Morning Grovers, we have a split post between Pedro and Geoff today… enjoy!
I’ve been thinking about Arsenal’s player of the year so far and there are a number of obvious candidates.
Samir Nasri would be most people’s based on his goals and assists this season. He’s stepped his game up a notch and he’s finally adapted to the rigours of the Premiership. Earlier on in the season he was virtually unplayable. His mixture of skill and pace was hard to track and the development of goal facing instincts helped push him into the public consciousness.
What has to be said is that his form has seriously dipped in the second half of the season, he’s gone into his shell a little and he really hasn’t taken charge in the absence of Cesc. I’ve been pretty disappointed about that. My main gripe with him over the past 2 seasons has been his mental strength and where it goes when the chips are down.
Still, 15 goals and 4 assists can’t be sniffed at… I’d like to see a return to form before he gets my vote.
Another player we’ve all been pretty excited about this season is the emergence of Jack Wilshere. Last year he was a reserve for the first 5 months of the season, then he moved over to Bolton where it took a while for him to break into Coyle’s starting 11… then he blossomed with some top performances.
This year, he killed the career of Joe Cole and his mooted move to Arsenal. On this site, we said it was fine not to sign the England star providing Jack was given a decent shot at the first team in his place. Well, Arsene didn’t disappoint and nor did Jack. Arsenal have developed a young player who has all the silky passing of a continental player yet all the aggression and fight of a traditional tough tackling English defender. Jack’s ability to defend hasn’t gone unnoticed either. Fabio Capello sees him as a Claude Makelele type player in the future and Wenger has also dabbled with him in the holding role. This was something Geoff called at the very start of the season, something I couldn’t see happening.
Jack has been one of the few players at Arsenal this year who has never hidden on the pitch, who has always given his all and has Arsenal blood coursing through his veins. He has 2 goals, 8 assists and 40+ appearances to his name, not bad for your first full season. I’m not sure Alex Hleb managed productivity stats like that in his whole Arsenal career.
I heard he’s got a bird up the duff. I’d say congratulations, but let’s be honest, no one plans for that type of news when they’re a 19 year old footballer at the start of their career. Jack, for future reference,
‘Don’t be a fool, wrap your tool’
My final suggestion for player of the season is a bit of a curve ball. It’s none other than Bacary Sagna, the greatest braided defender since Taribo West. He’s put in a solid 35 performances this year off the back of a very indifferent season last year. He’s returned to the form that saw him installed in the team of 2008 and he’s absolutely impressed me all year.
First and foremost, Sagna is a defender. That is a rarity for an Arsenal full back. He’s incredibly quick, he’s committed and he’s a fearsome opponent not many get the better of on the pitch. This year he’s clearly worked on his attacking senses, after scoring a total of zero goals over the past two season he’s popped up with a few memorable goals this year, particularly the one against Everton where he ripped one past Tim Howard. He’s also popped up with 3 assists which can be credited to his much improved crossing ability.
I’ve always said it’s harsh to label a full back inept if he can’t cross, they’re defenders first and foremost and that’s why I was always fine with Sagna. This year he’s worked hard, he’s remained fit and he’s now a regular with the French team. He’s a real asset and he’s another player who I can honestly say I’ve never questioned when it comes to attitude. That’s why I’m putting him in the mix for the player of the year.
Let me know your thoughts for player of the year in the comments and we’ll knock together a poll for the end of the season.
In Other news…
It’s ten years since Rocky Rocastle passed away. I was a touch too young to truly remember anything poignant enough to put in a post so I’ll pass this over to Geoff who is one of the few that watched him come through.
My first memory of David Rocastle was when I was at Highbury, where they sometimes trained with George Graham, I was producing an Ad for JVC featuring the Arsenal team and some video equipment. The previous year I was with Don Howe and I featured Charlie Nicholas and about 5 players, amongst them were Tony Woodcock, Steve Williams and Paul Mariner, well when I was with George, they were gone and the ad out was out of date.
So I said George, I don’t want to pick your team (I did) and I don’t want any secrets (of course I did) but can you give me a few players that will still be here next season so I don’t waste JVC’s money on yet another ad (I wasn’t bothered in the slightest) He said sure, that I understand, he called over Adams, Merson, O’Leary, Thomas and one Rocky Rocastle. I remember looking and thinking where is Charlie, my hero? It was then I knew he wasn’t the future and saw the new breed.
Rocastle always played like his life depended on it, I was at White hart lane when he scored in the League Cup semi final and remember his face exploding, I also remember the day Graham told him he was going to Leeds and the poor kid burst into tears, much the same as a lot of us did, David I was there at the start and sadly there at the end, no one likes to outlive their stars, if we had a few of him in this team we would rip the league and the other three trophy’s, sadly under Wenger that will never happen.
Bless you Rocky, you were the spirit of Arsenal and you are sorely missed!
Finally…
I called Arsenal yesterday for spare tickets for a customer, I went through the Platinum member’s line and would you Adam and Eve it? Wenger was answering the phone with the worst auto system message I have ever heard in my life, now if that’s not the antipathy of control freakishness I have ever seen, I don’t know what is, here have a listen! 0845 262 0001
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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJdEPdUxQN0&w=480&h=390]
nah he will cut a deal…
i reckon half this current mob can even speak english…so asking them to read something aint going happen.
Report: Arsenal keen on Wolfsburg’s Diego Benaglio
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slug=goal-reportarsenalkeenonwolfsbur
Arsenal favourites to sign Bolton’s Gary Cahill with William Hill
http://www.goal.com/en/news/2994/betting/2011/03/31/2419706/arsenal-favourites-to-sign-gary-cahill-with-william-hill
“The only definite absentee is Denilson who has a toe injury.”
Hilarious
Yes, denilson is out injured, let their be light at the end of the tunnel!
Yes, just seen that Swedish, let their be light at the end tunnel!
Fan’s hopes of Arsenal securing three points in Denilson’s absence,were shattered by the news of Dudaby being fit to play.
To read hear and see Arsenal fans still talking and remembering the great Rocky Rocastle tells the story of how very Arsenal the man was.
Always smiling and without knowing him he looked a very genuine warm and loveable Man.
Rocky was my second best all time player after the great Liam Brady until DB10,TH14,Bobby Pires and TA6 came along and there were some greats before him like Frankie Mc,Bobby Wilson,Geordie Armstrong,Raddy, both the Charlies George and Nicholas and a few more where they came from.
I am not ashamed to admit how many many times I have shed a tear while singing the Rocky Rocky song.
God bless you David and RIP.
I forgot PV4 when reminiscing. Sorry Pat.
got a better idea DDM, we smuggle in a banner that reads ” YOU LOT DON’T DESERVE TO PLAY FOR THE MIGHTY ARSENAL!”. Ha ha! I mean if aint gonna win d league for lack of bottle,we may as well let these fuckers know that we know they’re shit! Pantsie dross side passing with no bite SHIT!
Re. Transfers
we need to sort out our shit now
Rather than get into bidding wars in the summer, we need to get in there and sign the contracts – job done!
Hilarious from Pharoah! Some of our fans lack mental strength. They don’t have the cojones to do that..
WTF Jack. Get a grip on your career, will ya..
Jeez, I hate what money and fame do to most English players. Just hope he has good people around him who’ll tell him to buckle down and stay low-profile. Giggs and Scholes are the perfect examples.
DDM who’s buying?
how about tomorrow or next week sometime
Concerning Jack W;
He’s been unfortunate about this matter. He will handle it like a man. I also trust him to be of a good conduct. He needs older mates for counselling, that’s all.
Rohan,
what’s the big deal with getting a girl knocked up? happens daily in hundreds of thousands or millions, no?
to be honest, I would not want him to lose the bite he has and become one of the Wenger’s choir boys…
It’s not a money or fame thing Rohan its a working class thing.
Pedro Botelho scored a Bale type of goal recently
He looks like he’l be a hell of a LB
When he can come over to the UK?
Yes yes yes!!! We have theo van nasregas back! Let’s spank b’burn to relegation!!
“The only definite absentee is Denilson who has a toe injury.”
Hilarious
—————————————————
Lets hope its a terminal toe injury
I doubt its a bad injury.Wenger has had enough i think.Just like whenever one keeper needs to be dropped he picks up an injury from nowhere
That first half at WB has done the trick hopefully.I doubt we will see him again this season unless we are in a really bad situation injury wise
Good day Grovers!
No Denilson… my heart bleeds…
this season?
not selling him in the summer should be a sackable offence!
‘Hi, this is Arsene Wenger’
Fuck. Right. Off.
Rip Rocky mate, never be forgotten.
Suga-Who will buy Denilson??I doubt championship clubs will be interested in buying that cunt
nishanth,
I don’t care if he is given away to Leyton Orient for free or even released with his contract paid off, I just don’t want that cunt anywhere near the club…
I think he will leave at the end of this season and he will hopefully be followed by Diaby.Lansbury and Ramsey take their place and we buy one more Backup DM for Song and our midfield is set
Diaby will be here next season as well to fuck up our challenges.
Diaby will be kept and Arshavin will be gone – go figure!
10 goals + 18 assists and counting…
I would like someone to add up how many points we would be wprse off without that!
Nishanth
Wenger won’t buy a DM it seems because he’s got Frimpong returning from injury. He’s invested so much in the youth project that he cannot go out and buy whats needed for the 1st team…in the sense that he’s waiting for Frimpong to come back and deputise for Song.
Frimpong looked pretty good in pre-season but i dnt where he is now regarding his fitness
Also I read youngguns quite a lot….why are we stockpiling central midfielders????
km,
because Wenger is an idiot and likes his team unbalanced with as many players played out of position as possible?
how’s that?
Rocky – Legend. Proper player.
Unlike the current lot who aint fit to tie his bootlaces.
Sagna – player of the year? Your having a larf. He has been shockingly poor since Xmas. Remember Carling Cup final. He also went missing against Barca. Poor form has continued ever since. Plus he stll cant cross – enough said.
as for Frimpong, I love the fella, but he has played 3 (three) pre season games in the senior team, ffs!
dear pedro, geoff
do you have a BB app to your wonderlog ?
if not, why is that ?
my dream team for nxt season:
……………Fast clinical CF
Elia/Nasri……Arshavin/Nasri/Ramsey—-Walcott/Nasri
……………….Cesc/Wilshere
……………….Song/DM/Frimpong
Gibbs/?——TV/Cahill—-DJ/Kos——Sagna/Eboue
——————-Chesney/?
In Pre-season Frimpong looked like a monster – exactly what we needed in midfield — but lets hope that he turns out be as good as Wilshere, because he was the standout player in the reserves as i remember
This would be my 1st team:
————-New CF
Elia———Arshavin——Walcott
————-Cesc
————-Song
Gibbs/?—-TV—–DJ——-Sagna
———–new GK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRfSWKxW1oM
km-No wilshere,Nasri or RVP?
excellent tribute to rocky. sagna definetly player of the year – down to consistency. can’t believe we’ve signed another 15 year old. that’s 2 in 2 weeks. a german defender now a swedish midfielder. well done the arsenal keep signing the young uns. just what we need right now.
Suga3
Love it or hate it.Arshavin is going to be sold,if an offer of above 15m come up.Unfortunately(for most of the fans) Eboue and Diaby will be kept.Wenger thinks that he is too smart.
with Cesc and AA sold, we are midtable…
Fuck can’t believe Denilson’s injured that’s our title hopes fucked
At least we have England’s number one in goal though.
Finally Bak Sagna getting some love and it’s bloody over due. Follows in the footsteps of the recent great right backs we’ve had such as Lauren and Lee Dixon.
———–chesser——–
-sagna-djourou-vermy-coentra
—–song-wilshere———
—-rambo/cesc———–
-theo–falcao/RvP–nasri/hazard
bench: fabianski, kozzer, barltey, gibbs, frimpong, lansbury
i’d keep chamakh, sell bendy. bring in coentrao and hazard maybe a DM if needed
I see the english media are already well on their way trying to break down Jack
the “English media” are a bunch of cunts except for the guardian
So disappointed with Jack ,what’s up with England so many teen pregnancies appalling state of affairs and some people try to justify that ridiculous …….disgusting to say the least……
Sagna has improved his crossing by leaps and bounds disappointed by Clichy has been inconsistent….
kush
it’s a free country mate
Gooby yep that’s why I said disappointed ,the loss of cultural and moral values is alarming …..
http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/zaltzman/archives/2011/03/bad_pakistan_triumph_over_good.php
Not even sure it’s true yet
yeah i know, i am not sure he wanted a kid atm(who knows though). Now he’s got a new problem to think about.
the press shouldn’t talk shit
km says:
March 31, 2011 at 18:04
In Pre-season Frimpong looked like a monster – exactly what we needed in midfield — but lets hope that he turns out be as good as Wilshere, because he was the standout player in the reserves as i remember
*******
He looked food in Austria. As soon as the level went up a but in the emirates cup he looked WAY out of his depth.
Oh dear Jack, what have you done. I fear for him now. As if the pressures of breaking through early wasn’t stressful enough, now he has to deal with a kid.
He should be ‘whoring’ right now. Getting the wildness out of his system. It might not happen now but I can see him 4 years from now ‘acting out’ because he never got the chance to do so.
So typical. I’m sure that Rooney, lampard, Cole and all the rest must have banged dozens of times bareback at jack’s age and the truly good guy is the one that gets ‘caught’.
jeez, why’s it always the english lads who get caught up in shit like this.
Rohan
because the press and the readers are interested in English lads
Chesney
Sagna JD Vermaelen Clichy/Gibbs
Song Wilshere/Ramsey
Walcott/Arsh Nasri/Cesc Miyachi/Gibbs/Nasri
RvP
I blame some of these women too you know they come out of the woodwork like termites when someone’s getting famous.
Clichy has been shocking, his confidence is lacking and i really don’t think he will be here next season. I’ve lost count of the times he has made stupid mistakes instead of row Z.
I think the problem is a player like Clichy is seen as the senior member of the squad, one of the players to be a leader.. I’d prefer my leader to be a center back or a central midfielder not a friggin left back. Strengthen the defense/midfield with battlers and allow the talent to win you games. Our castle stands on pillars of sand
In football there are very few, who can be called real role models….maybe I was looking in the wrong place…….
Zeus the problem is its a blind well…a vicious cycle
anyways its my opinion nite all…..
Marko
That’s too easy. Not all women are fame whore seeking. They say he was in a relationship with her. Sigh.
I would take a Pato mistake over this one. Get married young and divorce after 10 months.
Ffs, Theo lives with his longterm girl and he’s had no pregnancy scares. Fab4′s also loved up longterm and none there either. Like I said, he’s a young and mature guy, but everyone needs to act out at some point and I feel he is gonna delay that to try to be a good father and it’s all gonna get to him in about 3 years if it evens takes so long.
Dunno how you guys think Clichy isn’t good enough for us and then bandy Cahill’s name about like he’s the messiah.
Yeah I suppose thats true.
fucking hell jacko is preggers!
nice one on the new job pedro.
Hey I don’t see any reason why in the summer we should go out and look for a left back when we’ve got a very good one and an up and coming one I’d much prefer we spent the money in other areas. But in saying that if it came to Clichy leaving there’s plenty out there that we could replace him with like Coaentrao, Aly Cissoko, Nacho Monreal or this colombian left back that we’ve apparently been looking at for a while Amora or something so there’s plenty out there.
I think Clichy’s been pretty solid this season. Not as good as Sagna who’s been fantastic but solid nonetheless.
It’s unnecessary to replace Clichy but if contracts talks have broken down and he wants a change then I think we’ll be alright we have options
RATE MY TEAM
————————————————————————————————————–
Sczcesny
Sagna Djourou Subotic Coentrao
Song
Fabregas Nasri
Walcott RVP Arshavin
Clichy has lapses defensively in key periods of matches which absolutely hurt us.
The question is not whether we want to keep him, rather him wanting to leave for more MONEY.
If Barca,Madrid,Liverpool or one of the Italian giants offer him 100k a week, he is gone. He is easily replaceable.
sell denilshite 4free hell no at least get a pair of mismatch boots aint worth more than that
G Star
Coentrao is rumored to be signing with Bayern for upwards of 25 million euros.
Bayern have bigger wallets
lol there doesn’t seem to be any mention of the fact that the woman who is having his [Wilshere] baby is the person he was/is in a relationship with, not some random chick.
Post today……good shout about Sagna, he’s had a great season, a few odd games where he’s been a bit off but generally works hard and is always solid.
i hate it when i am playing fifa and beating someone 5 nil and the cunt leaves the game before it ends
i blame denilson
Most important question however is, is this babe hot?
Did Jack smash it
Sagna….awesome.
Clichy…..poor.
Koscielny……appalling.
Is she hot?
meh…
http://www.newsmediaimages.com/celebrity-article-17892-jack-wilshere-cheated-on-his-girlfriend-and-like-it/
The hairdresser girlfriend is the one knocked up, apparently.
“As to what we think is unacceptable; it’s vitriolic abuse towards match officials and that has on occasions gone unpunished; the surrounding of referees is unacceptable; the goading of referees into trying to get opponents sanctioned we think is unacceptable; and also the undue criticism, where it spills over into questioning the referee’s integrity or his honesty is also unacceptable.”
Yip.
United are fucked.
to be honest im glad wilsheres turning into a young john terry
exactly what we need. from trophies, to influencing refs and captaining england.
not to mention spitting on spuds fans, getting laid and breaking peoples arms.
its what we have desperately missed since merse, parlour and adams
was anyone excited when they found out fabregas likes donuts?
our captain should be a proper english pisshead wanker!
Incesc
I was never prouder than when big tone got smashed & drove into someone’s wall.
Brought a tear to the eye.
i like the story in hes book where he wanted a drink so badly he put on the jeans hed shat himself in so he could go down the pub for a beer.
Dial Square says:
March 31, 2011 at 21:59
Did Jack smash it
*****
HahahahhahahahahahHhHahahHhajaja.
Arsenal to sign Mo Ron from Feynoord, 19 years old who has scored 46 goals in 53 starts for the club! Great buy imo
mo ron hey?
ha
Hussain
Heh!
I still can’t believe Adams actually wrote a book. Probably recited it to someone I bet.
R. I. P. ROCKY
come on rohan thats a bit of a special thing to say.
special needs, more like…
bergkamp to manage ajax first team?
sounds like theres a revolution brewing at ajax.
lol.
ARSENE WENGER is going back to the future in a desperate attempt to end Arsenal’s trophy drought – by shrinking the Emirates pitch to the same size as the old Highbury surface.
The Gunners have not won any silverware since moving from Highbury in 2006 and manager Wenger believes a return to a shorter, narrower pitch can help their title run-in.
After a brief training session today, the players will help resize the pitch with white-line rollers.
An Emirates mole said that Wenger wants to downsize the pitch to exactly match the dimensions of the successful Highbury surface in time for tomorrow’s visit of Blackburn.
Our mole added: “Robin van Persie faces a late test to decide whether it is safe for him to pick up a roller.”
The Emirates pitch is 105m by 68m, but Wenger wants it reduced to the Highbury dimensions of 100mx66.7m. On a smaller pitch, his teams won three Premier League titles and three FA Cups.
FIFA spokesman Olaf Orpil said: “So long as Arsenal’s pitch conforms to the regulations, they can do as they please.”
2 more sleeps
Lurch LeRouge says:
April 1, 2011 at 00:41
I know it’s an april fool, but i wouldn’t put it past him
It’s April Fool’s Day peeps!
Seeing as it’s April fools, I wonder what the post will be like
Tomorrow.
Big news with massive implications on the cricket world cup. Apparently Sachin Tendulkar has failed a drug test before the Pakistan match.
* had failed a drug test
Shut the fuck up you mug sixx pac.
hahhahaha
How great would it be if Sachin scored his 100th century at his home ground in Bombay winning the WC final. I’d go ballistic.
Lol Rohan. At least let the story run for a bit. Haish
Definately nasri is the player of the season but with honorary mentions of wilshire and sagna
definately nasri is the player of the season
hi
NEW POST!