Continued …
6. Injuries. I hate international week because of injuries also. It’s like reluctantly inviting a long lost relative to stay in your house, leaving them alone for a day… only to find they’ve taken a huge dump down the back of your piano. Oh, and by the way, the present can’t be power retrieved for 3 months.
What a joke. Robin Van Persie, deadliest striker in the Premiership, is out injured for 3 months. Fabulous. I trust the Dutch FA will be underwriting his salary over that time period?
An injury to a key player is never good news, unless of course you are an understudy to a good player.
Who now steps up to take that central role? First thought point to Eduardo who bagged to goals for the Croats yesterday. That then gives an opportunity to possibly Carlos Vela to make an name for himself, and give Theo a way back into the team. As gutted as I am for Robin, lets be thankful it was a position we’ve an abundance of cover for.
* Geoff and I were invited by the Guardian to apply to write for their fans forum for next summers World Cup. I had to write 200 words about why I love international football. I think I’ve written 600 words in the last two days about why I hate it. How two faced of me.
So yesterday, I went out and got myself a brand spanking new hair cut and I mulled over a few things of a footbalistic nature.
Goalkeepers. Where did all the world class one’s go?
It’s apparent to me that there used to be an abundance of superb keepers around. Tim Flowers, Nigel Martyn, David Seaman, Peter Schmicheal to name but a few (David James used to be a laughing stock and is now regarded as one of the best!).
Now we’ve entered a period of time where apparently the only world class keeper is the pricey Italian manning the sticks in Juve.
Now, has the world entered a poor period of keeper production? Or have Lucozade been putting something dodgy in those blue bottles? Or could something more sinsister be at hand… something more corporate?
The way I see it, the ball has reduced keepers to a laughing stock. Years ago, if someone fired a ball at the top corner, it took a reasnobly straight path towards the top corner. These new balls have made it far tougher for keepers to make a judgement. All keepers can’t be bad can they? They didn’t lose the ability to stop rocket shots over night, did they?
This season has seen record goals being scored in the Premiership. Is that becasue the skill level has been upped, or the is it because the ball maufacturers are purposely making it easier for strikers to score? I’d say it was the latter.
As a fan, how does that make you feel? Are you all about an abundance of goals? Or are you of a more purist nature, preferring team efforts over 30 yard screamers?
How far are we going to go with ball tech? Will they stop improving the pace of the ball when it starts breaking nets, or games start averaging 4-5 goals? Maybe the ball manufacturers see the only way of appealing to the biggest untapped market, America, is to increase the ‘excitement’ levels with more goals?
I love to see great goals being scored. I like to see them scored because of great technique and a high skill level, not because a ball is so light, it moves three or four times enroute to the goal. I think there has to come a point, like there was in golf, when people say enough is enough. We’ve made the ball fast enough.
The World Cup is fast approaching, there will no doubt be a newer, faster, rounder ball released. I just hope it’s not detrimental core value of the game… skill.
I’m off out to play football in the pissing rain. Have fun, and maybe drop a comment if you haven’t done so before… the Grove pit is a welcoming place, I can assure you!
Honestly Tom, i dont get your drift. What is Van Persie this season if not world class. 8goals in 11 and how many assists to go along with them. He is as productive as any other striker in the world this season at the same level.
He is a world class player and we would be retarded to let him go, or worse…to want him gone.
reggie reg;
I think i can guess what ones!
Twas no freakish accident tho MG. It was all down to Chiellini being a cunt and setting out to injure him to stop him scoring.
Evening Reggie
Havent the slightest mate,,but have kept me a happy camper for 20 years now..ill be sure to ask
tom
The ones that paul daniels sells!!
Stu you cant blame Chiellini for RvPs injury looks like a freak one to me mate!!
Tom, you must be one stinky fucker if all you ever eat is omelettes..
Reggie, i havent seen the tackle and i wont either. I would rather blame Chiellini for it.
Stu,,,not sure but thanks…mate…ironi sucks…but then again..youre opinions are always welcome mate…
tom
Stu do you think like others our season is finished now due to RvPs freak injury?
tom
heres my opinion on international waste of time week/fortnight, It sux. Phuck the RVP11 injury
Reggie it was a fair tackle by chiellini..and RvP well he was unlucky…
Stu…im born in Hartford Connecticut….married to a damned fine Lady from Doncaster and have been working most of my life in Phuket Thailand (Statoil)..and Essen Germany..now ive set camp on the great north of Norway ..no wonder i appreciate a good omelette…but i like fish too….that wouldnt help the smell i guess ..
tom
No i dont Reggie. His loss is a serious dent in our title hopes but we can manage without him. Unfortunately he misses all our big games and only comes back when we could be out of everything.
But as long as we win against the smaller teams (which we should be able to do comfortably even without him) then we should be in a strong position when he comes back.
GnarleyGeorge..
i hear ya…still lets hope that it works out for the best in the end…RvP has been quite good this year..still im not a die hard fan of the fella..
tom
Wanting RVP gone because f…ing chiellini is a disgusting a..hole is just sad. Plain, disgusting, irritating, sad. Messi is playing pretty shite for Barca and no one wants him gone cuz he’s no short of a symbol. That’s Van Persie for us, a symbol, Mr. Arsenal rite now. And we just can’t afford to be f…ing shallow fans like those at Shitty.
We need to support him and support him a lot and stop acting dumb.
Really pissed rite now …
Do you think AW will make a bid for Dzeko in the transfer window 20 mill or bust!!
….
How is Dzeko doing this season? All i have seen of him is sitter of the week on eurosport and him hitting the crossbar against Portugal.
Im liking Gignac more and more everytime i see him. Scored a cracking goal against Ireland last night (even if it was offside).
Also 7-8 years ago, I had partially torn ligaments playing basketball. Used to play juniors BBall back then, and footy for fun. The injury took 6 weeks, and 2 weeks to get back the confidence. In basketball especially ankles are usually primary suspects to get injured, just of the way it’s played. And if the injury comes after a high jump, chances are high for higher level injuries such as complete torn ligaments with broken ankle. Those especially need surgery. So if no surgery and if the partially torn ligaments is true then I really expect RVP back by mid January. Not losing much if u ask me, Dudu can do just fine.
I dunno if this was a mistake or a slip of the tongue, But i just heard on SSN that RVP has revealed that his injury will rule him out for 4-6 weeks amidst fears he would be out for the season
4-6 weeks isnt bad at all then. Even 8 weeks would be a decent result considering so many saying it could/would be up to 4 months.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_5696973,00.html
Hallelujah
I just heard it again so apparently it’s not as serious as we thought
So 7 weeks before he is back starting games. Thats not that bad at all.. Should be fit and fighting for the new year.
about 2 months then.. thats still pretty ok..
I said yesterday he’d be back in little over a month. My mum suffered the same injury and she was back playing badminton within a month and she’s twice his age.
I got told i didn’t know what I was talking about cos she’s not a professional athlete.
Anyway, good news.
It’ll take him a couple of weeks to get match fit though. I guess he’ll need a few friendless.
*friendys
No Paul I said it would be different because your mum isn’t expected to push herself like a professional athlete, either way it’s great news.
you ain’t seen my mum stonroy. ha, ha.
It is great news though.
I was looking at our next few games, they’re not that bad except the chelsea game. We’re safely in the next phase of the cl which is good also. Hopefully he won’t be missed.
in RvP’s ligament problem there are 3 possible cases:
- the ligament is streched but not too seriously and that would take 2 to 3 weeks recovery in general
- the ligament is seriously streched and will take 2 months to recover, and can go to 3.
- the ligament is broken, and that needs surgery, and 4 to 6 months recovery nad its pretty bad.
i think robin’s case is the 2nd one, hopefully he will have a speedy recovery à la wayne rooney
I must admit Dzeko is not setting the world alight at the moment,perhaps a change of club will give him the kick up the arse he needs,good link up,strong in the air as well just what we need IMO!!
I hope RVP 4-6 weeks aren’t like Mozart 4-6 weeks
Wolfburgs manager from last season left so maybe thats why his form has dropped so dramatically. Only explanation i can think of…or he is a 1 season wonder.
*wolfsburgs
you are the expert on kaiser football stu you tell me?
Expert no longer Reggie. No sports channels anymore so i have no way of watching.
Woo Hoo! 4 weeks then!!!
Nighty night!!
Mangoonian you’re the only weekend bender round here you manc tosser!
If Arsenal are saying he’ll be back in two months then he’ll be back in 5 minimum.
Its not because he’s injury prone, he got fucked by a hard tackle.
I’ll try and look on the bright side but even if its minor which it sounds like it isnt we miss him for some vital games in the league and CL
I guarantee he’s not back “in 2 months”
only joking about you being a manc btw!
4-6 weeks. Yesssss!
He’ll miss:
Sunderland A
Liege H
Chelsea H
City A Carling Cup
Stoke H
Olympiakos A
Liverpool A
Burnley A
Hull City H
Villa H
Pompey A
Round 3 FA Cup
CC Semi if we get there
Thats a bit more than 6 weeks, but I;m being realistic
Back january 9th against Everton at the Emirates. 2 weeks before a hectic period.
We’ll miss him against Villa, Chelsea, and Liverpool though.
I’m so fucking mad he played in a meaningless friendly though.
Wait……..where is this 3-4 weeks coming from? Is this still speculation
4-6*
Just saw the RVP comments, hopefully its truley his comments. I could jizz in my pants right now I’m so overjoyed. I can’t get this smile off my face.
I think Chelsea and Liverpool are the only big games he will miss. That is great news.. He will be back before the end of the first half of the season/2010.
I see a bit of relief being expressed that RVP11 will only miss 4-6 weeks. Only when I see him back scoring & setting up goals will I be
Time for the Crozilian to step up and show what he can do, eh…
Agree with you Gnarly, hope he’s back soon but until he kicks a ball…
I believe RVP limited Arshavin a lot cause he took up space. This might improve Arhsavin’s performances. Hopefully
Watching some Ramsey vids atm. He’s going to be a great, complete midfielder. He scores great goals and has the tenacity of Gerrard in his CM days.
How many 18 year olds have scored goals like he has against Scotland, Liechtenstein, Italy u21, and England u21? How many players can boss the midfield against Germany in a qualifier? Ballack and Frings in there and Ramsey was probably the best player on the pitch. He’s something isn’t he? Red Nose will regret missing out on him.
What do you guys do when you get a severe case of the SHITS???? Random? Yes it is. Relevant to my enjoyment of football? Yes as well. Any help from you experienced fellas will be helpful.
It has got a lot to do with RVP’s technique than anything else which accounts for so much of his crockedness.
He tries too hard while shooting. I saw that tackle and that tackle was quite a long way away from his legs.
Chiellini should not be blamed for that RVP injury. Look at the way RVP’s foot is bent. He is virtuallyon his right ankle, his foot is bending to the right. Chiellini attacked fromhis left, Rvp’s foot should bend to the left if we are gonna blame the Italian.
Ramsey is much like Gerrard but with much better technical ability in that he can thread a ball like cesc too… Him, wilshere, merida and vela will be our attacking quartet in the years to come.
Zeus and Ikon, you guys need to take another look slow it down if you’re not convinced.Robin’s right foot is in perfect position for what he was attempting to do,unfortunately for him Chellini makes contact with his ankle at just the right/wrong time. Ankle injuries are almost always the result of an unexpected collision,luckily for him the ankle didn’t overly evert or roll which is emphasised by the fact that the injury isn’t as bad as first thought and may only rule him out for 4-6 weeks.
a lot of rvp’s injuries have been real impact injuries which implies he has been unlucky a few times. ( I think he got injured once bcause of rushing back too quickly ) Granted he isnt the strongest person injury-wise but he isnt a crock like a certain Tomas Rosicky.
AAA
Are you a physio?
AA23;
Haha! No offence taken…erm, I think!!
Pat;
That Alan McAnnally on SSN was goin crazy about Ramsey before the game on Saturday. He thinks he is going to be a top top tippity top player… I agree
Chiellini’s tackle was a legit one. I have no second thoughts about that. RVP goes swinging with his left foot while shooting most of the times. And that instance was no different. Whatever contact Chiellini had was minimal and could not have been a cause of rupture ligament ffs.
RVP needs to play a bit within himself. He needs to learn from guys like Arshavin (short backlift, no overdoing himself still more effective than most in our squad) and Fabregas. It cannot be just luck with the kind of medical history RVP has had.
AngeAusArsenal
The amount of contact Chiellini had with RVP’s ankle is not sufficient to even make RVP know that there is a contact. The only reason he suffered the injury is because he was already unstable with his left leg swung like a golf club. It is not just that he has a weird shooting technique, it is unstable most of the times.
To be fair to rvp, he has been fit for the better part of the last 24 months…
I think, looking at the whole incident, both RvP and Chiellini were goin at full steam, 100% balls out! When they should’ve both been taking the game a lot more casually as it was only an effin friendly!
But it was a high profile friendly between 2 big footballing nations and pride was at stake, ego’s needed maintaining, so thats probably why these 2 were goin for it?
It is a positive thing really; that RvP is in it to win it. But he has fucked him up for a few weeks.
But, yeah, Chiellini is still a cunt!!!
“I do not know what Atletico are waiting for in bidding for a player [Merida] who has half of Europe after him,” Diaz commented.
Diaz also said that although Merida was a fan of Los Colchoneros as a kid, things have changed and the 19-year-old, who is currently on duty with the Spain Under-21 side, now has his sights set on remaining with the Gunners.
______________________
That Joseba Diaz is oilier and slippier than a eel in a vat of Oil!
I don’t blame Chiellini; RvP seemed to twist his right foot trying to cross and it somehow crumpled.
Was it a free-kick?
Forget Chiellini and whether its a foul or there was intent or not. Just check out the slimy hacks, hell bent on peddling the news that he is out for the season, even after the news that the injury is not as bad as first feared.
Nope, facts are just a superficial inconvenience for these agenda driven sensationalist gutter press hacks, only too keen to go over the top and spread doom and gloom regarding our RvP and Arsenal’s chances of silver ware….
Now they are telling us how effin fantastic he has been all season and that how can we cope with only Eduardo, who is bound to break down himself….
Fuck off you lazy, two faced c*nts!
Sunderland game has DRAW written all over it. They have outplayed Liverpool, Tottenham and United all of which were away games. They have everyone rested except Darren Bent. The only plus side is that their goal keeper is injured, Cattermole is still out, Jones is out and Turner is out as well (5th yellow card). It will take reserves of character to come through a game of this magnitude with a win, without RVP and a tired squad of players. A tough ask.
Goodmorning Grovers.
Viva le France. God bless France.
Its a shame about RvP. He was in the best form of his life. But life at Arsenal would not be normal without all the injuries. Its unfortunate. When last was the treatment room bare anyway?
Yon
I agree with you. The Sunderland game is going to be really tough. They have hard-men in that midfield that could make life relly difficult for us.
YON;
Wow! You actually wake up in that doom filled condition! I thought it just gradullay took over you as the day went on!
Sunderland are avergae. if you are getting worked up about them, then you may was well give up on Arsenal altogether.
They will also be missing K Jones, Cattermole, Turner and Cana…
$ of their best 5 players.
Reign that negative shit in soldier!
Morning all, I’m sorry but I think Robin is a little weedy, I have had a bundle of ankle ligaments go over the years, it’s a little painful but not that bad, his face looked like Eduardo’s should have.
What happened to real men.
“Edmond” isn’t even French, it’s “vive la France” and la not le France…..
I have a word of advice for anybody who may be interested. “Never fear when Wenger is near.” Now Aw will find the solution to the problem and life will go on without RvP for the time being.
They havent got bionic ankles like you though Geoff!
finestcuts.
Lets not get technical over key-strokes.
Yeah right Edmond.
Are we really scared of Sunderland??
We are 2nd in the table… Currently, we can beat any team in the world.. reign thr negativity in people..
Denilson is back…
True Manc but since that comment RVP has said he’ll be back before Christmas, so I partially take that back!
Finest cuts, his IP is based in Pietersburg, South Africa.
Good detective work!
Edmond, we aren’t remember what you sound like when you start all that.
Where’s my post Pedro?
Have you amended it?
Yeah, I expect/hope RvP to be back for ther xmas fixtures…
Pedro
Pietersburg is in Russia. Im in Pretoria, SA at the moment. It took you guys long enough to find that out, geniuses.
No I left that for you, you big fucking know-it-all!
NEW POST!
It was never going to be a season where every one would have been fit the whole of the season.
I think Wenger should really get Chamakh now. His link up play is excellent.
Pedro
Im assigned to the French ambassador in SA at the moment. I will be in SA for the WC next year. Any Gooners that will be in SA and want me to show them around for next years’ WC, I will be happy to oblige.
Sorry for this digression! You got any problems? i have been having family/marital problems… but ever since i met a spiritualist called Fuku, i have been set free. As a means of paying back i have sworn to ensure that i publicize this in as many places as possible like here for people who has any kind of problems, contact him true fukuora@yahoo.com … IT’S FREE OF CHARGE.