It was a little small, but after shelling out a couple of mil extra on the fee, Arsh was never going to get a chinook.
With his boots under his arm, sign on the dotted line and start against West Ham today, now wouldn’t that be theatre?
I feel sure it will happen today as Wenger for the first time is talking about why he wants him and what he will bring to the side, he also gave them a deadline before the game today or it’s off, I believe him this time and if Zenit had two brain cells they would sell him, same as if we had had two brain cells last season, we would have sold Adebayor when we were offered £25 million and bought David Villa or Karim Benzema.
So in a stealth like manner I slipped under the radar and got that bitch in.
That’s it though, today I feel great, new and world class player in, the captain of Russia, the 6th best player on the planet, yes Grovers, salvation is on it’s way. David Livingstone says Arshavin is on the plane from Dubai, Livingstone knows that because he is out in Dubai for the Dubai Classic, I will bet Ethan’s house it will happen.
We will celebrate by destroying West Ham today, I think this news will perk up the team and Ade will have to improve or he will be the player dropped. So I’m going for 4 nil today, yes no goals conceded, we are good enough, we need only to convince ourselves, West Ham will play not defend and you know what happens when teams do that.
When they first arrived at the Grove, they had one shot to our 29 and they sang ‘one shot, we only had one shot, we only had one shot’ Today we ram that song up ‘em, today we see a goal fest, today Andre Arshavin will blow into the Grove and his effect will be felt.
One last piece of good news is Defoe will be out of the Spud game so that’s one less irritating sod we have to worry about next week.
I’ll be at the usual rendezvous point for anyone going, have a great day and police the site well Grovers, Pedro and I will be at the game.
chris – That was Bould On Frimpong shooting from all over the place and just lashing shots at the goal.
“He keeps having a slash at goal and we tell him not to but he keeps hitting the target,” Bould said after the victory. “He can get a bit carried away sometimes because he’s a young boy who’s learning. He’s growing up and we’re delighted with his development.
But Keyser, it difficult to see any evidence of set piece training or defensive training in a match.
We dont look assured in defence and might as well not get set pieces becuse they dont help at all.
Stu – What you mean like how we were conceding from set pieces earlier in the season ? But since then we’ve cut it down to almost nothing ?!
Are you saying you’ve never seen us score from set peices this season ? We’ve looked more likely to score from a Van Persie cross than anything.
Stu
I know u dont want to here this. But Ade’s last goal was off of a corner
We have many sit and pass players..nobody seems willing to run and make something happn.
But how many set pieces do we get a game and we rarely score from them considering we have the likes of Bendtner, Adebayor, Diaby, Song, JD all pretty tall.
I know height isnt the most important thing at corners but we still dont make use of it.
I would think we have one of the lower conversion rates from set pieces. And if Van Persie isnt playing we are even more hopeless at crossing.
I know that David but he should be scoring more of threatening more from crosses given his height and power but he doesnt. We typically get 10 corners a game give or take a few and rarely if ever look likely. With more attention to detail in training we could be deadly from setpieces and wouldnt have to rely on late goals to sneak a win.
Grovers a quick in and out, saw Steve, Gunner8 and Jules today, guys a real pleasure, out on the piss but talk later! Shit game, I’m bored.
Did you just see Wes Brown’s tackle on Osmond???
Tackle from behind and with Studs showing…and not even a card.
Amazing
Stu – Conversion rates from set pieces ? Heh, come on, you make it sound like it’s easy or with a few training sessions we could be deadly ?!
How much time would you devote to this ? We don’t need to be deadly with set peices we need to improve our passing game and like last season the rest will come naturally. Unless you think we were poor then aswell ?!
Teams have played very specifically against us this season, 4-5-1 with pace on the wings, the more we attack because we can’t break them down the more space we leave for them to attack, Senderos would have got completely slaughtered unless we’d had all the players we have out fit, or we bring in someone that can help us break these teams down.
I actually hate them so much it hurts.
Geoff, sorry you had to sit throught that shit today.
David, didnt see it. Was watching the Dortmund- Leverkusen game on Setanta 2.
Im not saying we would be deadly but we would certainly be a big improvment on what we are now. A bit more organisation at set pieces and we would score a few more, and maybe a better delivery from the crosser.
And while our open play is suffering due to lack of creativity we could be scoring with corners instead to take a little pressure off.
We can talk about United all day long but this doesn’t change a fact that they are a great side full of quality players and led by a maneger who is not afraid to spend if he wants. On they other hand we are a Club where we must watch Eboue and co, week by week and pay the highest ticket prices in the world.
Ferguson wonted Tosic and Ljajic and guess what-BANG 2 days and Gill signed them for him. Wenger wants Arshavin and ……….31 days later he still hasn’t signed for us.Where is Gazidis? Why is Friar doing his job.Who is Wenger fooling?F**k this Emirates Stadium, I would have rather stayed at Highbury.Sorry for my language but I’m so disappoined…Arsene, just go now, and take Ade, Ebu, Song and Diaby with You.And Almunia of course.
And where is Franchise?LOL
wanted, not wonted-SORRY
Maciek, let it all out!
Fergie is given the money, thats the difference but all his buys arent that great. He went throught a spell of Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba, Fortune etc and they were a huge waste of money.
Lets hope Wenger is going throught the same thing and changes like Fergie did and maybe AW can win a few more trophoes before he retires.
I wouldnt mind if Almunia stayed but only as the number 2 because although he isnt good enough to start he is a fine back up.
Stu – It doesn’t work like that, you’d have to concetrate on it far too heavily and it would affect the rest of our performance. It still wouldn’t matter if we come up against organised and good defences that deal well with it.
Last season we scored the second most goals from crosses, because we were confident enough in our passing to break teams down and we could use the set peice or cross to offset it, this season we haven’t ever created much space in behind their full backs, and Clichy and Sagna are always left to cross from static positions because their too afraid of being caught out on the break.
As soon as we make the space, Clichy can proivde a cross like he did for Bendtner against Hull.
Well another 2 points dropped, and once again the great one has spouted another load of complete tripe. I am honestly sick of hearing Wenger’s Fucking voice.
Take this
“I can’t fault the spirit but I believe as well that we lost a bit of sharpness from playing on Sunday at Cardiff, on Wednesday a very physical game at Everton and maybe that was why we lacked a bit of sharpness to score.”
So the reason we were not sharp is becuase we played last Sunday and Wednesday. So how come we were not sharp in either or those games either then Wenger? It is becuase you have fucked up and dont have the decency to be honest about it. In fact we were not just lacking sharpness today, we have been lacking it all season.
And then this shit reference Arsene
“[Will something happen?] Maybe or maybe not but it doesn’t worry me too much I must say.
Really does not worry you? Fuck Off, this is your fucking mess, fucking start being a Manager and start fucking cleaning it up.
We will not come 4th, Eboue and Diaby out today, two average players but then who have we got now. I think we now need three players by Close of play Monday, we need Arshavin and two CM’s. The only Midfielder I have any faith in is Nasri, the rest that are fit are not good enough for Arsenal Football Club and the sooner Wenger takes off his Tinted specs and grasps reality the better for all.
Anyone know anything about Simon Rolfes or Bayern Leverkusen? Apart from being a german DM that is. Theres not much on his Wiki page.
Stu
We might fluke a cup, but there is no way that Arsenal will win either the PL or CL unders Wengers reign whilst he continues this fucking stupid experiment.
Stu – He’s got a degree in Science and Engineering, he’s ok, Leverkusen have played some of the best football in the league this year.
PTG, the only way i see us winning anything else under Wenger is if someone fucks him out of it and MAKES his fix his mistakes.
He needs a DC, better quality of players and more organisation everywhere, as well as paying the players the proper amount. Paying our best players the best wages and out dhit players shit wages. Wenger needs to forget about protecting the players feelings and just tell them if they are playing like shit.
Patt,
Relax mate. You are angry as well as I, but it won’t change anything.Do You honestly think that PH Wood and Fiszman with Arsene do really care?
The thing is, lsst year after 23 games we were on 53 points, which would put us top.
Why does wenger break up every good team he builds, he enjoys being in constant transition.
why does he find it so hard to keep hold of players, i dont think any manager has such a bad track record of losing players.
Anelka, Overmars, Petit, Vieira, Cole, Pires, Henry, Campbell, Hleb have all moved on before they should have.
Well at least he should be pretty smart then Keyser. Just watching him playing now and he looks very good. Usually in the right place and doing the right thing. Wouldnt mind someone like that at the club. A bit of german effeciency and some leadership.
I think it was the right time for Campbell. He had a lot of personell problems and it really affected his game. He told Wenger he was looking to move abroad and thats the only reason Wenger agreed to let him leave but Sol changed him mind.
I’m quite looking forward to playing in the uefa europa league next season. We stand a better chance in that competition as in reality we only make up the numbers in the CL anyway.
I’m also looking forward to all the players going that don’t have Arsenal in their hearts, if thats the entire team then so be it. If Cesc wants to go because we aren’t in the CL for one season at his age then let him go (however I actually think he’d stay), same goes for the rest. Hopefully Adebayor will get his dream move to whatever club wants him.
I genuinely believe we have some superb youngsters (british ones at that), who love Arsenal the club & aren’t just there for the manager or the money. The likes of Gibbs, Simpson, Wilshere & others. Of course some would want out but other players like vela would probably see their first team chances go right up. If it means we end midtable for a couple of years then so be it I really don’t care anymore, I just want to see the players playing with passion again like they used to. I can wait for the success to follow.
Mancity would be a better team with Kolo but for 15 million he should go.
Bring in Chilleini and while everybody is asking for a world Class DM after Ade’s fiasco we prolly need a WC striker/AM
It is like he died 3 years ago, and they roll out a look a like each week who mimes to a stuck record every week
I have belief, they showed Desire, We lacked sharpness.
I have really had enough, I honestly can’t stand the sight of him at the moment, nor can I stand to hear his fucking french accent. And to someone that worshipped th ground he walked over a few years ago really pains me.
This is a huge fall from grace and the sooner he was made accountable for his mistakes the better.
And my disclaimer to all that is, if it really is the board that are not releasing funds (I dont believe it is) and he is merely a puppet for them, then I have lost respect for him there as well, as he should be coming out and saying it how it is.
My mindset now, and this might be becuase of another inept performance and tactical ingenius is that we will not get 4th place this season and we will be in the Uefa cup next year.
gambon – How is it a bad track record ? If we’d kep Anleka, I doubt we’d have bought Henry, if we hadn’t have sold Overmars and Petit, then we may not have had the money to buy other players later on.
Campbell’s not been the same since, he just can’t concentrate for full games anymore, against Villa he hadnled Agbonlahor well and then let Heskey run off him without even noticing.
Stu – He’s consistent, was their some small player up front or on the wing for them that creates everything ?! Forgotten his name..
Not sure. Barnetta is the only winger there that i know of. Helmes and Kiessling up front. Dont know who was on the other wing tho.
I was at the game but I didn’t see how Diaby got injured, could someone explain. Thanks.
Keyser, its simple really.
With them players we were always top 2, we were considered the best footballing team in the prem.
Now we are the 5th best team in the league, no doubt. We arent just going through a bad spell, the 4 teams above us are better than us.
Incidentally Wenger has said before that Henry wouldve come in even if Anelka stayed.
Like many companies we have serious staff retention issues.
Arsene’s favourite quotes:
-I belive,
-the desire is still there,
-the togetherness in still there,
-he is a good playe,
-I didn’t see it,
-we should focus on the next game,
-I must disappoint You,
-I belive he will sign,
-buying players isn’t the best option,
-..You got a guy
-and the other guy is…
-we are still in the title race,
-I got strong belief in this side,
-don’t write is off,
-Eboue is a pass master-LOL
-we showed character,
-the game was flat,
-trust me, and I will deliver,
-relax, we will be there,
-it’s unfair,
-we lacked a little bit of sharpness
Sorry for mistakes.He just got on my nerves recently.
London, basically someone was running towards him because of a strong touch. Diany tried to shield the ball and it looks like he got a dead leg.
gambon – The biggest change I see is the increase in spending since Abramovich turned up, we could just about compete with United before and Liverpool just spent poorly, but now we’re playing catch up with 4 teams that have had takeovers.
*diaby
GMR i think it would be a disaster if we dont get CL football, which i dont think we will get now.
Bids will come in for all our better players. We wont be able to get the kind of players we have previously. Also, any time a player comes good (ex. Vela) they would attract the attention of bigger clubs.
Wenger finds it hard to keep players when were in the CL, what might happen if were not.
It doesn’t take a hundred million to make a team great. All that’s needed is to spend wisely and we just don’t do that. 15-20m a season would keep a team near the top and challenging for titles as long as its spent on the right players, not wasted on lots of kids. That’s what the academy’s for.
Maciek
Dont forget at Renewal time
I will sign Super Super class players
The Fans will be reassured by signings in the next few weeks
Arshavin is not our only target
We have made serious enquires
I am taking my Cheque book to the World Cup/European Championships.
I believe 100% Flamini will sign a new contract
Hleb is going nowhere.
Henry is going nowhere.
Vieira is going nowhere.
Gambon completely agree although the inability to sign better players wont matter as we dont sign them anymore anyway.
Arsene has to be a complete fool for letting go of Dolphin head
No, Dolphin boy is just a cunt. He wasn’t even here for 2 months and he wanted out because he wasn’t getting on ahead of Flamini and Fabregas. I’d rather not have someone like that at the club because its bad for team moral. Having babies and quitters at the club. Wenger isn’t good at controlling big egos unless he nourished them from an early age, hence that’s why he only buys kids IMO.
Keyser,
Big money played no part in our pathetic defending against Villa, Spurs, Stoke, Fulham, Man City or our pathetic attack against Everton, Hull, Today.
Man Utd were spending big money back when we were dominant.
The difference is wenger was actually spending money then aswell, now he is trying to resurrect his monaco youth experiment that got him fired.
The pure fact of the matter is (IMO)
He has fucked up the transition from the Invincibles to where we are now. We have missed out on the class that would have made us better by penny pinching.
And it will probably happen again now. Todays result actually puts Zenit in an even stronger position. Like Chavski they are money rich and I honestly dont think they really give a fuck if they dont sell Arshavin now even if it does mean they will get less or nowt in the summer. They will see that and will no that our position has become more desperate. If we are not willing to pay what they want then they will not sell, and we should have walked away weeks ago.
I said at the start of the month that we cant afford to waste time in signing players towards the end of the month and deadline day and that is what we have done, and yet if we had paid the 15m and bought in a competent DM then we might just might be 4 points better off
Gambon – I don’t agree, not being in the CL didn’t affect Bayern Munich or AC Milan. If players are only playing for us because of the CL then I don’t want them at the club, it’s as simple as that.
We have probably the best group of youngsters around & have proven that time & again in the cup. Should we not qualify for the CL, we’d still get big money for the players that wanted to leave & we’d be able to buy the standard of players we always have, the only difference would be that you’d know they actually want to play for us & are not just here for the sake of the CL shop window.
Dolphin head could play and i rate him better than Flamini.
If were looking for a Defender, DM or a CAM…we really should just pick up
Chillieni, Sissoko, and Giovinco…
stu
sorry if you at manu they better players in every area of the pitch, better defenders,better and more experiened midfielders ,more wingers and there strikers are beter form that use, know one asking wenger to spend 30 mill on one player, but his total refusal to buy players around 10 million range availeble and if has got the money availeble there no way you can tell me there no experienced players he can bring on loan. another i cannot undersatant why he cant evon reveal how mush he has to spend,sorry there is no dought that wenger had the money to bring in at 2 more players in the summer and let go an experiened player like gilberto and just drop inexperienced players like delinson,diaby and ramsey without experienced players around them is criminal there is no excuse for that. you cant live off past glory for ever i just feel its time bring new manager with fresh idies into the club
Pat,
100% spot on. Liar,strong word but he deserves it.
Players Wenger has let go, and replaced with worse…
Lehmann
Diarra Campbell Gilberto Cole
Hleb Veira Flamini Pires
Henry
All in the last years, is it any wonder weve fallen so far.
Did, big Juve fan?
LOL
Pat
Those statements hurt.
GMR, I think the difference is Bayern coped becuase the summer they were not in it, they spend heavilly to ensure that it did not happen again, and in the Bundesleague there is not the same competition there is in the premier league so it should be easier to recover.
Do you think we would think the same and do a mass rebuild in the summer?
Guys, do You remember a cartoon titled “Where is Wally?”?Where is Ivan Gazidis?:-).
GMR,
Them teams showed ambition and dont lose players constantly. We will have a fire sale and then sign young africans.
Do we have the best youngsters around?? If they were that good surely theyd get in the th best team in the country.
From what ive seen all Arsenal fans say we have the best youngsters, the facts dont confirm it really.
David, they do dont they and he said all of them, and groundhog day is ringing in my ears now when he says that Walcott and RVP will sign new contracts.
Honestly am sick of it
PTG, i am also looking forward to wengers quotes come renewal time. Just hope the fans dont buy it, falling attendances at the emirates cash machine would be the best way to tell the board things need to change.
I would buy a defender from………..Italy?
A midfielder from………Germany,
and a winger from……….Spain.
Italy because players over there are famed for their defeding. Germany because they are hard workers, disciplined and (germans in particular) famously effecient. And then Spain because the spanish are on top right now and we should snap up a few of them imo.
And maybe finally buy a few eastern Europeans becaue they are emerging as the new superpower of football. Well, when I say that I mean players from that region are popping up at a lot of clubs and making a name for themselves.
LOL
Stu
Im a Del piero fan not a Juve fan…however…
We’ve been linked with Giovinco many times as he says he wants to come and seeing as Sissoko scored already today and nearly scored twice….and he’s suppose to be a DM??? plus i really dont have to pitch why we need Chillieni or a player like him as you know….
So…Cheque book. but *sigh*
Maciek and patthegooner – thank you for putting into words EXACTLY how I feel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was at the game, AND, it was fu**ing freezing AND we couldn’t even score if no-one was in front of the WH goal for f**k sake!!!! (oh dear, not very lady like…) I am now thinking, IF, IF, Arshavin was at the game, would you sign if you were him???? Listened to Stan Collymore on the way home, and the WH fans were saying apart from themselves not turning up they all said Arsenal didn’t either, nough said I think…. then, there was this Aston Villa fan (funnily my head has just tuned into that shite brummie accent) claiming that Arsenal wouldn’t even finish 4th and that AV would finish 3rd, you know what, that said it all for me… I AM TOTALLY TOTALLY DISSAPPOINTED.
Gambon no they dont
You look at the first team squad and take the ones that can be considered as coming through youth and you get
Succesful
Cesc, Clichy
Unsuccesful
Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, Song
I do agree though that there are some great players in the next bunch but it is not like we have a team of Messi’s and Aguero’s in our ranks.
Look guys – our players arent even good enough to win FA cup. We need major changes. Arsenal FC currently lacks quality – the table dont lie.
WE need to get rid of deadwood & those whose heart in no longer at the club:
Denilson, Diaby, Gallas, Toure, Adebayor, Eboue, Song, Silvestre, Almunia. Lets not kid ourselves -we will win nothing with these players. We will get at least £60m-70m in transfer fees.
Bring in players who make a difference
Arshavin, Benzema, Given. 2 cheap but hard as nails CB’s – Hangeland and Shawcross who are already miles better than Djourou. Finally a world class CM. We might even have some change left over.
Wenger needs to wheel and deal. But he wont. I’m sorry to say he is deluded. Time to bring in a mnager who wont put up in players who dont give 100% – e.g. David Moyes.
interesting reading all your comments chaps,but it all sounds like after the horse has bolted.the board/wenger state first and foremost that arsenal are a business,well in that case provisions should have started 3 years ago to keep the business if not on top at least in sight of the competition.spending 100 of millions is no guarantee,bur prudent buying of lke to like over 3 or 4 seasons combined with a healthy youth policy should have been the answer.
now everyone is praying we sign 2 or 3 players in the next 48 hours.it’s too late and we the fans will have to suffer.
Kelsey, I agree with that,
And if they are working to that philosophy then they should realise that if the product is fucking shit, then no one is going to buy it.
Hotman, you had me until you suggested Shawcross and David Moyes. Good coach but not the man to take us forward.
Hitman
At first I thought you named too many players that are deadwood, but do you know you are right, I would not lose sleep or tears if any of those players ledt us. I also realised that a lot of them are first team regulars and that surely cant be right. I cant remember the last time I had so little affection for the Arsenal first 11. At least in Grahams day and even in the 80′s they had personalities and tried their hardest.
I notice on here every week that instead of the excitement of matchday, first of all every one goes through the period of dread of who will be starting. Yet only a few years ago, we did not even need to worry as even if we did have injuries or players were rested then we had experienced class individuals on the bench that could do a job.
but dont agree on Djourou, I think he has real potential. I would leave him in the side.
Also Moyes, no thanks, I think we should be aiming a bit higher than that.
Gambon – how can you doubt the quality of youngsters at the club, they have beaten numerous premier league teams with an average age of under 20. Its not like it’s a one off either this has happened for numerous seasons. You say the facts don’t back it up, but if there is a club with better youngsters than please let me know who it is because I haven’t seen another club do what ours has.
Even this supposedly crap team we have now is sitting comfortable in 5th place, yet the clubs above us have all spent millions more including Villa.
Pat – yes I do think we need a summer rebuild, however the squad isn’t half as bad as some on here are making it out to be.
My mate, who’s a pool fan, cant believe the amount of our current players that i dislike and wish were sold. The only players he doesn’t like are Lucas and Dossena and even at that he still doesn’t hate them.
Of the players mentioned by Hitman the only one I don’t dislike is Toure but even still i wouldn’t be distraught if he was sold for a better player.
And also, and I am sorry to rant fellow grovers, but today has really tipped me over the edge,
But people always post back that even though Wenger has come out with his usual shit in the post match interview, he is doing it to protect his players and will sort it out behind closed doors
SO WHERE ARE THE FUCKING SIGNINGS THEN.
It obviously is not working, so why not come out and say we were poor today and the players performance was unacceptable. Maybe the players think that Wenger has become a soft touch, it certainly looks that way.
pathgooner
your wright
i am sure the likes of delinson diaby and ramsey will getter in time but delinson,eboue,ramsey,song does realy strike fear in your opisition does it
exactly,patthegooner.
GMR, maybe not
But if we seriously want to challenge I think we need to get in a shit hot CB to partner Djourou, a world class keeper which could be Fabianski (Give him a go) a World Class CM along the lines of Essien or Gerrard, A world class winger and a world class striker to partner RVP.
The only players that I would be distraught if we sold are actually some of the kids coming through in Ramsey and Wilshire and maybe I would be dissapointed if we sold Sagna, Clichy, Djourou or Cesc.
I honestly would not be gutted if we sold anyone else
We have the most talented kids but we dont make the best use of them.
Everton promote and actually play more of their kids. Gosling, Anichebe,…someone else ehos name i cant remember.
Boro have and play a lot of their academy graduates week in week out and give them all good chances to earn a first team spot. Turnbull, Wheather, McMahon, Parnaby, Johnson, Morrison, Downing etc etc.
Even WHU play a lot of their kids.
The difference is that we only play the kids in about 5 games a season and then they are fucked back to the reserves until we sell a first teamer and then the club promote a less talented kid like Song, Denilson or whomever it may be.
World Class CM along the lines of Essien or Gerrard, A world class winger and a world class striker to partner RVP.
Spot on Pat.
Well done.
pathegooner
i all of this true but as long wenger is there that will never happen the man does not listen and cant swollow his pride
Which is why i think we should go for Sissoko…he’s only 24 years old and he’s very Vierra-like
Pat – I wouldn’t disagree with that, as I said we do need a summer overhaul. I don’t think its the majority of youngsters that need replacing though its the older players. Toure has been a let down this season, Gallas has never shown his Chelsea form for us, Adebayor is full of his own self importance & Eboue is just poor.
The young players will become excellent playing with world class experience around them.
The problem with the club is so much deeper than the squad, its basically the mentality of the board and wenger, which is something that will only change with a takeover.
The other day wenger said something like “we spend less money than everyone but we compete”….well since when has the game been about making money.
just imagine the chairman of Shell/BP came out and sais “well we havent made any profit for years, but we won the local a side competition”….he would be fired instantly. What we are doing is no different.
The following players are those that i would not be happy to see sold:
Fabianski, JD, Sagna, Cesc, Ramsey, RVP, Eduardo, Bendtner, Vela, Nasri and the rest of the CC kids.
I dont say Clichy because for all his attributed he isnt a great defender, nor is he that productive. He is a great middle third player but we could do better. So he is a maybe. I like Bendtner thats why hes up there.
Unless theres someone im forgetting then I wouldnt be too upset to see anyone else in the 1st team squad sold at a reasonable price.
Stu -
Unfashionable he may be – but Shawcross is tall , doesnt miss a header, puts his head where it hurts, tackles like a rugby player. Thou shall not pass attitude and… cheap. Brill – just what we need and what we currently dont have. He has impressd me this season. Old fashioned English def and in my opinion better than Michah Richards & JD.
My point genaral point is Arsenal doesnt have money and so a glamourous big spending manager just wont come here – hence my suggestion of Moyes. We need to get cute in the transfer market. Sell players and replace them with better ones. I dont really want Wenger to leave but he doesnt seem to appreciate what needs to be done. He needs to be ruthless with failing players. His duty is to AFC not to the players.
He either just doesnt see it – or doesnt want to admit his experiment with younger players has failed. There was nothing wrong with the experiment – but the young players he brought in like Deilson, Diaby, Song, even Bendtner just werent good enough for a great club like Arsenal. Thats the mistake Wenger made- poor player selection and thats why were in this crisis. Hindsight yes, but thats the risk Wenger took when he embarked on the youth route.
Yeah I cant argue with any of those names GMR,
We fucked up with Ade, repaying his complete lack of loyalty in the summer with a 80k contract. he is in a complete comfort zone and the sooner we get rid of him the better. It is a shame as I do think he has class, but his ego is sadly that inflated now that he thinks he is better than Arsenal legends like Henry, Bergkamp, Wright etc.
Those players will be taking up a lot of the wage bill as well, and it really saddens me that they show so little effort.
I posted that yesterday Gambon
It was like the fact we make profit excuses what happens on the pitch. I dont even want to hear my manager talk about shit like that, He is the Manager not the fucking CFO or a member of the board with a vested interest. It was almost like his bonus is made on profit margins rather than success.
Oh and how crap and unreliable a news source have SSN made themselves over the last month
SSN understands Arshavin was on the plane this morning
What a load of crock
Pat – Thats why I said I’d be happy to miss out on the CL, those players would be the first ones getting their agents to organise transfers. We get some decent money & rid ourselves of their inflated wages, we’d also be losing the lack of heart I’ve been talking about.
The large majority of youngsters would stick by the club especially in the short term.
Of course there is the possibility that Cesc would go but I just feel he’d stay on for at least one year, I think he genuinely cares for Arsenal.
gambon – Of course it’s played it’s part, where have you been for the last four years, the only teams above us right now are ones that have been bought out by richer investors who have pumped significant amounts into the club.
United spent big money, not much like what they do now, but big money all the same, but they were the only team that was doing so and the only thing keeping us in touch and with a fighting chance was Wenger.
The difference now is the 20 odd million Wenger may have spent back then will have relatively little impact or has to have even more bang to the buck.
Wenger’s made mistakes, but many are highlighted by the even thinner line he has to traverse between success and failure, if we want instant success it’s going to take more risk by the board or a buyout.
Forget the Monaco Experiment ? Was there ever one ? How much do you know of it ? That in footballing terms is eons ago, football’s changed more in the last few years then it did in the decades that preceeded it.
That is true GMR
But some of the crapper players will also stay put as no one else wants them.
I doubt we could find a club for Eboue, Song, Denilson or Diaby
I honestly fear that Song is that shit and Wenger likes him that much, that we will one day be faced with a Testimonial game for him.
Yeah, yesterday SSN understood we had got a work permit for Arshavin, this morning they understood he was on a plane to London. They seem to be using the same sources as the sun etc nowdays.
gmr
wenger has let down a number of players who has given long service to the team,both pires and gilberto were only asking for 2 year contract but because there were over 30 its 1 year or they are shown the doore,toure has lost his hunger at arsenal he has done so mush for the team and just let gallas in overlook toure for captain and make gallas the highest paid player in the team sorry thats cold.as for ade he has been huge let down since getting his contract but he might snap out of it when he is in good form he willscore alot,as for eboue he tries but he clealy just no wear near good enough. i know alot use arenal fans know the team needs to add more experienced players and more wingers and better defenders but i would not sell diaby or delinson, but wenger you just know what he will do
GMR – Doesn’t the Times, SkySports and The Sun all fall under Rupert Murdochs News Corp ? They all talk shit and most people buy into everyday when they clinck on the links provided on newsnow.
Agree with GMR & Pat
the younger talent at Arsenal e.g Cesc, Ramsey, Vela, Nasri, Jack, JD, Fabianski, even Clichy would benefit playing greatly playing alongside world class players who have the right attitude & winnning mentality.
Thats what their doing at MUFC – regretably.
Wenger has been let down by his senior players. But he is the manager and should have put his footdown ages ago.
I think Denilson & Diaby are decent players. They both do the job they are supposed to, however Diaby lacks experience, he just hasn’t played the games he should have & even when he has played half the time he’s been stuck on the wing.
I agree we’d be stuck with Song, but again I doubt his wages are particularly high. As the season goes on & other players come back he’ll play less & less. Eboue is a strange one though, for some reason other clubs do seem to like him (foreign clubs I mean) so I wouldn’t be surprised if he left (we can always hope).
pathegooner
the thing about delinson and diaby they are bot at the beginning of there career and have alot of improving to do i would sell them,what do with players like this is you have play with more experiened players and gradually bring them in may be every 2-3 games you bring them in but what you never see ferginson just drop deep them in the deep end rest there title hopes un such inexperienced and that is what wenger has done,he has put alot neddless presure on these players how on earth he still in a job i just dont know
Keyser,
Its not that wenger isnt spending 20m per year, did you know he has actually made a profit in the last 5 years? We spend less than Reading, Blackburn, Hull, Sunderland….and the list goes on.
Also i dont understand how there is ‘risk’ spending our own money? Everton spent big on Fellani, are they going bust?
Leon – I’m not sticking up for Wenger, I’m just on the side of the youngsters.
He treated Pires & Gilberto disgustingly. I don’t really care how he treated Vieira as he himself was happy to try & engineer a move away each summer. Henry was the one who decided he wanted out (obviously for personal reasons). I don’t go along with the Toure stuff though, I think Campbell saved that guys arse on so many occasions & since he went Toure has been shown up as the average defender he is, sure he shows heart but the same could be said for Song.
gmr
toure has lost his edge,i cant put my finger on it but not the same player he was, i think he is gon e the summer.
Leon – Probably, I wouldn’t even be surprised if some deal with Man City was done on monday at the last minute. It’s unlikely now & despite Hughes saying he hadn’t bid for him I still think that might happen.
Anyway, its been good but my laptop battery is about to die, so have a good evening everyone.
wow Juventus are gettin a beat down
3-2
I actually wonder if the Toure deal is reliant on Arshavin.
I know that they are not like for like, but I think Arshavin is our only target and not even Wenger would be stupid enough to bring no one in and let one go
gambon – Everton are looking for a richer buyer because their present one can’t take them any further.
You accepted yesterday that we paid 140 million up front for the stadium, 140 million isn’t peanuts, it’s our profit margins from the new stadium for about 3-4 years, it’s not like everything’s rosy now we’re at the Emirates, whatever plan we had for the furture finances must have taken a hit due to the credit crunch ?!
If we’ve got a budget every year for Wenger to spend, however much it is, I just don’t think it’s enough to match wat United have accumlated ovr the years and Chelsea have just bought.
We are going to have to rely on youth, we are going to have to count the pennies over transfers, a few million here or there obviously will make a difference, and the money needs to be spent on the right players not just because it’s sitting there.
Whenever the youngsters come up against a side that really cares they get knocked out. They’re fine when the other team drops their intensity level in terms of pressing but when the opposition get their act together and fight for every ball, they get found out.
Wenger’s youth system has thus far has cultivated a bunch of naive bottlers I’m afraid. Clichy, Senderos, Djourou, Denilson, Toure, Eboue. All bottlers who cannot play their natural game when the shit hits the fans.
We’re known as bottlers by opposition fans the all over the country, and for a reason.
No matter how talented these youngsters, Wenger will imprint his bottlers mentality on them and they will never win zip.
Wenger will never win another trophy in his tenure here. All his successful sides have had George Graham winner type mentalites which have carried us over the line and given the foreign players some backbone. Even the foreign players like Vieira had that instilled in them so they had at as well by the end.
Now we have none of that left, so more hardened winners. Bottlers are learning from bottlers.
Thing is Keyser, I have no problem with that if that is the situation that has arrisen in the credit crunch. Fuck I know I have been affected by it, but how about a bit of honesty
It is not us that are saying that the Credit Crunch has had no affect on the highbury development, they even went as far as to say that cancelations were in low single figures. Neither is it us that is saying that Money is available, and he can spend 30m on one player if he likes.
If we really are that much in the poop that we have to rely on Youth, then if they came out and said it, I am sure 100 out of 100 gooners would get right behind it.
Here is the latest line of rumour and speculation to get the excitement flowing
Arshavin was not on the plane that carried the Zenit team back to Russia
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportsdaily.ru%2Fnews%2Fpribyitie-zenita-fotoreportazh-stasa-levshina-iz-pulkovo-16365&sl=ru&tl=en&hl=EN&ie=UTF-8
So Arsene says that Theo and Robin could go if we don’t quality for the Champions League. Hill Wood is already planning for life outside the competition. AW also says that he isn’t bothered by the Arshavin deal one way or the other. Well, personally i would rather see both players stay and seeing that Arshavin would break the club’s transfer record and that he must obviously become a massive part of the future strategy of the team how come AW isn’t bothered? What the hell is going on with Arsenal? I shall wait until the transfer window closes before drawing any conclusions from the mixed messages. As for today, I do wonder just what Arsene sees when he watches the same game I did. I have never heard or felt such unrest from those around me. Every player has a patchy spell but Adebayor really does take the biscuit. £80 grand a week and he puts in performances like that. The man is a disgrace really. Give Robin what he wants to stay tomorrow. Tell Adebayor to begin looking for another club. Arsenal should have world-class players all over the pitch and we don’t. Whoever said us fans are like mushrooms. Kept in the dark and fed shit has a painfully apt point. I have never heard so much fanny coming from Wenger’s mouth and I find it sad and hugely disappointing. Perhaps if I was paying £20 a game I could stomach it but week after week I watch the same old dross making the same old mistakes and hear the same old excuses. It’s enough to make a man weep.
pattheGooner – A bit of honesty ? Is it the principle of it then ? They’re not going to disclose everything because they just don’t who would, but they’ve said plenty over the course of the seasn and the six-months over which the credit crunch has really hit, at the AGM I can’t remember the exact words but they were talking about how they will need to keep a close eye on things in recent weeks I’m sure I’ve read other comments saying how at this moment in time it’s better to have the money in the bank rather than going out and spending it.
We’ve been interested in two transfers probably significantly, I say probably because the papers make up a whole load of bullshit and hype the real truths more than other. These being Alonso and Arshavin, if we’re working on a budget it’s obvious we need to stick to our bids and not pay over market value.
We’ve had this conversation he said he’d make the money availbale to Wenger if he wanted it, it didn’t really matter on the valuation but they’d trust Wenger till the bitter end.
It’s pretty obvious that we’re going to have blood some of the youth, we just don’t have the money to make wholesale changes, those that do come in will be the odd player here or there for the right price.
Newsnow and Sky are seriously pissing me off,I wish I’d never bothered clicking on it in the first place and Sky’s transfer correspondant who looks like a beaver, just out of interest have you succombed to the same ?!
was just browsing around that Russian site, and there is a story that the NFL are planning to get a team in London within the next 10 years!!!!!!
Fucking hell, what is all that about.
Fuck me is my spelling and grammar bad.
Keyser,
what has the 140m got to do with it, that was paid 5-6 years ago, that has no affect on our current situation.
Its nice and easy for a co to say ‘oh its the credit crunch’ – well we are a co with significant cash balances, by definition a credit crunch affects credit, not surplus cash.
The club is mismanaged on so many levels its untrue.
No I havent Keyser, I learnt a long time ago not believe a word of the press when it comes to Arsenal signings. We keep it too close to our chest.
I am pissed becuase we havent signed anyone, not because those linked have not joined.
With regards to the honesty, I think they have a ballancing act. If they want to keep it all secret then they have to accept that it risks resentment amongst the ranks and ultimately they will suffer for it in matchday revenue and membership and of course in atmosphere in the stadium, yet if they were a little more honest about where we are, then the fans would get 100% behind them, atmosphere would improve and we would get through it together. Unfortunately when the board say one thing the Manager says another and the fans are led blind you get the situation we are in today. It is poor management and PR.
gambon – Of course it has an effect.. Where did it come from ? How easy is that ? We managed to raise 140 million to pay for the building of a stadium from generous sponsors, investment and our cash reserves, being frugal and so on for years, but it has no effect on our situation because 140 million, pfft thats a couple of years of transfers for United,it shouldn’t matter at all to us.
We must have had to make some sacrifice to raise it ?!
Lets see we’re going through a global recession but having money in the bank is worthless, it’s pointless, idiotic even, because it makes no sense to have some security in troubled times and things couldn’t possibly get worse.
pathgooner
are going to watch the superbowl
It actually would not surprise me in the least to see the Spuds bid for Arshavin in the next 24 hours given what has happened to Defoe.
He is cheaper than anyone else they are after.
Leon
I doubt it, I go to the states quite a bit and love watching their sports live at the stadium, but I cant watch it on TV, too much stop start for me.
I actually loved Baseball, as there is always something going on inbetween innings and the ability to text for a Pizza to be delivered to your seat was just so ridiculous. I also like being asked for ID for beer even though I am in my mid 30′s
Leon
But if we did get a team in London, I think I would go everynow and again for the occaision of it.
I think it might actually work though, I found it weird that your American Football Team only plays 8 home games in a season, so given that, I reckon you could probably get 60k regular at the games, at least for a few years whilst the Americans will find it a novelty and travel over.
patthegooner – That’s it though, so you’d be happy if we signed someone, anyone ?! I want quality, someone thats going to make a real difference.
I hope they see it through, if they’re going to take this course with Wenger investing in youth, I hope they back him through to the end, they could have gone the Dein route with an investor coming in, they haven’t so now I don’t want to see a new manager come in I want them to give Wenger till the end of his contract.
The board and Wenger aren’t that far removed, I’m not really bothered what he says, it’s distorted and used by the media to play on peoples anxieties, it’s prevalent everywhere now, I was listening to talksport the other morning and they had Henry Winter on, he began to talk aout getting ‘Wenger to bite’ by asking loaded questions, the presenter asked if thats what reporters try to do and catch managers out, he quickly backtracked and changed the subject or moved it on.
I’m not saying we’ve had conflicting reports but some of it is just a load of bollocks.
Our management is stupid.
Now you are putting words in my mouth there Keyser and you know you are.
I am of course saying that I am pissed that we have not signed anyone that will improve us, I am not talking about signing Titus Bramble.
And whilst I agree that the media distort it, Most of the words that really fuck me off are from Arsenal.com
Keyser,
The biggest threat to our turnover, infact the only real threat, is a non competitive team. Think about it, we become a uefa cup team and we lose 30+m per season in revenue, we lose commercial pull, attendances fall………its fair to say we would lose over 50m per season if we arent competing.
Lets also make one thing clear, i dont want us (and i dont think any fans want us) to spend 70m per season, but look at the money we make……there is no reason why we shouldnt spend just as much as Barca, Munich, Liverpool, Inter…..all of which we are better off than
Keyser, give him till 2011. Let him dive straight down to mid-table and the magic of the InterToto Cup or whatever it is called. Then give him a find farewell as “the greatest manager we’ve ever had”.
But in the mean time, let’s hire a good defensive coach, a No.2 who can take over in 2011 (DB10, Van Basten, Rijkaard come to mind) and get the club into a position where the new manager wont have to pinch pennies.
And, along the way, let’s get a new board who care about the football and fans and filling the stadium.
*fond
patthegooner – I asked a question, not putting words in your mouth, you said you were pissed we hadn’t signed anyone, it wasn’t about the players we were linked with.
For me, there aren’t that many viable options out there that would not only make the difference this season but be able to improve over season to come, considering we are working on a budget.
gambon – It’s fair to say ? There are no definites, just because we don’t qualify this season doesn’t mean we won’t qualify the next and even if we spent 50 million, it’d give us a better chance but it wouldn’t mean we’d be guranteed a spot the season after. It’s a balance, we save money one way we could lose it another. I really don’t think they’re sitting there thinking how can we fuck the club, they’ll have it weighed up, you say we’re mismanaged at all levels, I say thats a complete exaggeration, there’s cause for concern but it’s a calculated risk.
Do you have any idea how much Liverpool, Barca and the likes have spent, look at the money we make after the debt repayment, how much do you think we should be spending ? Barca didn’t spend 70m this season they exceeded it.
Hi Keyser!
What about Veloso and this Bataglia guy from Argentina(Boca Juniors probably)?
PDT – Great points, you’re obviously a very wise man.
hi guys
im beginning to believe keyser is arsene wenger in disguise
maybe when we relegated that wld be the reality check we ‘all’ need
Franchise – Hello, why would you say that ?!
PDT,
I feel that if we end this season empty handed and fail to qualify to next year’s CL-he should be sacked.
I we become a mid tabvle club once more, he will leave us at the point when he started to manage us.
http://www.transferleague.co.uk/
This is somewhat interesting.
u always glass half full when its not exactly
Franchise!!!
Mate, how are You.I was looking to “see” You.Have You read my posts?
yeah i have maciek….. how r u mate? another episode in our steady decline
i would luv to be glass half full but IMO it isnt
Keyser
I honestly think we could lose every game in the season and you still would not have a critical word to say about Arsenal.
i concur pat
Ridiculous that Boro, Pompey, Newcastle, Sunderland are outspending us heavilt these last 4 years.
MY GOD I just watched the match….PATHETIC
I cant believe I am saying this but IT ALL WENT TO SHIT WHEN BENDTNER was TAKEN OFF…
We are NEVER going to get more than a STALE draw with a center midfield of Diaby/Song/Denilson….
He moved Nasri in the middle but he WAS TOO HIGH…take off either Diaby or Denilson ARSENE!!!!
Then he brought on RVP, GOOD THOUGHT….but DONT leave Diaby and Denilson in the center….
MY GOD IT WAS MIND NUMBING TO WATCH
more to come…
patthegooner – Heh, I was going to say the opposite, but it sounds rude if you actually write it out, since everyone else wants to go with the glass bone dry, broken, and slitting into my veins, blood pouring out, but too weak to call for help line, I thought I’d go the opposite direction.
When Bendtner came off Nasri had to go out to the right again (aka become ANONYMOUS)
Great…our most creative player at the moment in a position where he doesnt touch the ball nearly as much as a twat like Diaby
nightman we werent gonna score if the game lasted another 90mins
irrespective of where nasri played
We didnt create any golden opportunities…it could have been 3-0
instead 1-0
Sadly, it seems that You are right Franchise. And this table which Keyser showed us is really annoying, and shows that probably we are really skint/in red.
Do You feel that we will sign someone?
Sarcasm….
I was hoping for a debate….
WHERE NASRI PLAYS MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
ALL OF IT…
Guys, it doesn’t matter whether we are skint or we have oodles of money in the bank but won’t spend it. Either way, we will not go the way the other clubs are going, so we might as well get over it and wait for him to retire.
George Bush got eight years! This should not be as bad….
Aside from RVP he is the only BRAIN on the field
Our brains are what separate humans from the rest of creation…
Nasri has a really good one….USE IT ARSENAL
yesterday’s game was just like the everton game. “We could have scored any time”, but didn’t.