I’ve got great news…. Player ratings + review

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Highlights | Interviews

… we’ve made it to 40 points. We’re not getting relegated this year Grovers. Phew…!

So what about the game? Well, it was a pretty damn fine way to sign off the decade. In true Arsenal fashion we knocked the ball about like a training exercise and conceded a sloppy goal. Vintage Arsenal you’ve got to say!

It’s funny, most Arsenal fans are calling for the coach to sign a striker despite us scoring a record number of goals. I’m not disagreeing, I think with the right signing in the middle we could score even more goals, however, I think a centre back as cover is more essential.

So the team lined up the same as it did for Villa minus Denilson who was replaced by Rambo.

The first five minutes weren’t the best. We struggled to get a hold of the game and after a Song slip we could have been one down as Piquionne forced a neat save from Almunia.

Eduardo had a couple of chances that he failed to snatch at like he normally would. What I found amusing about this was the way in which the commentators were talking about him like he’d just hit 36 and lost his game… it was like they were talking about a dead person, like they truly believe after a bad patch, it was all over for the Crozillian.

Little did they know. Eduardo skillfully picked out ex-Spud Kaboul and smashed a dead ball at him causing the perfect ricochet into the bottom corner, he even managed to use a mind trick to render Hreidarsson inactive on the post he was marking. Two fingers up to the commentary box… Eddy was back. No goals from freekicks in ninety two and half weeks, then three in so many games… like buses, or parking tickets!

It didn’t take Eduardo long to cause more problems for Pompey. He picked up a floated pass from Song, cut it back to Ramsey who laid it off for Nasri who drilled it back across Begovic’s goal. 2-0 and Arsenal were cruising like a 67 year old lottery winner (On a boat, not for sex you dirty perverts).

Arsenal came out for the second half knowing the game was done and dusted. Sky were still trying their hardest to convince us otherwise. Well, it didn’t take long for us to deliver the hammer blow. Rambo won the ball in midfield, cut inside that useless excuse for a striker Pompey have and smashed the ball from 20 yards past the flailing hand of Pompey’s number two.

Arsenal then hit the switch off button. Passes started getting sloppy, we lost a little shape and before we knew it, Belhadj slipped into the box unnoticed and scored.

After that we witnessed Almunia flap at a cross. Kind of an expectation these days, still, he is the captain, we must learn to forgive.

Arsenal decided it was time to finish off the decade with something unexpected. Song masterfully kicked the ball against his foot and played it out wide to Nasri… the Frenchman spotted Song at the back post, floated a perfect cross which was met by a perfect header! Yep, Song scored a goal and a very good one at that.

The game still had time to see the introduction of Rosicky, Vela and Eastmond.

The slight south Londoner gave away a cheap corner which Almunia did his best to concede from… he then went up the other end and nearly scored. A pleasing 9-10 minutes and nice to see Wenger blooding a member of the Brit pack!

So, there we have it, Arsenal football club have just red carded the last decade with a superb 4-1 victory over a team we’ll probably never see in the Premiership again. We’ve bagged over 50 goals in the first half of the season and we’re still in the hunt for three types of silverware. Things are looking good and come January, with some intelligent purchasing, we could find ourselves in the hunt come March. This is an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan and a happy time to mix it in our comments section (if you haven’t given it a go, make it your new years resolution)!

Ratings:

Almunia: Looked like a frightened rabbit as he chewed this inside of his mouth in the tunnel. George Bush used to do that when he was lying. It’s a shame that I’d probably prefer ol’ George in goal at the moment, even after I watched him duck that Iraqi shoe. Sorry, I digress… not a great performance. 6

Sagna: Why oh why do we let him get forward. Watching him cross offends me. It’s embarrassing that after three years of world class training at our prestigious club, he still hasn’t mastered it. He defended ok. I suppose that’s his job. 6.5

Vermaelen: A solid performance from him. He was part of the trio that forgot to track for the goal, but he can be forgiven as he’s my favourite. 7

Gallas: A solid performance from him. Where the hell was he looking when he should have been tracking Bell-boy for the goal? 6.5

Traore: A bit of dodgy game from ex-Pompey legend, Armand ‘Knuckle-duster’ Traore. His passing was as weak as Chinese baby milk and if I’m honest, I think that long ball to Theo went to his head a little. His tackling and concentration were also a little off today. 6

Song: Song, Song can do no wrong. That’s what I sing to myself when Geoff goes to grab a beer. He slipped over once and made few dodgy passes. However, he started the move for the Eduardo goal and I’m pretty certain he scored one of the best headers of the game in the second half. He also showed a few flashy pieces of skill, especially the one when he brought the ball down, turned it inside and duffed his shot. A good game from a man who talks in the opposite way to Adebayor. 8

Diaby: Well, I don’t have a song for Diaby… nothing rhymes, bar Abu Dhabi. However, if I did have a song about him, it would be a nice one. He played very well today. He’s getting the ball out of his feet early, distributing it to people on his own team and boy can this man run! He’s starting to play with consistency, now all he needs to do is prove his fitness over more than 5 games. 7.5

Nasri: It was all going so well for Samir untill he fell on his hand and started bitching like a little girl. What does that magic spray do? Anyone know? Does it cure hangovers? Anyway, bar his whinging, he played solidly. He bagged his first goal this season and he manged to chalk up an assist for the Song goal. Teeing something up perfectly enough for Song to score is almost deserving of 2 assists. A good game away from home. 8.5

Rambo: Again, it was all going well until his interview. I thought he was Welsh? He sounded more confused than one of those illegal cab drivers when I tell them where I want to go at 4 in the morning. A good job he’s a footballer, not a public speaker. A top effort from him today. His passing was predictably erratic but his talent is in no doubt. He’s bulked up so he doesn’t get bullied out of games and he is sharp and incisive when given the chance. The way he took his goal was superb, winning it in midfield, cutting in and smashing home like Stevie Me himself. That’s talent I’m happy to wait for… 7

Eduardo: I’m surprised SSN didn’t run a career obituary for him before the game. Still, it’s nice when the pundits get it horribly wrong in the space of 15 minutes. He’s never going to be great in that wide position, but he’s got an eye for goal and more importantly, an eye for a cheeky pass. He’s feeling his way back into Premiership football and only a fool would write him off. 7

Arshavin: If he wasn’t so amusing to watch on the pitch, I’m sure I’d have more negative things to say about his game. I do love him. He’s got a certain spark only a few players have, but through the middle, I feel he’s wasted. He doesn’t have the chance to run at players and it’s very easy to knock him off the ball. The sooner we can get a big striker in to relieve him of the burden, the sooner we can see the little Russian working some proper magic. 6.5

A word from the admin team…

This is the last post from Le Grove in 2009. I just want to reiterate Geoff’s Christmas message.

This year, we’ve accrued 1.5million more visits than the last, proving Le Grove is recession proof. We’ve registered nearly half a million comments since we went live and I don’t think there has ever been so many Grovers from so may different parts of the world interacting on the site daily.

Le Grove has truly developed into the best place on the web to talk football, bar none… and it’s all down to you, the Grovers! So thank you kindly. We truly appreciate the fact you put your employment, relationships and social lives on the line everyday to engage in football talk and for that we’ll continue to serve up more finely balanced articles and a whole lot more for you in the New Year!

So, it’s that time of year again and without wanting to sound like a nag can I just suggest that you drink yourself stupid tonight… you wouldn’t want to remember how embarrassing you were in the morning!

Happy New year!

Geoff + Pedro

Fireworks or sea urchins?

Fireworks or sea urchins?

514 Responses to “I’ve got great news…. Player ratings + review”

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  1. wardo

    Geoff, when he was being given so many chances, you and I were slating him. I cant argue with you saying it was a disgrace there as we should have bought to cover (if we had money available but dont want to open that can of worms today)

    I’m just saying that he is a good player now…….that’s all.

  3. SharkeySure

    Two weeks Wardo…!!!

    Treat that as any day now then….every one of my four has arrived early. Two of them were ten days early !!

    Anyway…offski again.

  5. charybdis1966

    Pathe – I’d probably substitute Blackburn into that list of favourite 3 teams I want to go down, being a fat Sam team – even today he can’t resist having a dig at our foreign players. So that’s 2 Fat Sam teams and Tango man’s lot to go down.

  6. ritesh

    Eastmond was a bit lightweight. I dont see him replacing Song soon.

    Diaby/ Cesc/Denilson works well. Given a run of games with the absence of Denilson, I think Rambo will step up.

    Players like Rambo and Wilshere seem more promising at their age than Cesc, Denilson & co were.

  9. Geoff

    Ha, ha Wardo, if you and Pedro believe that, it’s fine mate, I don’t, that’s all.

    I would sooner just play with a DM, for me that’s what we have two centrebacks for.

    In my day a DM was called a sweeper.

  10. A

    more promising than Cesc was ritesh?! Cesc was first choice at 17, he was one of the most promising players we’ve ever had at a young age!

  11. ritesh

    I really really want Tango’s team to stay up so we can take 6 points off them every year.

    If he stay up a few more years, he will become the laughing stock of the league.

  12. charybdis1966

    I think it would annoy Tango man’s rabble to go down more than anything else so that is reason enough for my wish; it would at least prevent Tango Karaoke at season end. There’ll be another team to come up from the Cocoa cola to replace them as an easy 6-pointer, don’t worry about that Ritesh.

  15. wardo

    Geoff…..only kidding mate.

    Just wanted to wind you up a little !!

    haha – :lol: never used that saying before and you use it all the time…..

  16. ritesh

    Sure A. But you have to look at the opposition. Then there was an ageing + injured Viera. And a Gilberto who turned up late and tired after winning the Confederations cup with Brazil. Gilberto never got a run of games then because Wenger decided to go with Cesc. Dont forget how Cesc was physically very lightweight at that time. This is not the case for Rambo/Wilshere.

    Today Wilshere, Rambo, Merida are up against players who would walk into virtually any top European team, so it much more difficult for them to get the break.

  18. ritesh

    It was not only the six points charybdis1966. Its just putting him in his place. “Sit Tango” ;-)

    True though that it would annoy him to go back down. I hate that guy as much as Red nose.

  19. finestcuts

    Happy new year one and all.
    Great performance last night. Eduardo has answered his critics, I’ve never doubted our number nine simply because Eduardo is a striker by instinct, he is that type of player. Yesterday’s perfect judgement of what to do in the box was a perfect example of the quality he possesses. He scored ten for us in his first six months without even becoming a regular. He scored two on his comeback. He has that natural ability in him, it’s something you can’t teach a player, yet you can help them to develop it to it’s optimum level. Eduardo
    will return to his optimum level, and don’t forget he was injured playing in red and white by a savage tackle, some need to show some more respect for this and treat our fallen players with the good grace and the humanity they deserve.

  20. charybdis1966

    I wonder how much that chant went round the Grove when they played us Ritesh. I’d a certainly joined in if I’d gone. I’m going to the Bolton game on Wednesday – I don’t know what wind-up song to sing at them, other than the usual “You dirty northern bastards”, “Premiership – you’re having a larf” and “We pay your benefits etc..”

  21. A

    Not sure I’d agree with that ritesh! Cesc would’ve played in any team at that age, Ramsey, Wilshere, Merida aren’t close to where Cesc was at that age, though they’re all top top talents.

  22. ritesh

    Very true finestcuts, I was sad that some questioned his ability recently.

    His comeback from that tragedy is enough evidence of his strength.

  23. skandibird

    HAPPY NEW YEAR to one and all! Geoff and Pedro, thanks for the entertainment you have provided and here’s to a fantastic 2010 for AFC. Looking forward to January 1st when the ‘window’ opens for, dare I hope, a purchase or even two. Until then, whatever you’re doing tonight, make sure you do it in style, with conviction and enjoy every minute what’s left of this up and down year of 2009! PS make sure you wear clean pants…….
    just saw on SSN that Vic has been given an OBE for services to football – well done to him!!!

  25. ritesh

    to be totally honest, I would have risked throwing my cell at tango if I was seated near enough charybdis1966.

    Bolton is going to be a tricky one. Teams are always fired up after a change in manager. + this is almost a 6 pointer for us.

    A,
    The advantage that Cesc has is that he is a plymaker. He makes a team click bringing all the players into the game by connecting them. In this sense, yes, he would have walked into many teams.

  26. charybdis1966

    Just been speaking to a mank who’s pretty confident they’ll be champions again this year, due to their traditional “better 2nd half of the season than first” effect. For me they will struggle without Greasiano and Tevez to bail them out of games with a late goal or bit of magic.
    What’s the consensus about that? Is our resident mank fan Fran in attendance? :)

  28. patthegooner

    One injury to Rooney and Man Ure are fucked imo.

    Franchise, any airport in particular, or is this another Flamini on loan windup

  32. ritesh

    Chelsea may feel the heat in the end but my guess is that Manure will be fighting it out with us come April.

    They are capable of getting results even when they are playing shit + some teams gift them points.

  33. finestcuts

    Owen is better than Tevez imo however there’s no doubt that they’ll miss C. Ronaldo. They are not nailed on to win, however we are the underdogs. Favourites don’t always win, ask any bookie or punter who’s been taken to the cleaners backing favourites.
    I respect Wenger’s analysis on our goals, but not bringing in another striker is far to high a risk to contemplate. All the positions we need backup for should be filled. After many injury ridden seasons Wenger knows it’s best to play it on the safe side rather than risk being knocked out of the title race again because of that……because I doubt it will be due to other teams playing better football than us. Get some good players, if we have a surplus in summer we can flog them off in summer, starting from the back of the queue. No matter what the assessment of Wenger regarding how many goals we’ve scored, strengthening the team can only help us both in the short and the long run. We have injured key players, players off to Africa who we have no guarantees will come back fit to play, no guarantees that we won’t have a few left behind getting long injury spells so it’s time to stock up on good players.

  34. Stevie

    “When asked if he would buy in January, Wenger told Sky Sports: “We are not against it and at the moment we look, but we are not on any case.”

    Why the hell are we not on any case? If the transfer window starts on 1 Jan surely you make moves before then?

    Anyine else think we will sign someboady on 1 Feb?

  38. finestcuts

    If the price is right then yes. Unfortunately I think Pandev is off the cards because he has stated that he wants to continue in Serie A and Inter are after him…..but yes I see him doing at least 1 big deal in the transfer window.
    For those crticising his pursuit of QPR’s R. Sterling, they shouldn’t, if we can get him for a million plus J. Simpson, that would be a massive deal.

  41. ritesh

    The French World cup team won while their number 9 did not score a single goal in the tournament.

    Wenger think perhaps we can do the same. I hope he signs a forward through. Just for the sake of having alternatives. which we can afford surely

  43. charybdis1966

    Finest – beg to differ on Owen and Tevez. To my mind Owen, the solitary hatrick against Wolfsburg aside, is finished. He’s injury prone and more interested in his horse racing than football anymore – the fact he got the old soak to sign him bewilders me, unless it was Fergie’s son’s management company that were Owen’s agent, as has happened in the past. Nepotism is a family business guys.

  45. charybdis1966

    I hope that the only reason Diaby has improved lately is not because he has been playing for his contract and will now revert to type. Crikey, that’s a sentiment BBK would be proud of!

  46. Maciek

    Pandev has signed for Inter. So another one bites the dust.
    - Cetin for 10m
    - Sissko for 18m
    - Jaskelainen for 3m
    keep Jack, Merida, sell Theo for 10m and buy Angel di Maria or Arda Turan and we are sorted.

  47. goonergerry

    In order to avoid same old-he has to add to the squad- will he -my guess is no he wont- and it will be same old -same old again.

  49. Cotto

    Prepare to welcome in the decade of The Arsenal.

    The 1930′s will forever be remembered as the greatest in the history of Arsenal.

    Can we now see any reality in the vision the club have adopted in recent years?

    The next 5 months are possibily the biggest in our history, win the title.. and win another 5 or 6 more over the next 10 years.

  50. SUGA3

    Maciek,

    not true – he was the part of THAT CL back four, which did not concede a single goal for record time and they did not play against some mugs…

    Tony Adams was called a donkey in his early years too…

  51. incesc

    happy new year le-grove!

    Stop making excuses Arsene, get in some premier league experience at the back and in goal and a masssive skillfull beast upfront with a good scoring record, and lets nail down this league title.

  53. SUGA3

    er, no…

    AW destroyed his confidence by replacing him with out of form and malaria infested Toure after ACN…

    Phil is brilliant for the Swiss national side, defends well and scores goals – not bad for a ‘crap’ CB, is it?

  54. charybdis1966

    Suga03, it seemed to me a while ago Wenger was trying to get rid of all of Cesc’s mates – Flamini, Hleb then Sendy, with only Rosicky left around as he’d never get to see our perma-injured number 7 anyway.
    That’s probably not the case but Wenger has an almost feminine way of sulking if a player does something he doesn’t like and his refusal to take players back who have left, like Anelka, Flaminin etc…he acts like a bloody woman scorned.

  55. A

    Wenger didn’t TRY and get rid of Flamini nor Hleb, they both left against his will….

    What does not taking players back who left?! Nothing to do with emotions, but players who leave a club often don’t succeed when they return, because the set up of the club and team have changed in their absence.

  56. charybdis1966

    A – I did say “That’s probably not the case” but the end result of that summer transfer window left me fuming.
    Bloody sheer incompetence and dereliction of duty by someone at AFC – letting Flam, Gilb, Hleb and Diarra go.

  57. charybdis1966

    A – I do think Wenger act’s like a big girls blouse at times.

    I do admire a lot about him, but I see his flaws too.

  58. A

    i wouldn’t say those are objective flaws though chary, they’re things people could only say if they’re trying to interpret things negatively!

    I was far from a happy bunny when hleb left, and at the way flamini fucked us over, not to mention how much of a cock diarra was. Pissed off that they left, but don’t see how any blame could be levelled at anyone at the club! Those three were dickheads, all the blame is on their shoulders, noone elses!

  61. charybdis1966

    Damn you A, you buggered up my hat trick!
    My take on the Flaminin-Hleb-Diarra-Gilberto cock up is something I’ve said before. Falmini should have been told to sign early in the season or he would be dropped so that Diarra would get more of a chance. Diarra left because he wasn’t being played enough – so what happened was Flamini strung Wenger along and said he would sign, this pissed Diarra off(who was treated similarly at the Chavs) who wasn’t selected as Wenger believed Flamini would re-sign. Then come the end of the season, Flamini doesn’t sign, Gilberto’s flogged off, Diarra had already buggered off and then Hleb went as well. That looks like a cock up to me. Add to that we had the perpetually injured Rosicky, then it’s 4 midfielders gone with a perma injured one and our midfield suffers in the next season while we wait for Denilson and Song to step up. That’s why the 08-09 season was such a wasted opportunity.
    This is my view on the situation not fact.

  62. gambon

    Happy new year Le-Grove!

    Cheers for the facebook message pedro, reminded me to jump on!

    Lets look forward to more discussion in 2010 and at least 1 trophy (gotta love that Emirates cup!)

    Oh and muliple world class signings by the stubborn frenchman!

  63. charybdis1966

    And a stat on Rosicknote – he’s been with us 3 ½ seasons and made 57 starts….yes a whole 57 ! That’s an average of 16 a season. Now that’s good value.

  64. gambon

    Diaby new long term contract.

    Lets hope he keeps up his current form, and wasnt just playing well to secure a big contract!

  65. A

    fair dos chary, i don’t see it like that. I’m glad that Diarra showed his true colours and was offloaded in good time, had massive hopes for him, and expected him to replace Flamini before the end of the season, but he was too dumb to see that opportunity and if he’s that stupid and tantrummy then i want nothing to do with him.

    Gilberto was a loyal servant to the club and wanted to leave, we owed it to him to let him

    Flamini actually said that he was going to stay, I don’t see why we wouldn’t believe him.

    Rosicky was meant to be returning in September so I don’t see how anyone could’ve known he would have the setbacks he did, and when he did Arshavin was brought in.

    Hleb fucked us over too, but Nasri was brought in to replace him.

    I would have had Denilson over both Flamini and Diarra back then, I wouldn’t say we needed to wait for him to step up, because he wasn’t a level below Flamini or Diarra imo.

    We lost Hleb and Flamini from the first team in the summer, and replaced them with Nasri and Denilson, I don’t have a problem with that, and when Rosicky suffered his recurrences he was replaced with Arshavin, again not sure much more could’ve been done

  69. charybdis1966

    While Denilson has improved incrementally, A, at the time Flamini was about to do the dirty on us I feel Denilson was way inferior.
    I don’t think Nasri was ready to slot into the first team at the time Hleb went, so the squad strength suffered then, plus Rosickly had a poor injury record at Dortmund so we should have expected a poor number of appearances from him (16 a season) and that’s the reason cheap skate Wenger bought him as he came at a knock down price.
    True, Diarra was a bit of a knob but a highly motivated knob that could have provided us with a bit of steel in midfield.

  70. charybdis1966

    Well the coming games will tell us Gambon, if the Adebarndoor effect(no effort after an improved contract) takes over Diaby we are royally screwed.

  72. A

    I dunno Chary, until his serious injury he’d made 66% of games for us and Dortmund, so we shouldn’t have expected him to be an ever present, but it wasn’t like he was a crock.

    Diarra, Hleb, and Flamini all showed their true colours, and I wouldn’t want any of them associated with the club now.

    I agree that Nasri wasn’t ready to just step in and replicate Hleb, but I don’t think there was anyone in world football who could have, unless we’re talking a 30-40 mil ribery or someone like that.

  73. A

    Regarding Denilson/Flamini, I agree at the end of that season, when he actually left he was superior to Denilson, but at the start of the season I would’ve put Denilson above Flamini.

  74. A

    Also – Diarra wasn’t highly motivated, he was just stupid, and a complete bellend – if he was motivated then he would’ve stayed at a top club and fought for his place, rather than taking the easy option and going to a second rate side where he doesn’t have a chance of winning anything, nor have any competition for a first team place….

  75. charybdis1966

    But you have to agree that Wenger was naïve in his dealings with Flamini, A.

    It would surely have been prudent to tie him down or have an alternative in place? Anyway we paid the price for that the following year and we have to move on. I hope someone, somewhere in AFC learnt the lessons of that summer transfer debacle. If something like that happened at work and it was my responsibility I would get fired.

  76. gambon

    A, i think youre being a bit harsh on them guys.

    Hleb is a bit of a dick. But Diarra wanted to play and wasnt getting the chance, if anything going to Portsmouth to play was commendable.

    As for Flamini, we fucked him around, wanted to offload him, so when he cracked it and had a big offer he decided to go. I blame Wenger 100% for that situation.

  77. tahir

    Jus wanted to say well done for the year…must admit when i first started reading your post thought you were twats but soon was converted and am now a daily reader first thing in the morning!!!

    Happy New year and look forward to reading your posts in 2010!!!!!

  78. charybdis1966

    That’s where we differ A, I’d rate Flamini as he was then above Denilson as he is now. I reckon Denilson is better suited to a less physical league, like Spain. Has he ever said “Barca/Madrid are my dream teams”? I hope so. :)

  79. A

    I dunno chary, i don’t consider taking someone’s word as being naive, if a player will outright lie to a club then I wouldn’t want him near the club anyways. Every manager should trust his players, if he doesn’t trust a player, then that player shouldn’t be at the club….

    gambon we tried to offload flamini after he threw his tantrum about not being willing to play out of position, and for Flamini to outright lie to the club about his intentions, was TOTALLY out of order and showed him up as a total and utter pratt

  80. charybdis1966

    A, it was all very noble of Wenger to take Flamini on his word, but he shouldn’t expect other people to have the same moral standards as he does. A healthy dose of pragmatism is what Wenger needs – he’d be such a better manager for it.

  81. gambon

    A, but either way we had Flamini, Diarra & Gilberto….then 6 months later we’d lost them all.

    If Flamini wasnt gonna stay then he shouldve kept the other 2, and vice versa etc.

    Losing one is ok, losing 2 is a bit silly, losing all 3 is ridiculous. And the only person to blame there is Wenger.

  82. A

    chary imo any manager should trust any player who plays for his team. If there was a player that he didn’t feel he could trust then that player shouldn’t be playing for the manager, nor the club.

    Taking people not connected with the club on their word would be naive. But if a player in the team can’t be trusted then it would destroy team spirit and unity, and that player shouldn’t be anywhere near the club

  83. charybdis1966

    Exactly A, Wenger should have got rid of Flamini when he didn’t sign a new contract as that was a danger sign Wenger failed to heed..

  85. A

    chary Flamini told Wenger he was going to sign a new contract, so there shouldn’t have been any danger signs…. If a player in your team that you trust outright lies, then there’s nothing you can do about it imo

  86. gambon

    In january Wenger shouldve basically said “sign the fucking deal or your gone you little cunt”

    The amount of players we’ve lost over the years is terrible.

    Pires shouldve played at least 2 more seasons, cole should still be our LB, Flamini should still be our DM, Gilberto shouldve retired with us.

    Bad management IMO

  88. A

    yeah chary but hleb out, nasri in, that can be written off….

    I get the point that we lost two central midfielders, and should’ve gotten one in in the summer, but Wenger tried to get in Alonso, but Liverpool cancelled that deal at the last second

  89. charybdis1966

    So why didn’t Wenger get suspicious when Flamini delayed actually signing it? If you’ve already decided to re-sign then why the delay? Well A, we’ll never know the detail and background but the end result bit us in the arse well and truly. Instead of consolidating on getting close to being champions the previous season we fucked that up and were out of it by Xmas.

  90. A

    That’s what Wenger said at the time, before he fucked off gambon. Flamini acted like a little rat in those 6 months, and good riddance to him because of it

  91. charybdis1966

    Anyhoo, it’s been a pleasure guys but I’m off so have a great new year and see you in the next decade.

    Come on you rip-roaring gooners!

  93. gambon

    Wenger shouldve just made sure he tied one of Flamini/Diarra down.

    He should got suspicious when he kept calling Flamini and asking him if he’s gonna sign it, and Flamini kept on going “im losing you Arsene, hello…hello, im losing you”

    Or when he went round to see him, and his bird said he was having a short break in Milan.

  96. simon mcmahon

    happy new year to you both and thanks for all the great postings,also all the best to all gooners out there
    2010 c’mon you gunners!

  97. zeus

    Great post. Its New years is about 12 hours here, so let me take this opportunity to wish you all a happy 2010.

    Lots to look forward to, Arsenal winning the English PL title, Cl title and the fooking WC.

    I’m already working on my sick day excuses so I can miss work for the entire WC month.

  98. Lou

    I met Flamini at a party in Paris the season before he left us and he struck me a being a particularly nice guy. I told him that I didn’t rate him earlier in his Arsenal career but that he had been outstanding that season. He laughed and joked that he was happy to have pleased me. When I asked if he was going to extend his contract he shrugged and said he would like to but then uttered the well worn cliche that you never can tell with football. He certainly didn’t seem like a player in love with our club but someone who was keen to further his playing career and life experience while he had the chance.

  101. zeus

    Flamini looks good in our system yes, but have any of you seen him for Milan?

    He runs around like a headless chicken and that when he does get a game. He barely plays in mid field and its clear that Leonardo doesn’t rate him as a first teamer.

    People have always said to me that many of Arsenal’s players aren’t as good as it seems, they just look good in the system and style we play. I chalk those statements up to jealousy and hog wash but in flamini’s case I think its probably true.

  102. maurya

    Looks like Boss started gloating again. One more contact extension to Diaby. He should stop giving these extensions after scoring a goal. Should have some reviews after some duration.

  103. Lou

    I have seen Flamini recently and he has become something of a hatchet man in the Milan team but then he doesn’t have a Cesc to push the ball to. I’m off now and would like to wish Pedro, Geoff and all Arsenal fans a very happy and healthy New Year.

  106. zeus

    Alex Says:
    December 31, 2009 at 17:13
    Lansbury signs a new contract.

    http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/lansbury-extends-watford-loan-deal

    Great news, now we just need Merida to sign one.
    —————————————————–
    Yeah, great that he won’t leave on a free. Don’t see him making it though. It must be hard for the young guns. The established players are just 2-3 years older than them, so realistically the prospects of some of them making it through are really slim.

  107. Kelvin

    As is his style,the rfc has begun bragging about his team’s rights to the title.This is not the 90s or early 20s when he could monoplolise the transfer market.After beating Wigan he has been bragging left and right.Let Vill a and Poool beat him.If Arsenal or Chelsea do not win the title this season,fear not. I expect MC to put him in his place and his stranglehold on the epl.
    on the subject of referees, do not be surprised decisions go in his favour. It would not surprise me if some referees deliberately let him win.
    Remember the 50 th match at OT.The foul committed by Campbell was outside the box. The bald eagle ref pointed to the spot.Reyes was kicked x times before the bald eagle took action. As someone pointed out,this same ref gave his team a record number of penalties.
    Is it any coincidence he has been winning all the time. I hope all gunner fans can draw their conclusions.

  109. SUGA3

    conspiracy, this…

    jokes aside, the way we got robbed of the title and CL semi 2 years ago stunk like a pile of manure :lol:

    my theory on that was that some people did not like the fact that team assembled on a shoestring budget trounced other teams studded with multi-million ‘stars’…

    Arsene wanted to do it his way, rather than ‘play the ball’ with these cunts and it came back and bit us on the arse…

    fuck me, 2 puns already, I’ll better get me coat :lol:

    Anyway – once again, have a goonerish 2010 with some serious silver bling to brag about come May…

    I’m off to London to get wasted – will celebrate with my friends at nice & noisy house party, as no facker wanted to go clubbing…

    Happy New Year Pedro, Geoff & all the Grovers out there! Here’s to hoping that LG & our beloved club will continue to provide quality entertainment until the end of the world and one day longer :D

  110. Pat

    Against West Ham, we have to watch out for Diamanti. Gave us and Chelsea a torrid time in the league.

    Scott Parker may be out and Franco is suspended

  111. A

    West Ham team will be interesting, I’m going for

    Fabianski

    Sagna Gallas Silvestre Traore

    Ramsey Song Diaby/Merida

    Wilshere Eduardo Vela

  115. A

    Diarra wasn’t prepared to fight for a first team place, he should never have signed him in the first place! And there was absolutely no reason to put Flamini in the reserves.

    Noone in their right mind would have done anything different with regards to either of those two players at the time. With the magic of hindsight of course things would have been different, but taking into account the facts at the time I don’t see what could ever have been done differently to improve things, except for not signing Diarra perhaps.

  116. goonermichael

    I agree about Diarra not fighting for his place and being a dickhead But Flamini did the same to his last club saying he would sign. Wenger should have said sign or go in the reserves and given Diarra a chance. He was fantastic in the CC game against Newcastle.

  118. A

    I wouldn’t even blame Flamini if he’d left on a free but said he was going to make his mind up at the end of the season, but it’s the fact that he outright said that he was staying, then left, that makes him a complete and utter bellend in my eyes.

  119. Doublegooner@hotmail

    A word to Arsene.

    Happy New Year, make those buys, they’re needed.

    Just spoken to a mate who regulary speaks with a proper former 70′s Goon legend and reckons Eduardo has lost it & Arshavin wants out next summer.

    Happy New Year fellow Gooners.

    Islington Town Hall next may anyone ?? :) )

  122. A

    Not sure about that gm – Wenger said that everything is agreed with Merida’s contract, just not put pen to paper yet, I don’t see him being as much of a nob as Flamini though so he should sign

  124. Pat

    Fabianski
    Sagna Gallas Silvestre Traore
    Ramsey Song Diaby
    Wilshere Eduardo Vela

    Sounds about right. Although I can see Wenger playing Eastmond or Coqualin at RB. If not that, then Cruise at LB.

  125. Geoff

    Cippy, you obviously don’t read this site too often, I seem to be the only person that doesn’t rate him.

    You really need to get your facts right before you start criticising people.

  126. A

    I’dbe surprised if cruise played, he was very much an emergency measure in the league cup. Maybe one of the others, though I reckon it’s a bit unlikely, we’ll want more or less a full team, just with 2 or three fringe players, I’d be very surprised if any of the proper reserve players started, though i guess you never know

  128. Truth

    Happy New Year Geoff and Pedro and all Le-groovers, and many thanks for all of your hard work producing what is for me a quality read on a daily basis. Even when I have not commented, I read this blog every day, and its good to know there are other Arsenal fans who share similar views and concerns about our wonderful club.

  130. peachesgooner

    Oh dear Geoff you seem to have upset another Song lover :)

    Happy New Year

    I’m still hoping for a keeper and a centre back…..

    Enjoy your night all – be safe :D

  134. Geoff

    Peaches just another prick that has trouble reading, fuck me I’m the only one on here that doesn’t rate Song.

    Happy New Year to you.

  136. Samir

    Why rest Vermy?
    I would be more worried about resting Gallas.

    I’d go for;

    ________Fabianski___________
    __Sagna Song Vermy Traore__
    ___Ramsey Diaby Merida___
    ___Nasri Eduardo Vela__

  140. A

    Yeah Samir fitness wise rest gallas, but seeing as our only sub centre back is left footed, he can’t partner vermy, and I’d imagine he’ll get a game to try and keep him sharp as possible, and also reckon kids will need Song’s power in midfield. That midfield would get absolutely raped with no defensive player in it!

    Forgot actually, Rosicky will start, so i’m going for

    Fabianski

    Sagna Gallas Silvestre Traore

    Ramsey Song Diaby

    Rosicky Eduardo Vela

  147. Mr B

    FFS Man.
    This is it man my final good bye, my last dance with amry jane, my last breath before I bite the dust.

    Good Bye Le Grove it was nice knowing ya.
    (hope u miss me. crying smile)

  149. Geoff

    I don’t know why some of you are going in the bin, something’s wrong bear with me I’m off for a bit.

    Don’t get upset!!! It’s a wordpress problem!

  150. Samir

    Yeah I was thinking my midfield was a little lightweight.
    I can’t see Vermy not starting this one though.
    Silvestre I do not want to see starting…… He may but I pray he does not :)

    Wenger might just put out a full strength defence.
    I’ll change my mind and go with;

    ________Fabianski___________
    __Sagna Gallas Vermy Traore/Silvestre
    ___Ramsey Song Diaby ___
    ___Rosicky Vela Eduardo__

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