SHOULD HE STAY OR SHOULD HE GO…
The Mid-field
Note: This obviously pre-dates the Hleb signing(by the way I say…STAY)
LJUNGBERG: Freddie when healthy had a VERY good season, and was our best player from October to December. Freddie is clearly committed to the cause and yet, that health history leaves me a little uneasy, and surely factors into our pursuit of right-sided players. I think Freddie is the one regular I would readily offer in a player-swap for someone like Trezeguet with some cash. But I have no problem with Freddie in our team provided we have better cover in this year?s team…STAY, but I wouldn?t be AS devastated if he left as some others
GILBERTO: If Gilberto had been healthy all year we win likely win the League. We lost two midfielders in effect as even when healthy Vieira was less effective without Gilberto protecting the defence as he would go forward as always. If the Brazilian stays healthy Arsenal are considerably stronger in both attack and defence and play a more consistent balanced game - maybe no 7-0 score-lines but lots of 4-0 and 4-1 score-lines, and more importantly perhaps more 1-0 score-lines. Almost as valuable as Vieira in his own quite way…STAY
VIEIRA: When healthy and in-form, and with the right partner to let him play his way, Patrick Vieira is still the Best Box-To-Box Central Midfielder In The World, although age and injury and pulling him back to the pack. Still Vieira is maturing quite nicely and was rock-solid down the stretch last year for us both defending and joining in our attack. He had a Captain?s Game at The FA Cup Final, and despite having been pencilled into real Madrid?s side for five years and likely Juve?s this summer, Vieira will begin his ninth season amazingly at Arsenal. Until you TRULY have someone better you won?t convince me we should even debate this…STAY STAY STAY
Pires: THE debating point this year. Does Robert Pires deserve a two-year extension or should we sell him rather than lose him on a free. Yes, he IS 31, but he also was the second-leading goal scorer(from open play)in the English Premiership. Yes, he has had a serious knee injury, but he?s been one of our heathiest regulars since. Yes, Jose and Freddie can play wide on the left, but Bobby has shown the ability to actually change matches coming from the bench(two goals as a sub in our comeback against Boro). Yes other over-30 players have faded on the pitch or fallen victim to chronic niggling injuries, but Pires has suffered neither fate yet or shows any sign of this happening. Even with Hleb?s arrival, I think its best not to push anyone out over age. What happens when Henry hits 30 soon enough…STAY, let?s not tempt fate and alienate the players
FABREGAS: Fabregas is an immensely exciting prospect, who could if he stays and develops and fulfills his promise Arsenal?s first World Footballer of the Year, IF the one-year wonders keep pipping Henry at the post. If they don?t in five years he could be our SECOND. Now bow down to Monsieur Wenger - this is all HIS work. Fabregas is a splendid prospect who should inherit Vieira?s role when he bulks up a bit, and since he?s 18 he?s got time. I just hope he has the patience. I want to see him during his best years at Arsenal, like Henry…Stay, PLEASE Stay
FLAMINI: A solid defensive and physical presence who filled in very well at times and looks a handy squad player who could get a lot better. Or could end up as just a solid squad player ala Grimandi. He is certainly good to have around until another physical central midfielder emerges…STAY
Btw…my Faves are ?Wrong ?Em Boyo? ?White Riot? ?Clash City Rockers? and loathe as I am to admit it ?Train In Vain? has really grown on me…
23 Responses to “I STILL Love The Clash, Part Two”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
June 28th, 2005 at 1:14 pm
Tommy Gun
June 28th, 2005 at 1:23 pm
White Man in Hammersmith Palais
June 28th, 2005 at 2:27 pm
Spanish Bombs
June 28th, 2005 at 4:31 pm
Or for Robin van Persie, “Police on My Back”.
Love Wrong ‘Em Boyo, too.
Was watching a replay of the Nov. 7th 2004 Arsenal/Palace match, and was reminded how pants Paddy was when he returned. He sure did come back by year’s end, and I’m really eager to see how he’ll kick of the new season. But the funniest bit was watching Cygan tussle with Johnson. Looked like big brother chasing little brother to kick his a** and then getting duped. Pires played exceedingly well, though, and of course, the Freddie to Henry goal was brilliant.
And Freddie must stay. Without him we’d have ended up with nothing last season.
June 28th, 2005 at 6:15 pm
And it was that ass Vieira who gave the ball away for the goal if I remember correctly. You see, people like Stag conveniently forget these things when countering me for daring to criticise him.
I agree he improved, but those inadequacies have been there for a while and will again rear themselves next year. I can picture it now, 1-0 up against ajax(can see us getting them) away next season, Vieira tries to be intelligent and “experienced” by trying to win a free-kick outside our area to relieve pressure. Referee doesn’t give it and other team scores. There, thats my negative venting on the vieira front for the summer.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:04 pm
For Danny and Frankie, ‘I’m so bored with the USA’. Sorry lads, I just had to say it.
I hope that next season is all about my favorite Clash song, ‘Complete Control’..
June 28th, 2005 at 8:21 pm
Don’t underestimate yourself. I’m sure you have a lot more negativity in you.
I’ve seen that future match where Vieira does that too. We end up drawing 1-1 with Ajax. But we beat them 3-1 in the 1st leg & go through 4-2 on aggregate. But we lose to Maltese side, Sliema Wanderers in the semis 12-19 on aggregate. We lose the 2nd leg in Malta, 19-2, when most of our side gets lost on a Mediterranean ferry & ends up in Tunisia.
June 28th, 2005 at 8:24 pm
LONDON CALLING
June 28th, 2005 at 8:47 pm
Anyone feel like reworking the lyrics to “Guns of Brixton” to something Arsenal related? I can’t think of anything to fit in that meter. Maybe change the title to “London Goo-ners” or “Highbury Heroes”
June 28th, 2005 at 8:58 pm
You won’t hear many English players sing “Career Opportunities” about the Arsenal. And before I’m pounced on… it was a joke
June 28th, 2005 at 11:08 pm
rude boy has featured often on late night cable recently. gotta love the dental work…
magnificent seven
and with props to toots…pressure drop for chelski and straight to hell, boy.
jay ay zed zed
June 28th, 2005 at 11:13 pm
and although the jury is still out for robin…
i fought the law.
June 28th, 2005 at 11:18 pm
Not gonna comment much Mazza! I will just hummm the Vieira song, and hope the rumors about Juventus are crap. Funny how Juventus, the Italian champion, want our midfielder to lead their team!
June 29th, 2005 at 12:42 am
Elvis Costello was right on when he sung ‘I dont want to go to Chelsea’, overpriced piece of crap no view for away support seats!
June 29th, 2005 at 8:17 am
Hmmm…interesting. Sucks that Highbury, Ashburton, Islington, Avenell, Seven Sisters, etc. all have too many syllables to be placed right in the phrase.
Guns of Wenger?
Guns of N5?
Guns of Highbury could work if you contracted the word a bit.
Gunner Victory, too.
June 29th, 2005 at 8:21 am
Good one. Funny how the Clash seems to fit our club well.
I’d have sung “Straight to Hell” to Cole a few months ago, to which he may have replied “Know Your Rights”.
June 29th, 2005 at 8:24 am
Heard recently that Costello showed up almost 2 hours late for a concert so he could watch L’Pool in the CL final. Had I been waiting, I wold have totally understood. Then again, I wouldn’t have gone to the concert.
June 29th, 2005 at 8:28 am
Give ‘em enough rope….
June 29th, 2005 at 12:27 pm
Not to worry at all, Stag. If Wenger says he’s staying, he’s staying. And he’s said as much. So he’s staying.
And his goal in the Everton rout was the prettiest of the year.
I think he’s back.
But would you trade him for Nedved?
June 29th, 2005 at 10:48 pm
it’s time to adopt the clash as our own.
if ashley was into american luxury cars, we may have read how pennant crashed his–brand new cadillac.
and hopefully for RVP–stay free
June 30th, 2005 at 8:26 am
“it’s time to adopt the clash as our own.”
I’m all in for that campaign. And there’s a Police and Thieves joke in there somewhere, but i can’t seem to find it.
June 30th, 2005 at 10:30 pm
we’ll have to keep this up throughout the season, maybe incorporating some lyrics as well.
though i don’t know if i can work in…’the local guitar picker cut his guitar pickin’ thumb’
we’ll see…
July 1st, 2005 at 9:17 am
LOL.