Apr 23
ESPN Soccernet is reporting that Juventus striker David Trezeguet is interested in pairing with fellow Frenchman Henry as a striking pair at Highbury. He’s 27, but I think he’d be an effective addition to the Gunners. Defenses in EPL would have lots to worry about with Theirry and Trezeguet up front.
74 Responses to “Trezeguet Wants To Be A Gooner?”
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April 23rd, 2005 at 9:57 am
Monday is going to be Crazy Chelsea won.
Danny T - I’m always with you and careless what others say. As I said the truth hurts. Very piss looking at Chelsea winning the title and all we can offer is excuses. Chelsea this, United that, The media said …. and the FA crap. Nope - Arsenal are to be blame for themselves and no one else.
Trezeguet will be a good buy. He is a pro and played CL football but will not happen till Wenger live in the real world.
1. Sell Reyes ASAP. Used the money to buy Trezeguet.
2. Improve Cole’s wages and stop all the crap talk Mr Wenger. You knew it was coming so why didn’t you fixed it?
3. For God sake give Taylor a chance. He is better then boths keepers so why? English I guess. Hey our best goalie said the same thing and so was the goalie coach. What does Taylor have to do Wenger?
4. Buy a defender now we all knows there is a problem with Sol. Don’t wait till next yr this time and come out with excuses.
I’ve had enough of all the excuses coming out of highbury.
April 23rd, 2005 at 10:05 am
The more legitimate press is saying that Trezuguet denies ever making that statement, so I would think it’s safe to say he’s not coming to Highbury.
April 23rd, 2005 at 10:11 am
I don’t think he will be coming to Arsenal for a number of reasons.
But we need a Pro defender and striker for next season. Someone who had proved himselve in Europe.
April 23rd, 2005 at 10:13 am
How out of date are you ? Trezeguet refuted this idea yesterday, since when Henry who was about to come back has become ‘mysteriously’ off colour groin-wise again. Is there some sulking here /
April 23rd, 2005 at 10:28 am
Think maybe th14’s post may have been delayed. I’ve submitted before, to have it come out somewhat untimely. But there are things to consider here, regardless of the intermittent retraction.
Again, who really know what’s going on? But I think we can all agree that if its reported, there’s something in it. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s backpedaling a bit for speaking at the wrong time. His latest response sounded like he read it off a card, but the story about coming to AFC sounded real. At least to me. Interesting to think about him and Henry, but I would feel a lot better if they were tearing it up on the French team.
And now Dennis is being offered another year, under the stipulation that he understands he will play fewer games. I think it suits everyone in that case, as he can stay for the last season at THOF, help on the training ground, and still open the door for another attacker. I just can’t see him finishing out his career at Ajax at 36 and have it be worth it.
April 23rd, 2005 at 10:55 am
Personally, me thinks you complain too much. On agreeing with Danny T and caring less what people think ? it?s the internet and people say what they want because there is no system of checks and balances. Danny T never has to stand before a Board of Directors and address or answer for his comments, so naturally he can say what he wants. That?s a good thing because Danny T does at least speak to real concerns, although I can?t help but think he just likes being and agent provocateur, **AYE CARUMBA**(censored), **AYE CARUMBA**(censored), **AYE CARUMBA**(censored). At least I for example am not hiding behind a catchy net-name I am a real person using my real name, maybe that makes me a fool, so be it. I?m willing to take the risk and be seen as fool, what can I say I?m a lover of Arsenal FC and a Gooner. I?m not saying you are not true fans by the way, I support your freedom to speak.
It seems to me that being in second place this year. Making it to the CL every year since Wenger became coach. Standing behind your commitment to players like Reyes even if he is off form. Not buckling under to pressures because the new owner down the road has more money. Wenger putting his faith and believe in the young players who have worked their way up through the Arsenal Academy. Arsenal has still accomplished so much in the last seven years but you never seem to be happy guys. I have a feeling if Arsenal won 45 games in a row, won the EPL, and then placed second the following year winning the FA Cup you?d still be unhappy. Damn I?m happy! Nevertheless, I agree someone has to play the role of Devil?s advocate.
? ?Trezeguet will be a good buy. He is a pro and played CL football but will not happen till Wenger live in the real world.? Do you have some broader perspective on the real world that Wenger doesn?t? I think not! Trezeguet, is indeed a fine player but he won?t be cheaper than Reyes and we don?t truly know what conversations have gone on at club level in this matter. I think real world for you is agreeing with you. Sorry dude then I?m also not in the real world, as I?m sure many others aren?t. Suddenly the real world begins to shrink.
- ?Improve Cole’s wages and stop all the crap talk Mr Wenger. You knew it was coming so why didn’t you fixed it? How is Cole?s decision to visit Chelsea Wenger?s fault I?m truly perplexed here. Chelsea tap him up but it?s Wenger?s fault for not paying him what Mourinho is offering under the table. Jeez, I can?t help but think this is a rare turning of the table. Using your strategy, every agent in the world will soon have more money than Abramovich himself. Sorry Cole made his bed in this one so he should sleep in it. If Arsenal decides to match the offer, it?s a board decision and not just Wenger. Personally, this is the part of soccer I hate most but to lay the blame on Wenger is getting somewhat carried away.
- Taylor ? apples and oranges for me. We should indeed be shopping even though Lehmann has looked better in the last part of the Arsenal season. I think the writing is on the wall.
- Defender = Sendros, what a fine job he?s been doing. Kudos? to the boss for finding and risking to play him. He?s class and will prove himself more in the time to come as he matures.
- Van Persie = raw talent yet to fully mature but he will be a dynamo.
Wenger is a coach and a man. He carries with him his humanness and thus his own critical concerns and pride. When he makes comments it?s scrutinized in the world press. I think you guys are just to harsh and I can?t help but think your doing it just to stir up some shite and what difference does it make, your on the damn internet and I won?t be reading about it in tomorrows Guardian.
Yes, we can be better who couldn?t but just now my feeling is if it isn?t broke than don?t fix it. Let?s see what happens next year for now I think Wenger is doing a fine job with what he has. Look at Real Madrid using your formula we should be like them and do what: place second in the league and not win any cups or advance in the CL. Damn if we aren?t doing that already.
Excuses for what from Highbury? I mean really, it seems to me your memory might be a bit short here. I don?t see excuses but rather explanations which are a reality.
STFU
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:00 am
I cannot believe what this site is coming to. What a classless way to seal your post.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:10 am
Clarkey thanks.
He just put a smile on my face. I’ve no idea what he is talking about. One said the Brits see things different from the Yanks. I say is how much people know about football.
People accused Danny T for saying the truth calling him not a fan. Well I wish they define what it means to be a fan.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:12 am
So what is your point Sir?
You can have my name if you want. You talk about reality but can’t deal with the facts.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:13 am
I’m so sick of this.
A thread of transfer speculation evolves into the incompetence of Wenger, the Cole incident, Lehmann being poorer than Taylor, and of course, lest we forget, the topic of the last 3 months, Reyes.
In the first comment no less.
No. No talk about the partnership between Trez and Henry and their inability to transfer that onto the international stage , about Trez’s injury proneness, about the transfer cost, about the impact this would have on the progression of the youngsters.
If every manager has the foresight to see which part of the team needs strengthening, to able to predict which player would have what kind of injury and how long, to calculate when’s a player coming into form, and have good management and motivational skills, then i guess…. this team would never ever lose, would it? Oh wait…..did that happen before?
And here, we have countless fans who claim to know better, to ’see’ what Wenger does not see. We want a world class centreback. Yah right, go get him! As simple as a snap of the fingers. Even a kid would know getting any player like that depends on so many factors. We are talking about competing financially with other clubs, about wage issues, about the availability of the player, about whether the player wants to move here. And the story doesn’t end there. The integration of the player, the new tactics of play.
Oh, wait, i guess all fans already considered all the different factors beforehand. I’m so stupid for stating all the obvious.
I do not know whether I’m the only one who thinks that Trez is not the forward i would like coming to Arsenal. But then again, reading how Trez refuted the claims, and realizing the claim were reported by The Sun of all papers, makes me feel quite glad.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:19 am
No one said he knows better than Wenger so get your facts right. It was a statement!!!!!
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:19 am
L-G
Have you seen how Trez and Henry play together for France? Why do u think they have been so poor of late?
Do you know how injury-prone Trez is? He’s missed more games than played in the last two seasons.
Sell Reyes! Lets sell Henry, Vieira, Pires and Campbell too and while we’re at it give them a special deal with the youngsters coming through how about buy one get the other at half price.
You rate Taylor batter than Lehmann? That’s like rating James Beattie over Alan Shearer. And don’t get me started on that whole he’s not english enough.
On Cole, both parties are culpable, but you can’t get away from the fact that Cole went to a meeting with a view to moving or using it to get a better deal out of Arsenal
But I’ll be very very surprised if that deal hasn’t been sorted out already, with Arsenal waiting until the Premier League judge the tapping up case.
The defence is fine, with plenty of competition for places.
Perhaps you should change your handle to Love_DannyT
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:26 am
I’m agnostic about Trezeguet. For the last couple of seasons he hasn’t been the player he was, but maybe a move would revitalise his faltering form. That’s presumably why he’s anxious to leave Juve - and they to replace him. I take it Thierry wants to play with him, which is a factor in his favour, but, that apart, there are strikers I’d prefer.
On the keeper situation. This is obviously our spending priority, and there’s the question of second-choice keeper as well. Almunia, though hopeless, is terrific at penalties: should we keep him on the bench just for that? Or should we keep Jens if he wants to stay on as No. 2? I can’t help liking him, and I sense he is popular with his teammates - quite an achievement for a keeper who’s a total liability on occasions. We won’t be keeping Stuart Taylor, that’s for sure: there was a sad article in the local paper in which he said that Wenger hadn’t spoken to him since he came back from Leicester - not one word, not even hello - so he didn’t know about his future with us. Which means, as the article pointed out, that deep down he knows very well. Assuming the first-choice keeper we buy won’t be English, we should probably be looking for a second-choice home-grown one. Though the Uefa ruling won’t be significant for a couple of years, after that it’s going to be fearsome.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:30 am
Good point on that home-grown ruling, miranda. Is Graham Stack on the books, or did Millwall sign him? Whatever heppened with him and that rape accusation anyway? I guess it couldn’t have amounted to much, otherwise the press would have been all over that.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:32 am
Or would he even count as home-grown? I would think he would, but I don’t know the letter of the law for UEFA’s new rules.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:33 am
Ok..
You can call me Love_Danny T or not but don’t say/write what I did not said? Sell Henry etc…
The facts are there for all to see unless you are blind. Reyes wants to go back home. Yes or No? I rest my case there.
Cole - You can read my article about that? Why we are in that mess and blame both parties. But can’t sit down thinking is all fine.
Taylor need some games period or let him go. As the best keepers said. I remember when I said Senderos was better than Cygan some folks here nearly killed me. Well where are they now?
Please all I need is a good striker and defender for next season.
Please report what I said not what I did not said next time.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:38 am
I read something about that after what Wilson said but knows If I said anything here I will be called Anti-Wenger and Pro English crap.
I guess with this site all you have to say is the good things. Sad.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:39 am
So what about the manager who messes up a good club and loses 10 games in a row and gets them relegated?. Are we not allowed to criticise because we don’t know all the behind the scenes problems? Are you suggesting that everybody is beyond criticism? You are not Thierry Henry, so perhaps you should shut your mouth and never speak about football again, seeing as you don’t understand anywhere near as much as he does about the game. What garbage.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:45 am
I think u miss the point. What I was infering was what were you saying about those players when they first started at Highbury?
How good was Pires in his first season? And Henry? Didn’t really tear up any trees did they. They only showed glimpses of what we now get on a regular basis because the manager had faith in them, supported them during the tough times. And how did they reward him? They have won two Premeirships, two FA Cups, and six player of the year titles between them.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:55 am
Of cuz but there is a difference between Reyes and Pires.
Players are human beings and I’ve been there before but this a guy who really wants to go back home. So why do we keep a player who don’t want to be there.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:58 am
Some good news..
Sunderland are back to the big boys league so we have 6 points in the bag already for next season.
April 23rd, 2005 at 1:09 pm
Jesus Christ, are you a woman? When in the history of football have you seen a goalkeeper kept on the bench “just for penalties”. Why would a goalkeeper stay at any club “just for penalties”. Why would a football club pay a player thousands of pounds a week “just for penalties”.
To think that people criticise me, sorry Miranda, but this has to be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.
April 23rd, 2005 at 1:19 pm
Not sure if he’s actually been tried yet - presumably not - but I have a hazy memory of hearing on the news that the accusation had been investigated and upheld. Don’t know if he’s home-grown but I can’t imagine we’d now keep him. What with Pennant and that other player - Ryan something - in gaol for rape, we’re not doing too well on the criminal front.
April 23rd, 2005 at 1:23 pm
Dude, cool down.There is no place for such language here.
April 23rd, 2005 at 1:27 pm
Well, there won’t be many takers for him so he’d probably be delighted to stay. I take the point about the wages, but unless we can find someone substantially better, why would we not keep him as second or third choice? We bought him for God’s sake, presumably precisely because he’s excellent in at least that one respect.
April 23rd, 2005 at 1:46 pm
This is Arsenal football club, is this the extent of your ambition? Suggesting keeping a goalkeeper just because nobody else wants him? Why do you think nobody else wants him?
My suggestion is, Mr Wenger should go find somebody substantially better, which shouldn’t be too difficult considering there are 19 substantially better keepers in the Premiership alone.
April 23rd, 2005 at 2:11 pm
Pure media speculation.. why would Trez want to come to Arsenal now? And anyway, I don’t see he can do better than Andy Johnson at the moment.
We need a Morientes, rather than a Trez. And looking at Persie, Lupoli, Ali and Quincy, why bother to find another forward anyway?
The previous debate on Reyes? Wenger would have been right to give Reyes a chance, IF Henry was playing, imho. But, man.. pairing DB who isn’t exactly at his most inspiring form with JAR who isn’t really sure what he is doing everytime he play means we leave everything to pure luck, something we don’t really have this season.
It’s not about whether Reyes deserves his chance or not; it’s about whether we have a chance or not
by playing with DB-JAR pairing upfront against Chelsea.
Wenger wasn’t wrong or pighead or anything to keep his faith in Reyes. I don’t even mind to see Reyes kept for another season. But his very decision to play Reyes in such a tight match was wrong if he wanted that 3 points badly.
Simple as that.
Anyway, I’m still in awe of Senderos’ ability to cope with all those games… This kid’s ability to read the game and position himself is unbelieveable…
April 23rd, 2005 at 2:21 pm
Trezeguet is not coming, I don’t think we need him.
We need a striker capable of making runs and playing for the team.
The team play for Trezeget who “lives in and for the box”.
He’s one of the most clinical finisher but he depends too much on ready made goals or dead ball situations.
Outise the box, it’s like the team is playing with 10 and 1/2 player.
He lacks pace which is a basic requirement of our game.
April 23rd, 2005 at 2:58 pm
There’s 4% between van Persie and van Nistelrooy in the FA player of the round poll.
Go to http://www.thefa.com and vote for Van Persie
April 23rd, 2005 at 4:21 pm
We do not need another striker to run in to feed off Henry’s passes. The crappier teams - West Brom, City, Palace, Southampton have all followed Fat Sam’s lead at Bolton, adapting the strategy of playing seven eight or nine men behind the ball in the box and sitting deep even down a goal till 15 minutes are left then taking their chances on an equaliser, and we have been too vulnerible to those tactics for four years now. The difference this year is more of these teams relying on these tactics. With four men marking Henry from the edge of the box in and three men cutting out any low balls across the box and choking off the runs onto them another pacey striker to side-foot the ball in won’t get it done not even an Adriano automatically. Trezeguet’s size, power, and AERIAL ability will be immense. Teams won’t be able to just wait on the far-post runs, the through-balls, or gang-tackle players carrying the ball into the area. They will have to worry about the the threat of the CROSS BEING MET in the box, which will create more openings for runs, through-balls, and shots in the box. More importantly his presence will make these teams less willing to concede 10-12 corners every match as the last few years, when we were hopeless from corners. The THREAT he poses alone will force teams to re-think those tactics. That re-think alone will lead to more goals and wins and silverware. Then there are the goals he will actually SCORE out there given the opportunity. His contribution alone will make us 20 points better off than this year in terms of winning or losing the League. And the contribution will come quickly given his friendship with Henry, admiration of Wenger, and familiarity with Vieira and Pires, and the adjustments the team may have to make will be less dramatic for the same reasons. In other words, no drama like with Reyes. As for the reports denying the interview, didn’t Ashley Cole deny meeting with Chelsea? I suspect this could well happen and hope it does…
April 23rd, 2005 at 4:22 pm
I assume we’re going to spend a fortune on a first-choice keeper (hopefully not from the Premiership as there isn’t anyone available who’s exceptionally good) and a small amount on a very young English one in preparation for when the Uefa ruling kicks in. We could simply release Almunia, as we did Rami, but as he does at least excel in one area we could keep him on for a season, after which, with luck, the English kid will be ready to be the regular number 2. Jens will probably go back to Germany, though we won’t sell him for much. I’m against buying yet another second-rate stop-gap to be temporary number 2. Seems a waste of money. As to the English kid, I don’t know, but people are saying the one at Middlesborough looks very good.
April 23rd, 2005 at 4:26 pm
Ali is probably going. Lupoli is nowhere near ready. Quincy probably isn’t either and he’s as much a winger as a striker, which isn’t what we need at present to partner Henry. Van P, even if he improves very fast, isn’t enough. What would happen if Henry were injured?
April 23rd, 2005 at 5:25 pm
I think you are oversimplifying it. For Trezeguet to get on the end of crosses, Arsenal have to provide crosses. And for him to get on the end of corners Arsenal will have to find a player who’s corners beat the first man.
In other words, Wenger will have to change team tactics, and as we all know, he never does. He has a belief about how football should be played, but unfortunately this doesn’t account for European football, where superior managers know hot to tactically nullify him. If his only tactic doesn’t work, he tells the team to keep doing the same thing until it does work, and eventually we get knocked out. It’s like hitting your head against a brick wall watching Arsenal sometimes.
However, I do agree that Trezeguet appears a logical answer, but only if Wenger is willing to change the team tactics, otherwise he’d be completely wasted. I know Trezeguet’s had a stinking season, and he’s been awful for France too - but Wenger has the knack of bringing the best out of playes, but only if he varies his tactics.
PS. How really interested is Trezeguet, and how much would he cost? This is probably never likely to happen anyway.
April 23rd, 2005 at 5:54 pm
OK, but there must be drawbacks or Juve wouldn’t be so willing to sell. I don’t know, I’m asking - what about injuries, for example? Has been out a lot recently because of one serious injury, which he’s now over, or have there been a whole series of niggling things? And hasn’t his form been declining? I notice he’s not a top scorer in Serie A. What’s his ratio of goals per game this season compared to three or four years ago?
April 23rd, 2005 at 7:27 pm
Well, for those who think the Premier League is weak, it just got weaker. My goodness, were they awful. I think they hold the record for fewest points ever in a top-flight campaign. Behold, their 2002-2003 season stats:
Fewest wins: 4
Most Losses: 27
Lowest points per game: .50
fewest goals scored: 21
Most goals conceded: 65
Lowest goal difference: -44
Most games failed to score: 20!
Longest losing sequence: 15
Longest winless sequence: 20
Welcome back, O’ Givers of Points.
April 23rd, 2005 at 7:29 pm
Unfortunately, we’re finding out what would happen if Henry were injured. Out until “maybe” the FA Cup final. Wenger says internationals are to blame. Not even going to go there.
April 23rd, 2005 at 7:42 pm
As you can see the only concern here is to find a topic, and keep going on the same “debate” started in previous posts and previous months.
Trezeguet means Henry, Reyes, RVP, Wenger, Reald Madrid, Viera, Wenger, Cole, Champions League, Wenger, mistakes, 4-5-1 formation,….
It’s all in one. There’s more drama. That’s good for the community.
April 23rd, 2005 at 7:53 pm
Not quite sure tactics are to blame for a crap cross, but whatever it is we haven’t figured it out. Pennant was a hopeful in this area, so let’s hope he…oh.
I think, more than anything else, its a mental block that we have. Wenger doesn’t exude confidence from his persona. He’s not talented that way. Rafa’s boys beat Juve and today they lost to Palace. Couldn’t be he’s a tactical Kreskin, could it? He’s said in interviews that they have belief in the tournament. If we had 50% of that belief, dumb mistakes wouldn’t happen so easily.
Its true, I think, that the November we had went a long way to killing our season. Injuries played a part, but so did our REACTION to those absences. The pressure came on and we bottled. Not sure how much that had to do with our unbeaten run pressure and Vieira’s summer dance, but I believe much of what we can blame for our fall from grace is cumulative and it began to build there. It was up to Wenger to diffuse it, and show some resolve. I don’t know the man personally, and haven’t played under him, but sometimes you just get that feeling. And if his players treatment of him is any indication, he lets them walk all over him.
I hate to say it, but Mourinho has that X factor. He instills a win or nothing mentality, and players under his tutelage often find a way no matter how far they’re backed into a corner. I mean this more with Porto, but add that to a billion pounds and you should be stealing silverware. And of course, they are. SAF used to do this as well, but now he’s slipping into a daft old man, and his players are like inmates with the keys.
We can sit here and assume what’s going on behind closed doors from what we see on the pitch, and that can go round and round for ages. But what strikes me as baffling, is how a run of form can be so easily spoiled in our camp, and that leads back, in my opinion, NOT wholly to mechanics and tactics, but to the failing of our leaders to forge belief and steel.
That’s why I’m hopeful that our run of late is more than just some competent play against weak sides. In the Goliath killing climate of Europe this season, its what’s in the heart thats proving itself the greates tactic of all.
April 23rd, 2005 at 8:19 pm
Wenger will never sign target man Trezeguet. He doesn’t fit with our style of play at all and would more than anything tempt the team to kick it long rather than play it along the ground.
Wish we had got Samuel Eto’o when he was an unknown, he’s the perfect foil for Henry and Pires. Fast, dynamic, skilful; everything Reyes is but YET to deilver it for Arsenal.
P.S. Isn’t there a way of banning this Danny T? He seems to be gettin on everybodys nerves and can’t say anything POSITIVE.
April 23rd, 2005 at 8:20 pm
Let’s pay some respect to th14_georgia, I believe his post is talking about Trezeguet’s transfer rumor to Highbury. What has it to do with Wenger, Reyes, Cole, “Excuses”, playing English [or not]… AGAIN??
Back to the topic, I like the idea of Thierry and Trezeguet pairing together upfront. But I guess it’s only rumor. Besides, I doubt if we could afford that. Anyway, the transfer rumor talk sometimes is nice, ‘cos at least it draws our imagination!
April 23rd, 2005 at 9:24 pm
Totally agree with u, gerard.
April 23rd, 2005 at 9:52 pm
Andez you may agree with the finer points of his argument, but you must conced that Gerard was right out of order telling any other ArseAmer to “Shut the F*** Up.”
April 23rd, 2005 at 10:48 pm
Unfortunatly injuries are highliting our needs in term of new signings.
Fortunatly, this situation creates a great opportunity for yougsters to become first team players (Cole, Cesc, Senderos, Clichy, Kolo) .
Who’s next ? RVP, ALI, or Quincy ?
April 23rd, 2005 at 10:59 pm
Kolo’s a good player.
His last assist was first class.
Nice to have versatile players all over the pitch to play real total football.
Trezegol is not a versatile player.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:06 pm
Does ALI stand for A Lack of Intelligence? Because that is what you’re displaying. Suggesting Danny should be banned because he’s been less than a fawning sycophant is vile censorship, pure and simple. And by the way, he isn’t getting on everyone’s nerves - I find his comments to be a refreshing breath of fresh air, and I would think love_Gunners feels the same. You really are a wally.
April 23rd, 2005 at 11:12 pm
I generally agree, Paul. In this case though I think it might be wise for Arsenal to get a grittier, more conventional type of striker. But I don’t think Trezeguet is the right player for the job. Ages ago I thought Arsenal would have picked up Morientes, I think he would have been better suited for Arsenal.
April 24th, 2005 at 4:56 am
I’m afraid I agree with you about Mourinho. It wasn’t money that’s brought on Joe Cole. Yes, money accounts for 80 percent of their success because they can buy who they want, but if you look at who they do want, it’s not actually stars. Their squad is workmanlike and efficient, a long way from the gallactico mayhem of Real. It’s less talented than ours, apart from the keeper, I’d say. Wenger’s commitment is to aesthetics, which is Ok by me, but tactically - both mentally and physically - it’s useless. Hence the repeated failure in Europe when we come up against unfamiliar formations which don’t suit our style: we can’t play against anything except 4-4-2, and when we have to, we wilt.
April 24th, 2005 at 5:39 am
I read this morning that Wenger has expressed an interest in Gerrard (if Chelsea don’t want him and force up the price). No, No, No. I’m sure lots of you like him, but if there’s one area we don’t need to strengthen it’s the centre of midfield. He’d be taking Cesc’s place - brilliant strategy, when Cesc is progressing in leaps and bounds. Or we’d be playing him out of position - on the right or the left, depending on injuries. What a waste of the money we should be spending on a keeper, a striker, a defender and a winger - a proper right winger, I mean, as cover for Freddie (which we currently lack) or, in the worst-case scenario, a proper left winger-cum-left back, which we’ll also need badly if Ashley leaves. Clichy is great but where’s the cover if he or Pires are injured? God, I hope it’s not true because, if it is, it epitomises Wenger’s lack of interest in the way the side fits together.
April 24th, 2005 at 5:42 am
It says something about the new Arsenal and so-called fans. Chelsea have some, United do and Arsenal seems to have more of them..
No cure about the game, base all their facts about what happen last season thinking Arsenal is 2 yrs old. Can’t debate with facts just good with english and name calling.
April 24th, 2005 at 5:56 am
Morning Miranda,
I don’t think we can afford Gerrard. I think we have a good midfield setup if they all fit - Edu - Gilberto - PV with Cese - MF in a support role.
On the wings this is Why I hope we keep Pennant - He had prove himself at B’ham but Wenger will not give him a game. With Freddie, and Pennnat in a supposrt role.
Pires will need some support but dont think Reyes is the guy to do that so RVP will fit that role well.
But you right all we need is a Keeper, Striker and defender. And I’m not saying some kids. Experience players who can get the job done.
April 24th, 2005 at 6:18 am
I agree on the Joe Cole point, but I also think it was do or die for him. He was playing it his way when he was in the team and got dropped and the talk was that he along with a few other would be on their way in the summer (Scott Parker, Carlo Cudicini, Geremi etc etc) And fair play to him, he had to rise to Mourinho’s challenge to fit into his style of play.
I also agree that Mourinho is all about efficiency right now, although when Duff and Robben were in tandem they had an explosive counter-attacking element to them that suggests this is the diretion the team is going.
But he also ’stumbled’ on to that formation when he was forced to play with one striker up front due to injuries - and I think this is where he has ridden his luck and had an advantage. When he’s had to play players out of position they are all in the 23+ age bracket, they are mature enough and experienced enough to know what is required. Look at Gudjohnsen of late, he’s playing as a central midfielder, and really looks the part.
When Wenger asked Kanu to do that for him (I think it was away to Liverpool a couple of seasons back) he too came up with a masive performance, it actually swung the game our way because we were down to 10-men.
Unfortunately, the gamble Wenger took this season was that in relying on Clichey/Cesc/Flamini/Hoyte/Senderos and all the other youngsters is that they are still in their first seasons at the top level of football, they are really just coming to grips with playing in their favoured positions and they are not quite physically as developed as they need to be for English football.
The other point, about our style in Europe, I think misses one major point, in that the reason why players come and stay at Highbury is because of the style of play. Wenger has made many references to ‘big’ players wanting to come to Arsenal because of how we play.
What we’ve lacked is a genuine partner for TH14, I think Wenger had hopes it might be Reyes. Who knows with that one he’s definitely got the potential but we’ve only seen it in glimpses. My head tells me Wenger will go out and buy another big striker, and that will give us the option of playing it differently.
I know I’m in the minority when it comes to this, but I firmly believe that our repeated failure in Europe is not purely down to tactics. The games we have lost out in have been down to individual errors (Kolo Toure had his worst match of his Arsenal career in Munich) or very small margins, I struggle to think of a game when we have ben outclassed by a team and can remember plenty of games when we have played the opposition off the park only to end up conceding a soft goal. In my opinion that’s not tactical, that’s individual errors.
I also think it’s a little naive to try and play, for instance, the long ball game with players who are just not suited to it. You also can’t play a five man midfield with TH14 in the side because he likes to operate on the wings.
We could go for three at the back, and use Cole and Lauren as wingbacks but our central midfield is so good at keeping possession anyway then what would be the point in playing with an extra centre back. The reason we stick to 4-4-2 is because it is flexible and suits our personnel.
April 24th, 2005 at 7:55 am
Morning, Love-the-G, hope you’re right we can’t afford him. I suppose he’d be Edu’s replacement, but it seems batty because he’s far too expensive to use as a squad player. Anyway, being used to being captain, he’d probably take offence.
April 24th, 2005 at 8:41 am
Agree with much you say here. Individual errors that seem to come out of left field, to me, indicate mental lapses and lack of confidence going in?especially when they happen early, like against Bayern. Much of that mental fragility could come down to difficulty in getting results with Wenger’s current oversimplification of tactics, or just a mindset that doesn’t like to get stuck in. A touchy area, this one.
Also agree that we don’t get outclassed in any competition. The slightest details seem to undo us, and that can also play mind games. You’re doing everything right and BAM…you concede. Wenger gambled a lot this season, and it was risky in the sense that we just came off such an incredible season and much was expected of us. Still, who were we going to get when Chelsea when others were buying, buying, buying.
A big striker would be interesting, give us that “Drogba” option, and take the pressure off Henry game in and out. Still, RVP with a little beef could be the one, and we’ll have to be careful who we pick up as to not squeeze out the Lupolis and Quincys.
April 24th, 2005 at 9:26 am
I’m pretty sure quincy has a role to play at Arsenal next season, but Lupoli will need longer unless he’s gonna do some serious weights over the summer.
When we bought RvP Wenger said he was good in the air, but there has been little evidence of that given how little he has played and where he plays. It would be useful to see that talent used a little more, but right now he seems to be playing behind the striker, rather than up front which makes it difficult to play the role of target man.
But I still think the side needs another striker, that and a keeper should be the top priorities this summer.
Reading the comments Wenger made in the run up to the game with Spurs he has made it clear we are only buying players in the 23-27 age bracket who are ‘ready made’, as he points out we’ve already got an entire first eleven of under 21 players in the present squad.
It is also criminal that a side containing players of the height and build of Sol, Senderos, Vieira, Gilberto and Henry don’t score more goals from set pieces.
April 24th, 2005 at 5:00 pm
Why look for another striker? Hmmm…VanPersie is for real but he’s got five or six goals, more than Lupoli Alaiadere and Quincy together and nearly 20 less then Thierry Henry. Yes that strike force will win the League and Challenge in Europe. The three you list are all prospects - and that’s all….in five years.To win now we need to be able to find other ways of scoring than Henry taking on the whole defence or picking out Freddie or Bobby, especially against eight or nine men in the box. Those iclude shooting outside the box and converting chances from corners and traditional crosses which none of our current strikers really do(save Henry outside the box). We really have that one weakness now as Senderos’s emergence and Gilberto’s return have addressed the others more than adequately. Our one weakness is not breaking down the teams that play eight behind the ball in the box or the European Cup-Quality back fours. An aerial striker will address this need, not another runner in the box tapping home goals…
April 24th, 2005 at 5:12 pm
Agree. But we already put a fair number of crosses in especially from the right. I saw one of of oyr sights this description of Lauren ” He kept launching crosses to no one” as reason to get rid of him. As i said there maybe he was launching crosses to no one because no one was getting in the box to meet them. We already make even in our current ball-on-the-deck-quick-and- short-passing attack close to ten crosses per match-yes, to no one.And what about the corners? We get maybe eight-to-ten a match and have scored two all year, one from a short corner. Trezeguet would easily get 10 to 12 goals from those chances alone and a half-dozen from the traditional chances our style of play creates and that would be more than enough to see off the Boltons and West Broms sitting in the box close to 90 minutes and bonus goals against the teams actually playing football against us without us or Trezeguet radically changing a thing. There are others, certainly, as Henry rhapsodizes about Adriano, but Trezeguet is most likely to ba available to us and for the least money right now…
April 24th, 2005 at 5:34 pm
Yes, Morientes was a perfect choice for Dennis replacement.
Let’s hope we’ll get one or two special players with our 30 M quid.
April 24th, 2005 at 5:40 pm
“Are you suggesting that everybody is beyond criticism?”
No, but are we able to talk of Arsenal or Football without criticizing Wenger or the team ?
April 24th, 2005 at 5:59 pm
My point is that you seem to want to throw everything thats gone wrong this season squarely at the feet of Wenger even in the abstract the whole Colegate affair. Sometimes shite just happens it’s the way of life, Wenger is not the great Satan you believe him to be.
One other thing, I think you biatch too much!
April 24th, 2005 at 6:03 pm
Firstly I don’t represent this site I’m just another opinion in a sea of them.
If you didn’t like my acronysim then let me rephrase it “Shut up me thinks you biatch too much”.
For example, how is Wenger responsible for Cole sucking up the tits of Abramovich for more cash?
April 24th, 2005 at 6:09 pm
Thanks
for the smile. Smiling is good it uses more facial muscles than whinning the whole damn time.
I never acused Danny T of not being a fan. To the contrary I champion his right to say what he wants. I did however call him a “shite disturber” which I belive he is…. on and on about the CL… give me a break. Arsenal is there every year, yes I’d like them to win. The pleasure of watching some one like Henry play such fine football in a team with such depth and much less resources of cash than the unholy russian oligarthy is fine for me.
I think Danny T just likes to “biatch too much”.
April 24th, 2005 at 6:14 pm
I see it more as a metaphor, maybe my daily lexicon is somewhat simpler than yours. What can I say, I grew up on the wrong side of the railway tracks and when I was growing up I wanted to be a biker like all my friends older brothers.
Instead I became a soccer fan.
Your getting carried away with this sanctimonious self righteousness. But accord I retract the STFU and instead say “Shut up, me thinks you biatch too much!”
April 24th, 2005 at 6:14 pm
That was when Sunderland had a bloated and rubbish squad. Mick McCarthy has worked a miracle up there, I reckon. Still, I do expect Arsenal to get 6 points from them.
April 24th, 2005 at 6:22 pm
I’m the one being sanctimonious? So many people pounce on Danny for saying something less than glowing about the team, some of whom called for his outright banning from the site, and yet you accuse me of being self righteous. I’m just standing up for Danny’s right to present a clear and logical argument without fear of being banned or have vulgarities lobbed his way.
April 24th, 2005 at 6:30 pm
I couldn’t agree more. Everyone should have the right to speak and I know nothing about the bannings and so forth this is news to me.
As for pouncing on Danny, well if you want to be a shite disturber like him you have to accept the consequences that it will get people PO’d. If you can’t stand the heat then get out of the fire.
That said, I can’t help but think that Danny T must spend long hours figuring out ways to get under peoples skin. Do I believe he’s a fan yes I do otherwise why waste your time writing here as he does.
Do I think Danny T is right, most of the time I don’t.
Remember even Danny’s shite stinks just like mine and yours.
April 24th, 2005 at 6:36 pm
Thank you!
Like baseball the stats don’t lie!
The truth is in the numbers - kudos to you for even knowing them. I’m always just happy to be able to give someone the correct change as I slowly count it from my wallet for yet another fine football product which at the time I belive I must have until I get home and my wife says I’m never going out with you in the Arsenal Beer Bong hat.
April 24th, 2005 at 6:47 pm
That’s the ironic part here. I don’t agree for a second with the majority of arguments Danny has thus far put forth. Danny can and indeed ought to be pounced on, but based on the relative merits of the ideas themselves.
As for the rest of your comment, Danny is certainly not a windup merchant. Maybe a doom-and-gloom merchant, but if that’s not your fancy then all you have to do is pass that vendor in the market place - you don’t have to burn down his stall.
April 24th, 2005 at 9:43 pm
At this point I am in total accord with you.
This was never my intent and nor is it now.
In addressing love_Gunners post I simply commented on his remarks about Danny T and shoved on further to address love_Gunners points.
You my friend turned it into a Danny T thing. But nonetheless we are in accord and I lift a pint to you my fellow gooner - no bad blood svp.
With tongue in cheek then: Danny T where is your stall in the market so that I might buy something from it in good friendship.
You know once I got there we could still have a polemical debate but dialectics work better!
April 24th, 2005 at 9:59 pm
I have only been like Danny insofar that I refuse to budge on my point. Believe me Gerard, if in the future you say something controversial and someone calls for your banishment from Arsenal America than I will argue in your support as quickly as I did Danny.
Cheers then, Gerard. The hatchet is buried, the fences are mended, etc etc.
April 25th, 2005 at 10:30 am
This is not me trying to get the last word in.
I agree with you on not budging and I would be next to you in the fight to stop a banishment because someone has a different or even radical opinion. I appreciate your sentiment.
I in fact did say in my post “That?s a good thing because Danny T does at least speak to real concerns, although I can?t help but think he just likes being and agent provocateur…”
Truth is if there weren’t the Danny T’s and mirandas this forum might be somewhat ho hum, yawn. Iron sharpens iron.
In the future, I’ll reframe from using the more volatile expressions in closing a post, because I think that it sadly clouded the issues and became the issue. You were right there.
April 25th, 2005 at 10:39 am
I sent this in as soon as I found out about it…certainly didn’t mean to cause such a row in here. Hope Arsenal beats the pants off Spurs this afternoon, so we have more positive things to discuss…
April 25th, 2005 at 12:14 pm
Two sentences, 1144 reads, 72 comments, and countless flares on the pitch. Way to go, Gilligan!
Put it right up there with Lennon’s “We’re bigger than Jesus”. ;^P
April 25th, 2005 at 1:51 pm
I haven’t been able to pick up the Arsenal Beer Bong hat just yet. I’ve been trying to get my missus to stop laughing every time I use my Arsenal Prophylactic. For the life of me I’ll never understand why they put a picture of Wenger on the front.
April 25th, 2005 at 3:55 pm
Extra birth control?