Did you watch the semi final of the worthless cup Arsene?

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First of all let me start by saying I didn’t agree with Pedro’s summary of the Villa game, he’s entitled to his opinion and that’s why we write this blog, I don’t have to agree with it though.

Let me start by saying I didn’t think a draw against Villa was a good result, they haven’t scored in the Premier League since the 15th of December they were there for the taking and had we had a good enough squad we would have taken them, sadly we haven’t.

People were on here Wednesday evening and Thursday morning saying they were surprised some Grovers were upset as it wasn’t Wenger’s fault, it was the team.

Sorry, I beg to differ, Arsene buys the players and picks the team, what he has is a bunch of players that are either too young, and not ready yet to play against men, or ready, but simply not good enough.

Who’s not ready? Well Wilshere, Eastmond, Fabianski, Bendtner and Ramsey. Who’s not good enough? Denilson, Almunia and at the moment, Theo Walcott, who at £60k a week should be paying it back to the fans and not buying his girlfriend a Ferrari.

I’m sorry but in the real world where you earn £15k a year flipping burgers, if you started flipping them on the floor you’d be out that night, that’s in the real world though.

I like Theo, I really, really do, but someone needs to toe him up the arse and quick.

All this could have been put right with a few good purchases in the summer. We then get our annual injuries, and we always do, co-incidence plays no part, we get as many injuries every season, January comes and we get another chance, so what do we do? We say that we will only buy better players than we have, if we can’t buy better than Denilson and Almunia, then maybe we need counselling.

We now only compete in two tournaments, our manager considers the FA and Carling cups not worth the effort, or not worthy of a first team, how our kids get invaluable experience by playing 2 or 3 games then losing is beyond me, play them in a pre-season tournament like other teams do, that’ll do the same.

Please don’t say we got to the final one year because in those days we had a number of experienced players playing, he doesn’t do that any more.

Sickening

I watched the Mancs going ballistic yesterday, they were as happy going to that final as they were when they qualified for the Champions league one, going to a final is as good as it gets for a fan, believe me, I went to Wembley when we won the league cups in 1987 and 1993 and the FA Cup in 1993 and 1998, I’ve been to Copenhagen for the Cup Winners Cup and every FA Cup final in Cardiff.

I declined going to Paris because of family reasons, so I watched that one on the TV.

I’ve also been to a World Cup final (Argentina vs West Germany) and I’m telling you fans are as happy with any final as long as their team is playing, that’s what fans do, they support their club.

(And before any monkey head out there calls me a spud, save your breath, it’s been done before and it’s normally a 9 year old who’s never paid to go to a game)

That’s what I’m doing, supporting my team, Arsenal. I buy a season ticket in the hope that we try and win all we go in for, if Arsenal decide that winning certain competitions doesn’t matter, fine, rebate the fans. You can’t have it both ways, that’s just plain greedy.

Please don’t tell me we are top of the league, in the next round of the FA Cup and through to the knock out stages of the Champions league, because we’re not anymore.

Yes if we win the league of course I’ll be delighted, but I’m fed up with the same thing happening every year, it’s now been 5 years since we won anything and 6 since we won the league, given we pay more than anyone in world football to watch our team, our manager gets paid more than 99% of football club managers and our we have the third largest wage bill in the EPL, I expect more. Why shouldn’t I?

Every year we get a chance to win silverware, every year we throw it away, watching the Mancs this year and the spuds last, really hurt. It could have been us.

Finally, Arsene, Ivan, Danny, Stan or any of you that care as much about our club as I do, feel free to respond, email me, the address is at the top. You are disappointing an awful lot of fans and holes are beginning to appear in the stadium, be warned, I watched Roma this week and they barely filled the space behind their goal!

That’s it, I’ve said my bit, next post I’ll be behind the team and bigging us up.

1,132 Responses to “Did you watch the semi final of the worthless cup Arsene?”

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  1. David

    hahahaha

    “Who currently doesnt have a girlfriend”

    Well maybe some poor soul will read that and have compassion.

  3. David

    Really A?

    Fabianski shouldve gone for that.

    I mean thats basic football right. You dont wait for the ball to come to you..you go to it.

  7. A

    No that’s not basic goalkeeping either…. Keepers are meant to go for anything in the six yard box, between the posts, but to come for that, and take it above head height, would have not just meant going well in front of the front post, but probably nearly out of the 6 yard box, through crowds of players!

    imo it’s a case of staying on his line, which would’ve made little difference, or maybe just getting his body in front of Fuller, so that he got a foul

  10. A

    It’s also called league one SUGA, Fabianski would be amanzing in League 1!

    SUGA if me made a step forward and jumped, it would’ve hit his knees! Throw ins are unique because of the angle they arrive, go and look at a replay of it! Because it doesn’t come up and down like a cross, the trajectory is much flatter. To get it above head height he would’ve had to have gone a long way forwards….

  13. A

    To take it above head height David. Yeah I agree, a step towards it and he would’ve gotten the foul probably, that’s what he should’ve done, but it’s far from a typical situation.

  14. David

    Selective watching A,

    It was already almost in his arms when fullar headed it out…

    He just needed to take a step or two forward and hed have beat fullar.

    Thats quite an exaggeration on your part

  15. A

    we’ll see SUGA, he’s been at Arsenal for more than long enough to see his development just for his time in Poland. I wouldn’t even look at Ramsey’s time at Cardiff when considering his development, despite that being much more recent!

  17. David

    Doenst have to be a typical situation A,

    Thats the point of being world Class isnt it…to make save’s against the odds?

  18. A

    David I didn’t say to beat Fuller did I….

    Keepers are meant to take a ball above head height, for him to do that, because of the trajectory of Delap’s throw ins, that would’ve meant his running a long way out of his goal

  19. 78692

    Evening guys,

    Part of the Wilshere deal involves Arsenal getting first refusal on Gary Cahill,should Bolton decide to sell him.

  20. A

    SUGA I’ve watched the goal countless times! Keepers are meant to take balls into the box when they go for them, above head height, at arms length. Delap’s throws are a unique situation because of the trajectory, it’s almost impossible for keepers to do that. This one was an even weirder one, because at the front post, it was at waist height. For Fabianski to get it at head height, he would’ve had to have gone a long way in front of the front post, where keepers aren’t meant to go.

    Yeah David, so he’ll learn from that – who said Fabianski is world class now?!

  22. SUGA3

    A,

    that’s just bullshit excuse – if he didn’t jusy wait for the ball and moved, it would be a catch: it’s not like the trajectory was horizontal, was it?

    if he moved forward, he’s catch it head-high…

  23. 78692

    A.one of the lads I play five a side footy with is a die hard Trotter.He knows someone who works on the turnstiles.

  25. A

    he’d have to have moved forwards a fair bit though SUGA, that’s my point, far more than a keeper is generally advised to do, and could well have been blocked off, then accused of flapping etc.

    It was a mistake from Fabianski, but FAR from as straightforward as people make out, as if it was just a typical flapping keeper or misjudgement

  29. A

    How would someone who works on the turnstiles know 78692?? Not challenging you, just wondering!

    Surprises me if we have gotten first option on Cahill, I don’t particularly rate him, though it would make sense as to why it took a fair while to finalise the deal.

  30. SUGA3

    tnx for the link David – fuck me, A, it was a simple GK error…

    shit awareness – if he is supposed to aspire to be our no.1, that should be bread and butter stuff for him…

    should have flogged him to PSG or swap him for Sakho…

  31. A

    Yeah I agree David, but keepers aren’t meant to come that far out of their goal, that’s my issue with it. Because of the numbers of players there etc. It was certainly a mistake, but far from straightforward as so many corners and keepers being flappy etc are.

  32. David

    Gary Cahill would be a good signing.

    Now that Wenger has a toe up his Arse with the Vermalin incidednt another CB would do nicely.

  33. SUGA3

    A,

    ‘keepers aren’t meant to come that far out of their goal’

    says who?

    let me tell you something: keepers are supposed to prevent the goals and do so by any means necessary…

  34. David

    Yea A,

    But i thought thats what people love about Fabianski?

    He comes out for “everything”

    I mean just the other day in the carling cup he plays sweeper very well…

    He comes out all over the place passing like he’s a CB outside the box.
    Sometimes i have to say to myself “does he even know he’s a keeper?”

  35. A

    SUGA so what are you saying he should’ve done? Come further forwards and gotten the foul? Far from simple error, it’s a unique situation, as you can see from the link David posted!

    Sakho couldn’t play with Vermaelen so no chance there unfortunately! I like him though.

  36. 78692

    A,the lad I know is a respectable person and is not one who tells porkies. I know he supports Bolton and he was just so happy that theve signed Wilshere.

  38. A

    Yeah SUGA3, but obviously keepers are coached what to do in certain situations.

    Generally anything inside the 6 yard box between the posts, above head height, should be the keepers, if a keeper comes for anything not inside those parameters he’s taking a big risk, and at fault if he misses it, which is very possible with the distance he has to cover, and potential for people getting in his way etc.

  42. A

    Yeah I’m not saying he’s telling porkies 78692, just wonder how he’d know! Would make sense.

    SUGA one step forward, seriously? one step forward and the ball is at chest height. One step forward would’ve gotten him in front of Fuller, but Fuller is making a run from deep, a keeper can’t judge his positioning based on other players.

    Keepers are meant to come for a ball they can take at head height, or stay on their line. It was a mistake, because it was a goal, but it isn’t that straight forward at all

  46. A

    agreed SUGA!

    I dunno David, if Bendtner isn’t fit enough to start it’ll certainly leave us without much presence up top, but I still think we’ll beat them

  49. luke

    someone said on here the other day:

    RVP didnt like Vermaelen—-Vermaelen is great for us
    RVP doesnt like CHielini—–you connect the dots

  50. A

    I’d hope we’d get someone better than Cahill. He’s a decent Premiership centre back, but I’d be very surprised if he’s ever world class, and surely there must be a right sided, bigger version of Vermaelen out there somewhere in Europe

  56. leon

    it is claer diaby can play dm and can play in more attacking role for him it just being more distaplined and has presence as well i feel that midfield this very strong position in mots areas this team is quite strong but the will be detures silvest senderos cambell so i would expect to see some business done and i would realy like to see a top class keeper,as this market if wenger can find a bargin in terms a midfielder with prresence then fime but as cuiquin and eastwood would pushed further down pecking order i dought he would do that

  57. David

    It would make sense we strengthen in CB position i supposed that injury to Gallas put the writing on the wall on our season.

    We do need a replacement for Gallas and Campbell/Silvestre

    But I think A striker is much needed.

    Bendtner is not the Answer.

  58. SUGA3

    leon,

    no, he can’t – fuck all defensive discipline…

    as far as I am concerned, the pecking order should be:

    Song -> Eastmond -> Denilshite

  63. A

    We’ve got time though SUGA! I’m sure we didn’t notice Smalling the week that we went for him – I reckon he would’ve been on a list of players we’ve got earmarked to bring in in the summer. Got a good 6-7 months to find and snap up Gallas’ eventual replacement!

  65. luke

    We have the money, I say. Out Denilson, in Toulalan, De Rossi, Mascherano, Matuidi, M. Sissoko, or anyone! Denilson has had the gametime and he just hasnt improved.

  67. Stu

    Chiellini was the one everyone wanted during the summer (or last summer). After the copa america (i think) which Italy played in he made a fool of himself.

    We need at least 2 CBs in the summer. Even if Gallas stays. Campbell, Silvestre and Senderos are all out of contract. And with Gallas yet to sign we could potentially be left with just Vermaelen and JD..as far from ideal as possible.

  69. A

    It depends on the players SUGA, if they aren’t playing at the world cup then it makes no difference!

    Stu I’d be very surprised if Gallas didn’t stay. Gallas, Vermy, JD, and one other for the start of next season. 4 centre backs is fine, potentially with Nordveit or Bartley being there in the squad as well rather than going on loan.

  70. 78692

    How reliable is FansFC.com?

    Chiellini could replace Vidic at Manchester United
    01:30 PM 27 January, 2010
    Giorgio Chiellini could be a summer target for Manchester United Football Club.

    Sir Alex Ferguson is resigned to losing Serbian international Nemanja Vidic in the summer, and he knows a top-class replacement will be needed.

    Chris Smalling, the Fulham defender, is set to arrive at Old Trafford in time for next season, but at 20, he is seen as one very much for the future.

    Reports suggest United will turn their attentions to Italian international Chiellini, of Juventus, who has also been heavily linked with Manchester City.

    Blues boss Roberto Mancini recently claimed the 25-year-old is the best defender in Serie A, so a transfer battle for the £15million-rated ace could soon be on the cards

  71. Dubgooner

    Brilliant blog. I’ve been on a few forums and one in particular slates le grove. I like what I read on your blog and keep it up. Pull no punches and maybe more gooners who sit on the fence will start listening.

  72. Stu

    JD i have no faith in. It would be mean to sell him after a season out with injury but we cant afford to keep him after an injury like that if he is our main back up.

    I would rather either loan him out for a season or just sell him.

    Gallas wil be our old defender next season. Get in someone between Gallas’ and Vermaelens age and we are sorted imo.

  73. leon

    suga i think diaby performances in the past few months has put that mith to bed he always had the ability he just needed to more consistant he great tackler and can hold the ball up the way drives at defences i svery good,i know he has been very inconstant in past but clearly has the ability to further foward and deeper if needed and has tons more ability than diaby

  78. SUGA3

    leon,

    when did Diaby play DM, I ask?

    the more forward he is put, the more effective he is, simple as – he said it himself that his preferred position is support striker, playing him in attacking midfielder position is already a compromise…

  82. luke

    Apparantly Inter want Sagna. They have a great fullback Santon who is over 6 ft, defends well, attacks well, can play on either side. He is 19 though but probably better than gibbs.

  83. A

    Stu I’d imagine JD will be 4th choice next season, whoever we bring in will be main back up as such. I agree though, would be risky having just 4 after JD has missed the whole season. With JD returning in a month or so though it’ll probably depend on whether he has lots of niggles when back. Also on how Bartley, Nordveit, even Eastmond or Coquelin are looking in pre season training, as to whether we need to sign a second centre back.

  88. Stu

    If we did buy Cetin he wouldnt be a starter though. Too big and im just going to blindly assume he isnt a footbaling CB and we all know Wenger doesnt play defenders who arent capable on the ball..its what he looks for in defenders.

  89. A

    SUGA with Cetin though he’d be 29 when he joined, and would be back up for Gallas and Vermaelen. I expect someone younger to come in, Vermy’s sort of age, rather than someone nearer Gallas’ age. It’ll be someone who will be main sub next season, and go on to develop a partnership with Vermy, not just brought in for a couple of years.

  91. luke

    A Says:
    January 29, 2010 at 20:31

    SUGA with Cetin though he’d be 29 when he joined, and would be back up for Gallas and Vermaelen. I expect someone younger to come in,
    ——————————

    Subotic!!!!!

  93. luke

    Schezney
    Sagna-Subotic-Vermy-Clichy
    ———–Song————-
    —-Cesc———–Diaby——
    Rosicky/Nikki—-RVP——Arshavin

  95. A

    Yeah luke someone like Subotic or Zapata would fit the criteria, though not seen anywhere near enough of either so I can’t comment! Would probably be someone less talked about too, a la Vermaelen

  98. leon

    suga in my opinion yes he very effective going foward but he claery has the ability to play anywere in midfield and tons more ability than diaby and i would much prefer him and song against chelsea.

    i feel eastmond coqelin and bartley will go on loan without question cb tend to develop very late usuay 22 at best,i think jd will be back in 6-7 weeks but with senderos silvest cambell out of contract i feel wenger buy at least 1 cb i am not sure about nordveit i have never seen him play

  101. A

    leon he doesn’t have the ability to play DM imo. He’s got all the physical abilities, but doesn’t have the intelligence or discipline to ever play DM.

    All the Subotic rumours before were about £12 mil, apart from £20 mil when it came to City!

  102. luke

    Watch Wenger shock everyone on Jan 31st with Dzeko, De Rossi, and Subotic coming in.

    “I feel they all add qualiytee to ze squawd”

  110. luke

    78692 Says:
    January 29, 2010 at 20:41

    Suga,if you had a choice who would you pick?

    A)Cahill
    B)Cetin
    C)Chiellini
    4)Hangeland
    5)Kjaer
    6)Sakho
    7)Subotic
    ——————

    Chielini and Sakho are left footed…

  115. A

    Don’t have a problem with it, just doesn’t make sense! Always read people writing “ze” and that sounds like a German accent to me, not a French accent like Wenger’s!

    I have a problem with inaccuracy, that’s all!

    A)Cahill
    B)Cetin
    C)Chiellini
    4)Hangeland
    5)Kjaer
    6)Sakho
    7)Subotic

    I’d say Chiellini and Sakho left footed so not gonna happen, Cahill isn’t good enough imo, Hangeland not good enough and too old, Cetin too old and untried in a top league, Subotic and Kjaer would be the most fitting on paper, but maybe overpriced, and no idea if they’re actually any good! Add Zapata to that list too. Probably end up being someone less well known.

  116. A

    Oh yeah SUGA, when i read that I think “allo, allo” is what I’m thinking of, which doesn’t sound Wengerish at all, but what I read it as!

  118. SUGA3

    A,

    mate, I just to work on the bar at Oxford Street (well, Woodstock Street, to be precise) – Frenchies coming and uttering ‘lemme haf ze pint of Khronenboorg’ always left me in stitches…

  120. leon

    a in my opinion diaby has matured alot and can play there he is no longer going for silly passes and giving the ball away the used to and he was also very inconsistant i would prefer in further forward without dought but if song were to be injured and i had choice between daiby delinson ramsey nasri i would rather use diaby has miles more presence and ability to delinson who cant play on his own only in free rone between fab and song,i have faith in diaby he turning the corner and being more mature and disaplined

  123. A

    Yeah choy, so in 18 months when he took over from Gallas he’d be 30…. We want someone around Vermaelen’s age to partner him when Gallas is gone, not someone who would only be around for a couple of years. That’s before discussing the fact that imo Hangeland isn’t actually very good….

    luke he has matured, but imo he looks very good now because the system has also helped him out a hell of a lot. It isn’t maturity or discipline that’s developed, he’s naturally an attacking player, he doesn’t have defensive instincts, and therefore he could never be a DM imo.

  125. raynor73

    Bit late reading today as been working hard trying to eanr enough to pay the mortgage and bills. I’ve always been insanely envious on how a footballer manages to sign a contract, act like a total cock, be a total waste of space (and money) and keep his job?!

    They should be able to be sacked or better still be demoted with a pay cut, pretty much as Joe Bloggs is in a recession, where the poor fucker doesn’t know which way to turn to keep food on the family table.

    It’s a cushy life being an ovepaid, underperforming footballer in la la land….Real world, they’ve well and truly left that place.

  129. 78692

    Coyle promises first-team football for Wilshere

    Written by Mark Brus on Friday, January 29, 2010

    Bolton manager Owen Coyle is delighted to have secured the loan move of Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere.

    The 18-year-old will spend the rest of the season at the Reebok Stadium, hoping to gain first-team experience.

    And Wanderers boss Coyle insists that despite Wilshere’s age, he has the quality to add something to Bolton’s squad.

    He said: “Jack is a talented, young, hungry player who I think has got a bright future ahead of him. He has got an abundance of quality and he will enhance our squad.

    “It is similar to the deal with Vladimir Weiss in terms of the belief that I can help the player and the player can help this football club.

    “The deals suit all parties concerned if the boys go and deliver on the pitch.”

    A long-time admirerer of the young midfielder, Coyle had previously spoken to Arsène Wenger about bringing Wilshere to Burnley before the manager made the move to Bolton earlier this month.

    The Englishman will make his debut for his new side against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

  130. leon

    it would be huge suprise to me if wenger can get another cb or midfielder as dj is still injured will take him time wenger might just do that,another thing i have seen now wenger has learned from his mistaked with cb he has going for agresive and so much for quick mobile cb verm is very much a throw back old defenders a leader very vocal and that one i dont like about dj he i he is to nice

  131. 78692

    Coyle promises first-team football for Wilshere

    Written by Mark Brus on Friday, January 29, 2010

    Bolton manager Owen Coyle is delighted to have secured the loan move of Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere.

    The 18-year-old will spend the rest of the season at the Reebok Stadium, hoping to gain first-team experience.

    And Wanderers boss Coyle insists that despite Wilshere’s age, he has the quality to add something to Bolton’s squad.

    He said: “Jack is a talented, young, hungry player who I think has got a bright future ahead of him. He has got an abundance of quality and he will enhance our squad.

    “It is similar to the deal with Vladimir Weiss in terms of the belief that I can help the player and the player can help this football club.

    “The deals suit all parties concerned if the boys go and deliver on the pitch.”

    A long-time admirerer of the young midfielder, Coyle had previously spoken to Arsène Wenger about bringing Wilshere to Burnley before the manager made the move to Bolton earlier this month.

    The Englishman will make his debut for his new side against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

  144. Alex

    That World Cup ball is crazy! moves so much, no chance of keepers saving anything at the World CUp, atleast we’ll get to see spectacular goals

  147. David

    U-N-I.. T-E-D that spells fookin debt for me, with a nick nack paddy wack give a dog a bone, OCEAN FINANCE ON THE PHONE

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