 at 23:25
BBK,
Yeah I know that is dated. It’s only because my mate sent me an E-mail with the Grime classic, Bongo. Loved that tune!
December 11, 2008 at 23:25
yeah man im sweet thanks.
just checking the Comments as i play a bit of Football manager. and getting as much time to my self before babys Feed time hehe.
December 11, 2008 at 23:26
Maybe if we end up outside the top 4 Wenger will wake up and start to act. Besides Villa, Everton many teams could be dangerous, and one day we will finish outside the top 4. That’s just the way it is. Look at Bayern Munchen- they finshed playing Uefa Cup, but soon they started acting and they moved on. They have bought many quality players, and now they are one of the favourites to the final glory in CL. If You buy many quality, experienced players, they can boost our team morale and make You a lot stroneger. If we, for example finsh outside the top 4, Cesc could leave. But it would be only because of the fact, that many of our players are average. But in the same situation, the same Cesc will stay if he will see some sort of ambition from our Club( for example Villa, Alonso, Arshavin).
December 11, 2008 at 23:26
Stu,
I don’t think I could eat my mates but who knows in desperation???
After a while an ear lobe might look good!
December 11, 2008 at 23:27
yes wrighty big tune m8.cool raif
December 11, 2008 at 23:28
Wrighty.. would you eat a Spud?
December 11, 2008 at 23:29
i would avenell id also peel him
December 11, 2008 at 23:29
They would be dead like. Meat is meat once they are dead. It would certainly be tough but do-able.
December 11, 2008 at 23:29
BBK – not really into Drum and Bass to be honest mate
Stu – i couldnt give u a honest answer till im in the think of somthing like that.
December 11, 2008 at 23:30
ok cool raif
December 11, 2008 at 23:31
Avenell,
I eat Spuds for breakfast mate! Ha Ha
December 11, 2008 at 23:31
just bought an advent calender from woolworths… all the windows were boarded up and there was fuck all inside!!!
December 11, 2008 at 23:32
It wouldn’t be tough if you leave it in a slow cooker all day…
December 11, 2008 at 23:33
BBK or anyone else.
would anyone know any decent Audio programs were i can turn a normal song into a Instrumental, as theres a few tunes i cant seem to find the instrumental far so the only way is to try and convert
December 11, 2008 at 23:34
Sorry Raif, cant help you pal
December 11, 2008 at 23:34
try you tube for the instrumentals raif ,or limewire i know its downloading but its worth a try
December 11, 2008 at 23:36
Woolworths have just gone bust today! ive heard they are quicvkly rebranding under the name Woolsworthfuckall
December 11, 2008 at 23:37
I’ve just had a proper freaky experience!!!!
The missus is asleep, the cat is on the end of the bed, there is no else in the house and I heard banging footsteps coming up the stairs. Look out there and no-one!
It’s not the first time either!
December 11, 2008 at 23:38
lol Wrighty, someone must be fucking with you.
December 11, 2008 at 23:39
BBK
i’ve tried both. even Torrents. i even go as far into make them my self by puting the tune into a Audio editing program and just getting the parts i need and looping them. i do it alot for the YouTube video i have made.
but some times it works very well and some times i just dont have enough of the beat
December 11, 2008 at 23:39
but thanks people.
December 11, 2008 at 23:40
Something is happening Stu my matey!!!
December 11, 2008 at 23:44
IT IS CALLED THOMPSON VOCAL ELIMINATOR VE-4
web page is http://www.LTSound.com
December 11, 2008 at 23:44
raif check that website out m8
December 11, 2008 at 23:48
BBK
yeah mate i’ve been checking it out it seems alright. now all i must do is start the hunt for a Free Version
December 11, 2008 at 23:50
what songs do u want to convert
December 11, 2008 at 23:51
Anyway Grovers,
I’m hitting the sack.
Keep it Goonerish……………..
December 11, 2008 at 23:52
over and out wrighty m8