The last installment of the guest post goes to comment regular Duke! Pedro will be back in an hour with a 0900 post!
Good morning boys and girls,
I want to move away from all the talk of Adebayor, getting his replacement in Ronaldo’s twin brother (Who is now Sunderland bound) and how shite he is, discussing if The Hunter would fit our team perfectly and if we should break our transfer record for him or how desperately we need a DM. Those are all good topics, but we have discussed them on Le Grove, over and over again. Everyone has their own opinion on those topics, but all we can agree on is that we need a DM. Well what we also desperately need is a CB. Why you ask? We’ve got six already, you shriek!
Well let me break it down for you.
Ade has left and hopefully we will sign Hunteelar, Cana, Mautuidi and Vidic today and my post will be useless.
However, as this is unlikely, here is my take…
Our centre backs for the upcoming season as I am writing are (in order of importance in my opinion) Gallas, Verma, Toure, Sanderos/JD, Song, and another one who I shall not mention in this post at all, hence previously stated six CB’s and not seven.
Our main problem has been the defence since we last won the League, let me demonstrate with some statistics… and please… stop complaining, sometimes they are useful, seriously stop, Denilson is the best DM in the League. Seriously, in the season of 2003-2004 we scored 73 goals (best in the league) and conceded 26 (best in the league). That is to be expected, that season will probably never be repeated by anyone in our life time. It is the one to remember, and it is the one you will be telling your great great grandchildren about, in turn your children will tell their grandchildren about, and their grandchildren will be telling theirs and… well, you get the point. That was a high point in most of our lives. So what do we expect after that? Well we expect to go on and become a dominant force through the decade like Man United did in the 90′s… it was not to be.
The 2004-2005 season came upon us. When we were everyone’s favourite the regain the title, but we finished a massive 12 points behind Roman’s Revolution. We did score 15 more goals that Chelsea though, we played some great football, what went wrong though? Why didn’t we win it? Well we conceded 36 goals, that is ten more than the season before, doesn’t sound too bad considering we scored 14 more than ourselves a season earlier. Well the answer is that Chelsea conceded only 15.
Moving onto the season of 2005-2006, now for the first time we have fallen out of the Top2 since Wenger took over, Chelsea were a new force on the block and that was expected. We weren’t just overtaken by our everlasting rivals Man United, and the new no-limit cash Chelsea, but also Liverpool. Finishing the season in 4th place, only two points ahead of Spurs, who if not poisoned, would probably take our oh so precious Champions League place. The reason? Well we conceded 31 goals, compared to Chelsea’s 22, and Liverpool’s 25. Man United did concede three goals more that us, but also scored four more. That season we finished 24 points of the top, even though scoring only four less than the Champions. We did however make the Champions League final, setting a new defensive record.
Season 2006-2007 sees us finish 4th again, conceding eight more than Man United and Liverpool and 11 more than Chelsea. With the worst goal difference in the Top4. Nothing else of note to mention that season regarding out subject.
Now we go to the season of 2007-2008 our best attempt at regaining the title. We finish 3rd and only four points off the top. This season is still fresh in all our minds, we all remember it, and we all have our theory why we didn’t win it. Mostly being that fateful day in Birmingham. But once again we conceded the most goals in the Top4. Wenger tells us that he sees the problem and that it is the defence and he will defiantly reinforce it, instead he sends Senderos out on loan, and gets Silvestre. Good reinforcement. We thought finally we will challenge, but instead we took another two steps back. Conceding 37 goals, against Man United’s 24. No point going into more depth as you all remember the season which just finished.
What was the point of me breaking all this down for you? Just to prove a simple point off, you build from the back, defence wins you titles. Take note Real Madrid.
Finally this transfer window we got a player in a position we have been begging for years. In comes Verma. I was ecstatic, I’ve seen the boy play for Ajax and he is class. However my childish happiness disapated when I analysed the situation, I realised we are in a very vulnerable position at CB.
Let me take you back to our best challenge in years again, the 2007-2008 season. We start the season with 6 Central Midfielders, sound familiar to our situation with CB’s this season? They are Cesc, Flamini, Gilberto, Diarra, Denilson, Song, and we could also throw in Diaby in there as we could throw in the CB I promised not to mention. But what happened at the end of the season? Flamini, Gilberto and Diarra are all gone, we are left with 2 players last in the picking order to partner Cesc, and knowing our luck, what happens? That’s right, Cesc get’s a long term injury. Not only do we not challenge, but we almost lose our 4th place, and take a huge step back.
Now what will happen at the end of this season? I don’t know, but what I do know for a fact, is that Gallas, Toure and Senderos are all in the last year of their contracts. So hypothetically at the end of the season Gallas would leave, he already said many times that he will at the end of his contract, Toure will leave because we didn’t give him enough playing time, and Sanderos will leave for the same reason or maybe because he stepped up, had a good season and does a Flamini. So what are we left with? Our new signing Verma, who might not be all that for Arsenal, JD and Song.
That’s right, Song, the same person who was a stop gap this season after Flamini left. So say Verma has a bad season, and it’s Gallas and Toure who play, or Gallas and Senderos. Then we are left with 3 CB’s who have been on the bench the whole season, and with no real partnership in the position where partnership is most important. Even if we buy a new CB next season, who do we pair him with? How good will be their understanding? How long will he take to settle in? Remember even Vidic took over a year before he started preforming, and that was next to Rio, not a player who was on the bench the season before.
The good news is that we gave new contracts to Fabianski, Gibbs, Jacky and Ramsey who all had 3-4 years left on the previous ones.
Defence is the part of the team which you don’t change around, you don’t substitute, it has to have the same players every week. Our 2 main Centre Backs from the last season could be both gone the season after next, if not in this summer window.
Wenger, Gazidis, whoever is in charge, please look what happened to our Central Midfield a season back, learn from your mistakes, that is how you become better. We always throw the book at the players saying “You never amount to anything after you leave Arsenal”. Well let’s give the Summer of 2008 Arsenal Transfers book to Wenger and tell him to take a look at the CM position, and then point to the last season and how our performances dropped.
Why do we always get a player we need a season too late?
Sign a new CB, extend at least one of the 3′s contract. Do something, make a move. Remember, if you concede the least goals over the course of the season, it will make you title contenders.
Duke Over and Out.
Zutara
Adebayor is Da MAN!
taig, cant hear u!
3rd
should have aimed higher!
hattrick…
poor simon!
jammy
fluke
at 09 00, i’ll do a sitter!
good post duke… pedro keep ‘em coming
cartman…r u made up of “F5″ keyboard key
sab, some call me F5 cartman
We haven’t won anything since Almunia became no1. He’s the real problem
morning
first??
who’s post is it pedro’s or duke’s? anyway its excellent!
damn!!missed again
Good post Duke.. we still need to sign some toughened troopers espec in the CB & DM roles… but will it ever happen? I won’t be holding my breathe!
Good Post Duke
One small point: Senderos. This player was and still is liked and respected by Wenger, it is illogical to suggest that the club offered him to Milan rather than he ask to go out on loan.
Why? Because everyone knew at the beginning of last season that the main central defensive partnership was going to be Gallas and Toure which condemned Senderos to the bench for what would have been the best part of yet another season, something I would suggest that he was and still is completely fed up with. Footballers want to play football and that is the logic I apply to my view as to why Senderos would have asked to go out on loan rather than the other way around.
If you take the view of the club; Wenger (as we all did) knew the central partnership was going to be Gallas and Toure but would have also known that either one could very easily pick up an injury, so it makes complete sense for Wenger to want to keep someone he regards highly at the club as cover for that eventuality.
Fantastic Post Duke…I love those Stats…we Are indeed in NEED of 2 outstanding CB’s…I would get another CB age 27′ish…Flog off Gallas and Toure and have JD and Song as back up!
Just Hangeland would do imho if we are not keeping Sendy.
I am tempted to say that we need a striker too to help fill the large gap we have upfront, but I think as long as the defense doesnt consider silly goals we have a decent chance.
Morning all,
Good post Duke, I still think CM is a more pressing need than CB. A good CM will make the CB’s look a whole lot better.
Great post, I hope Arsene is listening!!
hangeland is the best option,sell toure and buy him,this could be the end of our problems at cb.though for DM, dont u think,there is no that good player available in market
Bring in the Amstaff who goes by the name of 。。。CANA！！！
Good post Duke! A little hard to read in places but the sentiment is spot on, nice one.
This just in from Adebayor:
“I scored 30 goals in a season – it’s not my fault that Milan, Barcelona or Real Madrid wanted to sign me. In any summer, Barcelona try to sign Cesc Fabregas. But the fans never turned on him.”
Well we wouldn’t have turned on you if you had done EXACTLY what Cesc does every time he is linked and come out and deny it! You didn’t do that, and I’m sure if Cesc had maintained radio silence last summer he wouldn’t have been too popular either.
Deluded twat.
CARTMAN BLESSES ARSENAL!
Chipo, did u see the 2nd comment?
“Oh, my God! They killed Chipo”…You bastards!”
don’t u mean DA MAN CITY
hattrick…amen
dont call my sheyi deluded twat, coz u’ll be banned from le grove! lol
double hattrick… amen amen
Don’t you threaten me…. Respect my authoritaaa!
And stop spamming
It’s not big and it’s not clever (hat-trick)
chipo, a joke or a poll plz, i’m bored!
Top posting Duke… I agree that we need to address the defence… and I think we have.
I’m hoping Verma is going to be a beast… he looks in the Vidic mould… lets hope he plays like that!
nice post. i think we’re good at CB, we need a DM but i don’t think wenger is buying cause he can’t use ade’s money. we’ll just have to trust denilson/song bilong and hope wenger won’t silvestre.
u want me to tell ASNLthruNthru, to tell Play2rich, to tell Jerseygooner, to tell ikon, to tell Davud, to tell London, to tell redbearer, to tell airhead, to tell dean the gooner, to tell Fred Red, to tell sab_indian_gooner, to tell Rohan, to tell Simon to tell Cartman, to tell Pedro, to tell Geoff to ban u?
Is ‘London’ a vulcan?
Cartman – Only just woke up! I’m the king of 9am posts!
Duke – Nice post fella!
So imagine how happy I was to open the back pages of the only 100% truthful newspaper, The Sun, to find that we are rivalling the Spuds for Huntelaar and are about to approach Lorik Cana as well! Fuck me! It must be true, it was in The Sun!
Arsenal for the quad!!!!!
GOOD POST DUKE!
IS FABREGAS GOING TO BARCA?
ARE WE BUYING HUNTELAAR AND CANA AS THE TABLOIDS SAY?
taig, u obviously want to get banned like chipo! lol
btw ur soooooooo lazy!
Morning all, thanks for the kind words.
Pedro, I do think that Verma will be a beast. But looking forward to next season, he won’t have a partner, and if he isn’t that good, then we are totally screwed.
taig, you just made my morning, if The Sun said it, it must be true
Chipo, when I read the Ade comment I could not believe my eyes.
That is illogical cartman
I’m not even going to say his name today! no time should be spent talking about what that twat has come out and said!
Cartman is God! Illogical becomes logical with cartman!
man, i’m talking like adebayor!
Please duke tell him once mre.nice write up.
you mean ‘you are very ‘appiii, and will fight for the team’!
IF Wenger can get Huntelaar and match his wages and save 5000 million pounds i.e. 75000 million pounds per week then get him ASAP.
I AM AN ADEBAYOR HATER BUT FOR ONCE HE HAS SAID THE TRUTH….USE THE MONEY WELL…BUY HUNTELAAR WHIO IS CLINICAL AND CANA PLEASE.
DOES ANYONE HAVE GAZIDIS TELEPHONE NUMBER?
SHOULD WE START ANOTHER BROCHURE URGING THE BOARD TO BUY CANA AND HUNTELAAR…!!!!!
That is illogical Simon.
good post. thought you weren’t going to mention silvestre’s name in it though.
yeah tell him London, that is illogical Simon.
NEW POST!
hahha Swinner
AK, If what Ade said is true, why would he spend this money on Hunter? If we need money, it means we need money. Not to spend it, but to keep it.
Simon says do a mind meld
hey duke what a post man. It does feel like history could repeat itself.. but you never know no expectations could lead to surprise. We never thought we would go unbeaten for a whole season and we never really believed it was possible to beat liverpool in 89 under the circumstances. In any case here is a joke for you
A doctor says to his patient, “I have bad news and worse news”.
“Oh dear, what’s the bad news?” asks the patient.
The doctor replies, “You only have 24 hours to live.”
“That’s terrible”, said the patient. “How can the news possibly be worse?”
The doctor replies, “I’ve been trying to contact you since yesterday.”
SO i think you are right i wouldnt be suprised if by the end of this season we move on gallas, kolo senderos and silvestre. I think though we will be fine. I hope AW sees the future as TV and JD. I know i do! JD tall and styrong in the air and right footed. TV strong not as good in the air and left footed, they make on paper a good combination. This season it will be a matter of bedding in TV and JD into the first team in order for them to take over as number one pairing for the season after. If that happens it would leave us with JD and TV as starters with Song and Kyle Bartley and Luke Ayling as back up. To be honest i think thatn is good enough. If you look at manure and liverpool after their preffered defensive paertnership they then have one capabale deputy (agger and Evans) and after that we are talking youth team young players.. i think unless i have forgotton someone. I think thsi is the way to develop a team, the older players move on and you bring i the younger ones you have bedded into the team the season before. it will mean our team is in continual transition but the relaity is we cant offer the same wages as the other teams and we need to make a net prfit on tranfers ever year. If AW can keep us in the top 4 four with potential to challenge and see us thru this period of debt and economic uncertaintity i will be happy. I am a long term supporter i want arsenal to be succesfull over a long period not risk it all like leeds for instant glory. Only one team can win the league each season and we are competitng with 4 top quality teams that invest a lot more money in theior teams than us. it would therefore be logical we win the league once every 4 seasons lets see what happens over the next few years.
BEst article ever appearing on le Grove
“that Gallas, Toure and Senderos are all in the last year of their contracts. So hypothetically at the end of the season Gallas would leave, he already said many times that he will at the end of his contract, Toure will leave because we didn’t give him enough playing time, and Sanderos will leave for the same reason or maybe because he stepped up, had a good season and does a Flamini. So what are we left with? Our new signing Verma, who might not be all that for Arsenal, JD and Song”
“The good news is that we gave new contracts to Fabianski, Gibbs, Jacky and Ramsey who all had 3-4 years left on the previous ones”.
if the above statements are true, then I do not see any logic or sense behind them, you renew the contracts of players for another for years when they already have 3 or 4 years to go on the present one (8years) and then you did not say or do anything about the contracts of those whose contract expire in a year time and who are very vital to the club? (Gallas and Toure). Something is wrong at Arsenal.
By the way, this post is the post of the week, in my opinion
Sorry, I meant to say post of the year, so far!
great post as usual
very intersting post,i have thout for while that toure,senderos and silvest should go,now silvest,senderos,toure and gallas only has 1 year left,now iwould be doing my upmost to keep gallas who clearly our best defender,i have never realy thought about like that but if you think about,but if wenger does without any question cb is needed,song ,dj vern is it because next season 3 players are gone.another thing that worries is if song plays cb,who willplay dm because although diaby/delinson looks to improving are not proven. but all this wenger is full awaear of he working hard to get cb and dm player.i trust wenger to buy right players in
There is one massive ovesight to your comments Duke.
The keepers.
Seaman.
Lehman.
Catastrophe.
We have defenders in your mix of Champions League status and then we get to the weakest part of the Defence and well its the Keeper.
The Chavs had probably the best keeper in the world for the 2 years they won the Prem.
The Mancs smartly signed probably the best Keeper in the Prem over the past 3 years.
Result. Win Prem etc.
Pool could have done this too if they had a decent Keeper. A Top Keeper is vital to any good Team and we have a muppet.
Cheers Knule and Gooner.
el tel, I really don’t see Almunia as a problem at all. He did some great saves, and he never really makes stupid mistakes. He could handle his area better, but with someone say with Sanderos’s attributes should take care of that.
Great post Duke, I too think that we need to have a strong CBs who should play week in week out. ManU does it, Everton does it. I think we have enough fire power to sneak a goal in, but we must not let in.
Some say 1-0 win is a shite result, but I dont think so. 1-0 for me means that one team was resilient and managed to score eventually or they scored early, played a good defense and won the game.