Arsenal look set to play with 10 men and they’ll be young ones too.

January 24th, 2009 by Geoff & filed under Uncategorized.

Had to mention the fact that Arsene Wenger told us we should forget how young this team is, how can we do that Arsene? You don’t stop telling us that and as a result of winning nothing for the last 4 years we kind of know it, so please, go and sign some grown ups and stop lecturing us on how young the team is, it’s becoming a bit of a sore point.

Word on the street is the Arshavin deal is off, but I am convinced it will happen, god told me last night in my dream, he said there is no way Zenit will hold out for more money because Arshavin will be hated more than Adebayor when he wanted out in the summer and it will be impossible to keep him. And for those of you that are religious, I’m church of England and we all know god is English, but this god that came to me last night wasn’t that god, this one was a girl god, like the one in Jason and the Argonauts.

I saw Joe Ledley’s recent goal last night so I hope he doesn’t have his scoring boots on when we play Cardiff, he does look good, I still think we’ll win this one without too much trouble but you never know in the FA cup, and they will want to go back to Wembley again so we have to be careful. Potential banana skin this one.

I told everyone in the pub last night that Robin will soon be the best player on the planet so I hope for my sake he has a blinder as I’m going back there to watch the game tomorrow, so I don’t want people to laugh at me.

I still don’t know why it’s taking so long to sign a player, he’s either coming or he’s not, but this also happened with Nasri didn’t it? It appears to be the Arsenal way nowadays so we all have to suffer and when it does happen we have to be very thankful, don’t forget people, we are just fans, sit down, shut up and be grateful.

It gets difficult to write when there is nothing to write about, it was easier in the summer as there was mass speculation, so lets just hope the team he puts out tomorrow doesn’t include Alexandre Song, because that guy is completely useless, I read somewhere yesterday that Wenger referred to him as his invisible wall, I think the word ‘wall’ was added by the press department. Invisible makes sense but together I’m lost for words, if anyone knows what he meant pray enlighten me.

Still whatever I say I know he’ll be playing on Sunday so we’ll see just how bad he really is when the championship kids run rings around him, I was chatting to a Manc last night who cannot understand how we can field a player that makes Kleberson look like Pele, he found that amusing and I had to take it all the way up the arse because he was spot on.

So if Song does play then we play against Cardiff with 10 men, let’s hope the 10 play well, because this won’t be an easy one, here’s also hoping that the Spuds and the Mancs both go out today, but we know that won’t happen no matter how much we pray to my new found god!

Enjoy Saturday Grovers, for tomorrow we dine in Wales.

654 Responses to “Arsenal look set to play with 10 men and they’ll be young ones too.”

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Stu January 25, 2009 01:07:30

And also considering we need experience and have been a lot more solid defensively as of late.
Stu January 25, 2009 01:08:55

I’d rather we went after an international class defender than another youngster anyway, bt if Richards is going for 7m then its worth a chance, as long as we get rid of either Silvestre or Song.
Stu January 25, 2009 01:10:31

Actually, of our current defensive options i wouldnt be upset if any of them left aside from Sagna and maybe JD because all the others are easilt replacable. JD is still only 20 and Sagna is arguably our best defender atm.
PDT January 25, 2009 01:21:49

Keyser – yes, I did compare AW’s style to Phil Jackson with the Bulls….why do you ask?
PDT January 25, 2009 01:22:58

I am on the other side of the world, so I just got up…..
Keyser January 25, 2009 01:28:08

Stu – I’d keep them all, we need continuity and stability, thats what makes great defences, you iron out weaknesses until the point where you need to reaplace.
Keyser January 25, 2009 01:31:45

PDT – I remember I didn’t agree wholly with it, but couldn’t find it.

Just since we’re talking about defense, I was thinking that we’re more a running team in basketball terms, I think they’re called running teams, mean end to end, like the Mavricks or The Suns under D’Antoni, whenever we’ve won the league we’ve upped our performances at both ends to be more like the Lakers.

We’ll never be a great defensive team because the balance must be struck between that and attack.

Heh, I know I’ve got a point somehwere.
Stu January 25, 2009 01:40:21

Even when we wn the league in 03-04 we had the best defence with 26conceded. Hardly a great defence. More like everyone else was shit. I mean 90points wouldnt win the league by much in recent years.
David January 25, 2009 01:45:03

I disagree i think when it comes to basket ball we are more of a half-court team than a running team….are we more succesful as a running team? You bet….but atm we are a half court team and all we do as far as tactics is concerned if we dont play the long ball to Ade…were playing the crab…side to side system which is typical of a half court team.

Great point tho.

If we are the lakers/Bulls then who are the celtics?

I have to say that i do rate Richards…but i dont think he’s worth 7million…Ramsey is a better talent and we got him for less…but hey…lets forget arshavin and get Richards..hmm? Makes sense right?…dont think so.
David January 25, 2009 01:47:46

good point stu
Keyser January 25, 2009 01:56:06

Stu – That’s not really fair is it, in recent years, there’s been nothing special about teams, it’s just money, it’s not teams anymore it’s great squads, if we’d had 100 million to spend or had wage and salary caps, I don’t think we’d have seen such differentials.
Stu January 25, 2009 02:01:21

So……..how many players do we really need?

IMO we are doing fine with what we have. If given a choice I would opt for a DM firstly because with a fully fit squad we still have noone capable of being a top class DM. Our defence was one of the best around before the acn last season. Almunia was on arguably the best form of his career and our striker(s) was one of the most in form around. Really only a DM is what we are truly missing. Nasri and Rosicky on the wings would be potentially as good as anyone elses.

But even so I would still prefer to have a totally new spine. A new and better keeper between the sticks-whether thats Fabianski or someone else. A world class defender to partner one of our current crop. A DM to give confidence to our other midfielders and attacking fullbacks and a more accomplished forward than Adebayor to partner Van Persie.

The spine is easily the most vital component of a team. It brings continuity, confidence through understanding of each other and potentially success.

IMO there can be allowances for changes anywhere in a team as long as its not the spine. Players can be chopped and change in the full back and wide positions because the spine will ensure those coming in will fit straight in.
Keyser January 25, 2009 02:02:31

David – Mean in general, like we aspire to the Lakers, but if anything’s off we’ve been more like Ths Suns.

I think we’re starting to find our feet again, just mean’t that we don’t neccesarily have to foucs on one area, if we improve any part of our team it’ll have a kncok on effect on the other parts.

Like swapping Shaq for Marion, even though it didn’t work out, I’d say we were like the Suns with Marion last year trying to eek out everything we could from the team and it almost came off.

Hmm, United be the Celtics, ruthless, efficient and calcualted, Chelsea the Spurs or th other way around ?! We’re only the Lakers when we win titles.
David January 25, 2009 02:13:03

lol…but the Lakers havent won a champoinship since 03….that sounds familiar doesnt it???

Great point Keyser,

I hate the spurs….basketball, football, handball…..cant stand em….but I do think we’re still a half court team…we havent played like a run and gun team like we used to with players like Denilson and Ade standing around the pass-pass side to side system. Its frustrating..nobody “runs” like you say forward…to open up the defense….but were getting better!

My thing is i hope we Sign Arshaving…it will be like D.Wade coming to the lakers
Keyser January 25, 2009 02:14:53

Stu – It’d take years to implement a totally new spine, I want us to see how far everyone can go in this team before we replace people, so many of the players surprise us when really up against it, Van Persie weas written off last year and everyone had almost accepted he had no right foot, Fabregas as not being able to replace Vieira, Clichy for Cole, I know it’s not perfect but they’ve all performed to a standard most didn’t expect of them.

I think just as much as the spine, it’s just continuity as a team and partnerships within that team, Rosicky/ Clichy, Sagna/ Hleb, Pires/ Cole, Lauren/ Ljungberg, have enough people in a team who know a little of what anothers thinking and at some point they’ll all click.
David January 25, 2009 02:15:54

Stu ure absolutely correct. We do need a change between the sticks…we do need a DM….we do need a winger..since Walcott is out….and when he’s back who’s to say he’ll make a difference…..and Rosisky like to be sick and get paid for it…this is why Arshavin makes so much sense….i would give Rambo as many games as i can in the middle…if he’s back-up for Cesc…then he should start learning his trade ASAp…

I dont think Nasri is a good winger….but put him in the middle…and boy-o-boy…i dont want to say Zidane…but…
Keyser January 25, 2009 02:21:12

David – Heh, I didn’t say it was spot on, I don’t know all that much about basketball, just in recent years started watching it because of the p2p streams.

For some reason Hleb reminds me of Nash.

I think we’d have won a few more titles if we’d had wage caps and so on, the NBA’s interesting in how one team can be dominant all season and in the play-offs get beaten by another team tactics.

I think most teams would end up playing like a half court team if they faced the Spurs week in week out, Bolton, Portsmouth and so on. I have nothing against the players, but I hate them aswell, there’s just this something about them, I think it’s Ginobli but not sure.

Wade ? Hmm, I hope Arshavin’s like him..
David January 25, 2009 02:27:13

Well i hate the spurs cuz i hate the name spurs…plus in the 90′s they had…and i kid you not a marine blue and pink court…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbkkxBGht9A

theyre a good team…but i also hate them cuz they seem to give the lakers the most stick in western conference…

and Ginobili? He dives worse than Ronaldo, Gerald and Eboue combined…IN BASKETBALL!
David January 25, 2009 02:29:01

Well i hate the spurs cuz i hate the name spurs…plus in the 90′s they had…and i kid you not a marine blue and pink court…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbkkxBGht9A

theyre a good team…but i also hate them cuz they seem to give the lakers the most stick in western conference…

and Ginobili? He dives worse than Ronaldo, Gerald and Eboue combined…IN BASKETBALL
David January 25, 2009 02:29:35

its not lettin me post my comment
Keyser January 25, 2009 02:33:31

You might have a word or two in it thats been banned, then it goes to moderation and only Geoff or Pedro can release it, probably in the morning, if you change the word around it might work.

Heh, but you’re going to have to work out what word’s stopping it..
David January 25, 2009 02:39:09

Well i hate the spurs cuz i hate the name spurs…plus in the 90′s they had…and i kid you not a marine blue and pink court…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbkkxBGht9A

theyre a good team…but i also hate them cuz they seem to give the lakers the most stick in western conference…

and Ginobili?
He dives worse than Ronaldo, Gerald and Eboue combined…IN BASKETBALL!!

Infact they all flop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ukde193ivM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEef1T_lqwA
David January 25, 2009 02:41:37

W e l l i h a t e t h e s p u r s c u z i h a t e t h e n a m e s p u r s…p us in the 90′s they had…and i k i d you not a m a r i n e b l u e and pink court…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbkkxBGht9A

they re a good team…but i also hate them cuz they seem to give the lakers the most stick in western conference…

and Ginobili?
He dives worse than R o n a l d o, G e r a l d and E b o u e combined…IN BASKETBALL!!

Infact they all flop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ukde193ivM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEef1T_lqwA
David January 25, 2009 02:42:49

i was going to show some youtube clips but its not letting me
David January 25, 2009 02:44:26

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DOUyxvp9bI&feature=related
David January 25, 2009 02:48:39

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEef1T_lqwA&NR=1

Even have it in the video game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gw4Z7__UE4
Keyser January 25, 2009 02:54:46

Heh, he is a knob, I really started hating them when I think Barry broke Nash’s nose and they all went balistic but The Suns players got banned..

I can’t remember it completely clearly just never really liked the Spurs after that, even if Eva Longoria’s sitting courtside.

They dive all over the place, you get playacting in Rugby aswell now, as if being hit by 22 stone players wouldn’t be enough to convince the ref.
David January 25, 2009 02:58:09

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_v2HD-zbfg&NR=1
Hackett January 25, 2009 03:00:05

No, it won’t be an easy one.

Nicely written.
jlp January 25, 2009 03:02:48

evening guys your all up a little late no?
Nash is more like Cesc Keyser he is pure vision good skills but pure vision
He comes from a 1000 % football family ,his brother played for our National Team and my guess is had Steve not been so outrageously blessed with B-Ball skills he would be playing in the MLS …well maybe.
anyone hear anything on RvP and Walcotts contract negotiations that isn’t shit.
securing these guys should be priority #1 IMO
Pat January 25, 2009 03:13:21

Whats this supposed to mean?

Finally, Henry refused to shed light on his wrist-kissing celebration, saying, “One day I will explain it.”

Any ideas what it could mean??
Pat January 25, 2009 03:29:52

Arsenal got punished for waiting so long with an RVP contract extension. It will cost them even more now that he is en fuego(on fire)
Pat January 25, 2009 03:54:03

Btw, Aston Villa with some more luck today. Woodwork saving them not once, but TWICE.
Iqwoo January 25, 2009 05:19:45

I’m not sure if anyone has discussed this but, if we sign Arshavin before 26th he gets to play in the CL. That’s why the ultimatum .
faker January 25, 2009 07:10:16

i love u guys
faker January 25, 2009 07:10:38

(beertalk)
London January 25, 2009 08:15:14

This might sound a bit naive but are we saying that Arshavin is not CL cup tied and in theory he could play against Roma?
gnarleygeorge9 January 25, 2009 08:15:18

Good evening London,

Live telecast on Setanta of Cardiff City V Arsenal. 11.30pm intro then game kicks off @ 12.30am. I am really looking forward to this.
kelsey January 25, 2009 08:22:03

Good Morning all,

I won’t comment on the Arshavin situation as we will know one way or another by tomorrow.

The report about Micah Richards joining us has some credence.Wenger has always admired him, and although out of form and also out of the England squad at the moment, a 7 million evaluation could turn out to be a good deal.The only stumbling block will be if City persue their interest in Kolo,(in some sort of part exchange deal) who is obviously unhappy at the club since his fallout with Gallas, and even though Wenger has dismissed reports that Kolo wants to leave, usually I tend to believe the opposite of what the manager says,when it comes to transfers.as he keeps things very close to his chest.
Geoff January 25, 2009 08:32:52

Morning all, some rumours around today then.
PDT January 25, 2009 08:50:06

Good morning, Grovers!

Micah would be a great addition to the team, though I remember someone here being very critical of him and Kolo – “dont have any defensive positioning”, supposedly. I think Micah would be great backup but JD and Toure should be given an extended run. If Toure moved into the CDM role, then Micah could slot in well. He could be our next Sol.
kenny smith January 25, 2009 08:50:26

yeah geoff apparently we are going to be in for richards
kingsley January 25, 2009 08:51:52

morning Geoff, yeah lots of rumours. cant figure out why city would only ask for 7m for richards? even if they wanted to get rid of him why not ask for more? also upson didnt play in the fa cup for the second time, i still theink he may be on the move.
chozzer January 25, 2009 08:51:52

we should have been in for this guy – he knows how to score.
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/16719/footballer_scores_on_the_field_and_on_the_field
PDT January 25, 2009 08:54:22

My team for today :

Fabianski
Sagna-Toure-JD-Gibbs
Ramsay-Nasri-Denilson-Vela
Ade-Rvp

With Dudu on the bench!!!!
PDT January 25, 2009 08:55:16

Though I know that he will play Nasri on the wing and Diaby in the middle. My guess is we will finish the game with my team.
PDT January 25, 2009 08:55:51

It’s almost nine, guys!! Get out of bed and start posting!!
PDT January 25, 2009 08:56:47

Let’s play a midfield of

Eboue-Diaby-Song-Denilson

What, still no posters???!!!!
PDT January 25, 2009 08:57:55

Let’s buy Bentley as backup for Eboue!!
PDT January 25, 2009 08:58:32

@#$&%$#@@*^$!!
PDT January 25, 2009 08:59:21

{exits right, not followed by a bear, in this case)
Rob From Aus January 25, 2009 08:59:21

G’day boys,

Long time no hear! hows shit? I see we are at the deadline soon for Arshavin?!

I thinks its the 26th?

Oh and Its Australia Day On the 26th, lets hope its a double whammy for Oz Arsenal fans with a piss up and Arshavin,, eh??
Pedro January 25, 2009 09:00:28

NEW POST!
Rob From Aus January 25, 2009 09:01:47

Team,

Fabianski

Toure JD Gallas Clichy

Song

diaby
Denilson Diaby

RVP

Ade (he is offside)