Bould’s Boys Claim League, Cup Double
May 27, 2009
On the 20th anniversary of the night when Arsenal claimed the most dramatic and historic of its titles at the same stadium, Steve Bould and his young Gunners won the FA Youth Cup Final over Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.
Arsenal’s 2-1 victory on the road gave the team a 6-2 final aggregate score and secured a league and cup double in 2009 for the Gunners, who captured the Academy League trophy by defeating Tottenham on May 17. The 2009 FA Youth Cup title is the club’s seventh overall, and first since 2001.
A Sanchez Watt strike in the first half along with a Liverpool own goal in the second period was all that was needed to win this second leg matchup, on an evening much less tense and dramatic than the special night on Merseyside exactly two decades earlier.
The young Gunners held a three-goal advantage going into Tuesday night’s match, after dominating Liverpool 4-1 in the Final’s first leg at the Emirates on Friday. Gilles Sunu, Jack Wilshere, Sanchez Watt and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas all scored for Arsenal, who — in a scenario opposite to that of 20 years previous — could have afforded to lose by two clear goals yet still claim the title.
Steve Bould, a defender on that 1989 Arsenal team that snatched the league trophy away from Liverpool at Anfield, now manages the Gunners’ Under 18 team and was pleased with the club’s performance.
“It wasn’t anywhere near the level we reached on Friday, but we showed our quality in a few little patches,” the manager stated after the match. “I think we were always capable of stepping it up because Liverpool came back to 1-1 but we still got the result.”
When asked about capturing another title at Anfield exactly 20 years after the famous win, Bould said: “It’s different to winning as a player. This is not first team level but it doesn’t matter. The biggest, most pleasing part for me is not just the result but the fact that we’ve got good kids here and we think we are developing them as players.”
Defender Kyle Bartley added that “After winning the first leg 4-1, we had to keep focused. We had to avoid sloppy mistakes in order to win the game and we did that. We knew that if we kept Liverpool’s strikers quiet then we would do well.
“I think we were confident that we could be the best. We tried not to be too arrogant because sometimes that can slip into our game, but we thought we had a good chance,” he told arsenal.com’s Chris Harris after Tuesday’s triumph. “You don’t play northern teams in the Academy League until the play-offs and with the split divisions, you don’t know who’s the best.”
Teammate Jack Wilshere said the team “knew we had the strength in depth to do it, and it’s just great to win both the league and cup. We always had belief we could do it. We just carried on showing what we could do and the cups came.”
Bartley and Wilshere were among the nine youth players in Arsenal’s starting lineup Tuesday who are English, and Bould said in an interview with BBC London that club manager Arsene Wenger is keen to blood some domestic talent into the first team’s ranks.
“Arsene is always watching these kids and knows everything about them,” he said. “They are very talented and there is definitely some real home-grown talent here who could break through.”
And Bould added that rather than being judged on winning the Youth Cup, “What we should be judged by is how many kids we get in first teams. Now we want to see them getting in our first team (at Arsenal).”
“We’ve got Kieran (Gibbs) in at the minute, Jack (Wilshere) has been taken into the first team and we’re hoping we’ve got three, four or five more that are capable of that,” he continued. “But it’s quite difficult because the first team is young at the minute but we think we’re producing players.”
And the 2008-09 season “produced” by these players has been outstanding, according to its manager. “For these kids it has topped a great, great year,” said Bould.
“We know we are not in a results environment when we set out at the start of the season, but the way they have performed all year, they have been head and shoulders above most of the other teams in the country. I think we’ve got excellent players, and this is the icing on the cake.”
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May 27th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Maybe Steve Bould should be the person who takes over for Arsene?
May 27th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Well done titi!!
May 27th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
ugh…..barca win the CL. I can picture cesc telling his agent he wants to be with the CL winners next season.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
No he’ll want to play for Steve Bould’s double winners
May 27th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Good old Barcelona for humiliating ManUre. All that was missing was an Henry goal.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Barca reminded me of the Invincibles tonight. A personal thankyou from me to the people of Catalonia for humiliating ManUre.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Great that Barca won.
Iniesta-Xavi is the Mount Olympus of midfield engines.
I doubt there is anything you could do to those two to force them to lose possession of the ball. The way they roam centrally always looking for the central through ball is incredible. Top, top class.
Happy for Henry too. He deserves a CL.
However, just couldnt help but think “oh how typical” when he missed that chance that would have made it two.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
The first 10 minutes, it looked like United would dominate this match.
Barcelona score, and it is 80 minutes of domination by Barca.
Great to see… they were the well deserved winners, and Henry and Hleb get CL medals… not to mention Silvinho, who was excellent.
Great balance.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
All the old cliche’s will be rolled out yet the truth is Barca played their game and ManU never got into their stride – for whatever reason.
I watched right to the end, celebrations and all, wanted to see Thierry get his medal. Well done boyo, you deserve that. You have been and continue to be a unique striker, one that will be talked about for a long long time.
ctpa, I too thought of Evra’s comment ‘men aganst boys’, sometimes the truth is better NOT said and a little humility is the wiser course of action. Perhaps Evra will learn from his arrogant outburst. Although, being French, maybe not.
Despite our grim season, that ended in a retarded fashion with Wenger & the chairman lecturing the fans on good fanship, look at Barcelona. Undoubtedly one of the world’s most passionately celebrated clubs. They now have 3 CL cups, yet 2 have come in the last 4 seasons. So, come on Arsenal, get that first one and we’ll be on the way. Look again at Barca, would their fans be lectured to and told how to behave? I don’t think so. Their fans demand success and this expectation fuels the continual drive for glory.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Shockingly his greatness, Hlebmeister could not even make the Barca bench …. being placed behind luminaries like Pedrito, Muniesa (who are both youth players). LOL.
Youngster, Bojan had a knock but still got on the bench over him too!
I guess Barcelona is not very enthused about his ZERO shots on target, ZERO goals and 2 assists ALL SEASON.
At least he got a medal. Even Abidal and Dani Alves got ‘em.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Iniesta and Messi are both a towering 5′7″… and they dominated midfield.
Pretty remarkable.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
I think with Hleb and Flamini time will likely continue to demonstrate that both were better off staying as solutions in the emerging Arsenal side. I’m happy for them to prove me wrong, I have no ill-will toward them, but I feel neither has a game of sufficient strength with which to impose themselves on a team in the short term. Each is heavily reliant on becoming a cog in a side – they need a manager who views them as such and has patience. That is rare at the top level.
So sadly, both the players and Arsenal lost out by them leaving.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Exactly.
They played THEIR game. They did not “worry” about Man U’s attack. They did NOT worry that they had a completely MAKESHIFT defense and a floppy keeper.
No, they did not, they played the same formation they always play.
I can bet my bottom dollar they would have LOST big time if they had tried to play “defensive” like Wenger idiotically tried to do in both of our games.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
and Xavi is 5′6″… they have some little players… with tremendous skills.
They play the ball on the ground… just like the Invincibles did.
(obviously, with better results)
May 27th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
They have greater willpower and technical quality. Plus they only have to play physical matches once in a while.
And their manager does not change formations on them …. out of cowardice. They always play to their strengths … not worrying about Man U’s high balls or attack.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Hleb won a the Spanish Treble… while he didn’t feature in the Barcelona team, I think its pretty nice to be living in Barcelona and being part of that team, collecting the trophies and medals. He’ll be just fine. He didn’t lose out on shit.
Flamini, is playing for AC Milan… I think he’ll be OK as well.
Arsenal lost out. The players are playing for TRUE footballing super-powers, not a wanna-be… and some players would rather be a small fish in a big pond, making great money, and living in one country over another.
I’d say Arsenal lost out more than either player has.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
This is what Henry had to say:
“You always remember winners, that’s the difference. You can play good football, pass the ball well but unless you win silverware sometimes it doesn’t count.”
Ofcourse he talking about Barcelona tonight but somewhere else in Europe, will these words make a difference?
May 27th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Valid point Stag, you can rarely isolate factors such as height as a single reason for success or failure. Barca demonstarte that with their short yet capable midfield.*
Our 2007/8 team had a similarly ’short’ midfield (Fab/Hleb/Flam/Rosicky) and mixed it well in the EPL until our lack of depth and options found us out.
The difference between our team this season and the previous season is the number of players that were ready to contribute meaningfully.
* Although let’s not forget a certain Yaya Toure who for much of the season has been an imposing presence in midfield and is anything but short.
For me, and I’ve said this before, Wenger just flies too close to the edge, he hopes for too much, too many players to come good against the odds.
I see we’re at it again signing young players. Obviously Wenger’s recruitment policy continues and his first priorities get attended to. It is what it is folks.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
We didnt and dont need to lose out. We can go get one or two more Arshavin type AMs. And a proper DM.
Neither Hleb or Flamini were or are unique. They just had a “Ashley Young” moment …. a 5 month burst of good form ….and they used it to book a big payday.
Hleb is a generic German league type AM. He will do well at Werder Bremen in the Europa cup (or whatever they call it these days).
Flamini will also do well – at Nancy or Lille.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Yeah, even Abidal and Alves got medals. Seems like they changed the rules.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
ok. Thanks for that
May 27th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Will Hleb get one even though he didn’t make the bench?
May 27th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
While what he says is completely obvious…..it is worth noting that he didnt exactly do much in the whole match …. apart from miss a chance to go 2 up in a final … AGAIN.
But his point is valid. Winning counts.
May 27th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I just read that… and it could easily be said about Arsenal the last few years.
Playing pretty football means shit, if you don’t win silverware.
And… Ferguson didn’t bitch and complain about the ball, or the refs or the other team not playing football correctly… he said… “the better team won”.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
That’s my point.
The players did not lose out… they parlayed a good season into a big payday at a massive club… I don’t think either player is “great”… good, yes.
If we replaced them, or attempted to, we wouldn’t have missed out either.
We tried Nasri for Hleb… and we didn’t do shit in regard to Flamini.
And we had the opportunity to get Yaya … more than once, that’s on Wenger.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Yeah. Interestingly when quite a few Arsenal fans said similar words, they were labeled as spoilt and greedy by some. Now, I want to see these same people dare call Henry greedy.
Not seen the game yet but his misses in 2006 are still in memory. Although, Henry often talked about others at Arsenal not talking responsibility and taking the pressure off him. Because if most times Henry missed at Arsenal, those chances would have been crucial. But at Barca, you can expect that someone else will score a goal, be it from any position or even from a dead-ball.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Fred, when Hleb and Flamini left we did lose out big time. We lost the momentum the 2007/8 side created. We flumped, the weaknesses in Wenger’s policy was laid bare and he has come in for serious stick and the players have been boo’d. We competed for 4th ALL SEASON. How exactly didn’t we lose out?
Stagg, Hleb lost out and will likely continue to lose out. He has been a bit-part in a great Barca team – 7 league starts. If that’s the limit of his aspiration then ok maybe he’s a winner – but I think he like most players aspires to be a key player at the club he’s at and on that score Hleb has failed and will likely continue to fail with Barca. So there you go…. As for Flam, my point is the same, he had used his limited ability to become a key player at Arsenal in a side that could then have emerged successful in the short-term – I doubt that he will be a key man with AC Milan.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Henry had a very good season.
What did the announcer say? 11 goals in his last 12 matches?
He is part of the triumvirate of scorers for Barcelona that scored a million goals this year … Eto Messi Henry.
He is part of a great team, and he played well all season.
And he didn’t exactly fuck up the chance to score, the keeper made a good save… he didn’t miss the net.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Henry’s right of course, sport is for winners. This is where Wenger is losing the plot. We all support, even luxuriate in, his determination to play with style, yet his failure to maintain focus on the ultimate glory of winning is becoming his demise.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Saw him kissing his medal and whooping it up with the Catalans.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Freddy boy, Wengerball collapsed without the Hlebmeister. If he’s a loser what does that make the rest of the squad? Best not to go there eh.
I agree with Stag. Better to play a few games in Spain, win a treble, instead of working under the tutelage of a demented manager who talks shite day in day out and getting leg breaking tackles every week.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Yes, they have 2 small players in MF, but both Busquette and Ya Ya are big boys in the middle, and not too small Henry and Etoo are always tracking back on defense. Also, they have far superior technical skills in all phases of the game than anyone we currently have at Arsenal outside of Arshavin.
Many times the Manure lads blasted a shot and Messi, Iniesta and Xavi just deadened it on the spot. Remarkable ball control.
May 27th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
For Arsenal the key to next season will be determined by what Wenger does in reinforcing his attacking options.
The masses will wax on about DM and CB as they have done since Wenger first came. Yet any attention to these areas will be fortuitous – as always.
Our success will be dependent on our ability to overwhelm the opposition, a bit like Barca. So…..look for what Wenger does in reinforcing his attacking areas, the strikers and wide midfielders. We’re suspect in these areas. Forget the stat’s and the ‘goals for comparisons’. They’re meaningless and aren’t comparing apples with apples. Other sides place more emphasis on defence so they can be successful with less goals. We don’t emphasize defence and so we need to blitz the opposition and hence need more goals to put the games out of reach. Of course, there are games and even periods where we seem to be better organised defensively – but that’s not our norm. So we can’t rely on defence.
So, I’ll be looking at attack. If Adebayor goes, who will come in, anyone? Will Eduardo and Rosicky actually play in pre-season? The problem with the attack is the plethora of dross. So many players who are ‘in the making’ that can’t be relied upon. And the experienced attacking players are all suspect for varying reasons – some attitude some fitness. That’s why, for once, I wish Wenger would break the bank and buy a star attacker – some scoffed when I suggested Berbatov last pre-season – yet a player of his ilk would give the team a focus.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
The number of goals that Henry, Messi and Eto’o have in between then is staggering. Very close to a 100 this season I believe. And on top of that, Henry and Eto’o only started one Copa Del Rey game each. So the total that Eto’o has is without any Spanish Cup goals. Ofcourse, all those goals are possible because others such as Xavi and Iniesta pull the strings and thread those delightful balls and others (like Toure) hold things up while the attacks can take place. Balance as they say…Arsenal once had it. One can only imagine with a strong defensive spine, a functioning midfield, an impressive tally of goals would result for Arsenal as well, provided Arsenal’s players manage to stay injury free. Or will it?
Can the current Arsenal team have three players who manage to get more than 20 goals each in a season (all competitions) provided there is a strong spine? Or maybe that is unreasonable to expect as even in those glory years, Henry always posted a huge number of goals (30+) while Pires, Wiltord, Freddie and Bergkamp did their part by scoring but never close to Henry’s total. Although Pires was close to 20 in that unbeaten season.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
After the game the panel were discussing the Barca’s style and the presenter said “Is that what Wenger is trying to do at Arsenal?”. It was almost cringeworthy as Jamie Redknapp tried to diplomatically explain that Arsenal were a an extremely poor imitation of what Barca do best.
This team last year such comparisons would have been discussed without ridicule. That’s how much we’ve dropped in that department and that’s why it will – and probably should – be of utmost importance.
Again tonight Ya Ya Toure played centre back and even with paperweight Busquets in there, they were never overpowered or suppressed. Quick, incisive, clever passing is as much of a defence as stereotypical hardmen.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Interestingly Barca often don’t have a ‘balance’ in the traditional sense of the word. They found it this year, everything worked. But often their defence looks suspect and their midfield appears to lack toughness. A bit like…….a team we know well.
The awesome threesome up front have enjoyed a great season. They’ve gelled. It won’t necessarily be as harmonious next season. The point I would make is that Barca do have quality up front. So their inherent ‘weakness’ in their approach to midfield and defense is mitigated somewhat. We lack that quality. In fact, we’ve never had such a crap attack under Wenger.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
And when Hleb did that last year you were oblivious.
Lol the irony!
May 27th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I agree, last season’s team mirrored a Barca-like approach. This season has been an embarrassment.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Did what???
Hleb at his very best is not anywhere near Iniesta’s level.
When I tried to compare the two together at the start of the season, you said “no, no, they are not similar players …. dont compare ‘em”. LOL.
Hleb is on Deco’s 2009 level at his very best and that might be insulting to Deco, considering Deco, in his prime, had a history of “carrying” his teams to victory.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I wonder how many players at Barca are on 60,000pw?
I think we might be surprised at what a 60,000pw player at Barca looks like. At Arsenal it looks like Walcott, LOL.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Yeah, thats the thing, once they touch the ball, it just stops dead.
If Diaby or Adebayor touch the same ball, they will have to run 40 yards to collect it.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Arshavin is more of a forward as well so we’re still lacking that lubrication in the midfield minefield – the swivel head that can see the simple but pressure-relieving pass. That’s where teams like United and Chelsea overpower us, in the central third. If you can outmanouvere them there, then that’s half the battle won. Iniesta and Xavi do that so well for them.
In theory Fabregas and Nasri are the ones best suited to do this but Fabregas lacks mobility and zip and Nasri’s not at that level yet in terms of thought-process and maturity.
This is why we need another transitional player in the middle. But as you’ve said, all we have in reserve is dross which only occasionally displays the necessary gloss.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
The point is we should NOT have lost out by BUYING proper replacements.
Even BEFORE the 2007/2008 season I was saying we needed at least TWO more AMs. And a proper DM. I didnt like Gilberto.
The idea that people as mediocre as Flamini and Hleb should cripple a club as big as Arsenal is laughable.
We didnt die and quench when Adams, Seaman, Bergkamp and Henry left so why on earth should the departure of historical nonentities like Flamini and Hleb be so lamentable.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
All Wenger had to do was go for the bloody FA cup…..but no.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
You compared Hleb with Deco. I compared him with Iniesta.
Iniesta is different class I agree but Hleb was doing those things to a high level last season – hence why Barca signed him for £12 million.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Exactly. Its good you are now accepting gradually.
Hlebmeister is best as a side-dish player. A squad player, a perennial bench warmer …. someone one of the folks who can maybe show the 16 year olds how to make the perfect 20 yard pass. I can accept that.
Being given any real responsibility?? Hell no!
Hleb is a loser, thats why the folks who clearly know what they are doing at Barca keep him FAR away from the team.
Guardiola, a know-nonsense, visionary midfielder in his time, clearly knows what midfielders should be doing on the pitch. He took a few looks at Hleb and shook his head.
—————————————–
Wengerball didnt collapse without Hlebmeister. You are the only one in the world who is unaware that Wengerball existed between 1997 and September 2007 – periods in time in which Hleb was either not at the club or completely useless (as he is right now).
Face it, Hleb is a generic German league AM who had five months of glory at Arsenal. Full stop.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Wenger thinks that if he gives players big contracts then by some strange logic they will magically start playing at a level befitting of such a wage.
Most managers do it the other way round and wait until the player reaches ‘the level’.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Agreed, but the skill level of Iniesta and Xavi combined with their experience playing together is enough. Also, playing in Spain and the CL there aren’t a lot of tackles that expose their “lack of toughness” (size?). BTW that was a ridiculously cynical tackle by Paul Scholes on Busquets. All credit to Barca’s attacking five (plus good games by the makeshift fullbacks) for exposing the poor center of ManU’s line-up (Carrick, Anderson, and later Scholes).
I’ve often maintained that the reason we’ll be keeping Captain Cesc for longer than a lot of people think is because he would always play behind those two (Xavi and Iniesta) at Barca and for Spain. Maybe something’ll change during next year’s World Cup, but I don’t think so.
I love Cesc, and how he sees the field and makes the pass, but he lacks pace, and, with the exception of Walcott and Arshavin, we’re just not a very fast team, but we’re in a very fast league, (not a good combo). I would love to see us bring in somebody with a little size and a lot of pace who loves to attack the ball (I was hoping Diaby would emerge into that player this past season, but alas….). Those front 3 of Barca all are feared because their quickness.
Overall, very pleased to see ManU beaten so comprehensively.
Overall, our skill level and depth (much improved by all the “experience
May 27th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Fred if you can’t differentiate and recognisethe evolution of our football between those years then, well, your a lost cause in this debate.
Our style distinctly changed when Fabrega took over from Vieira. Less physical power and more subtlety and patience.
And like I said above, why did Barca buy him? What he’s done at Barca is irrelevant. I’ve always conceded that he carries around an inferiority complex. He didn’t have that at Arsenal so it bares no relevance to anything concerning us.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Oops, killed by the lack of the edit feature….I might’ve gone on to say something about how if we wish to aspire to what Barca showed we’ve got a ways to go. And they did it tonight with YaYa playing out of position (but why can’t a DM move to CB–a bit like our own Songaldinho?) and their starting FBs unavailable (personally I rate Alves very highly, Abidal, not so much).
May 27th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Hleb and Flamini made a choice to take the fork in the road lined with more $’s.
Both fit in nicely with Arsenal, good role players.
Yes, Hleb has silverware, but everyone will know (himself included) that he had no part in Barca’s success this season. Hleb, outwardly, may have been celebrating tonight but inside he is left with anxiety for his future.
He knows he is likely to be devalued in a trade and not his choice this time, with a hefty cut in pay at his new club.
May 27th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Wengerball mark II collapsed then.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Twist facts all you want.
Hleb hit good form in 5 months of his three years at Arsenal. Good for him.
Barca bought him as a back up. When you have money, you cant be bothered to look deeply into a players long-term game. Even then they figured he will be a good backup to Iniesta. A thinking which to me, would seem sound.
But lo and behold!
Eto’os agent said it best when he was haggling for new deal for his man:
“… Eto’o is a proven scorer and winner, I can’t understand why they are going very slow with his renewal and that of Toure … if he leaves who would they rely on? Hleb? ”
To that I say: LOOOOOOL.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
BUT, Hlieb has his triple set of medals and his grandchildren will remember him as a star once the normal embellishment takes place over time.
Pep’s astuteness surprised me this evening. Barcelona was being overrun by Manure in the first 10 minutes and he dropped Messi back deeper in the center so he could link up and also defend. This allowed Barca to dominate the MF because they now had 4 bodies there. Also, by playing Messi in the center he put the bull, Etoo, on Evra and forced him into a defensive posture.
He showed great ability to change tactics on the field and we all know what the result was.
By the way, notice the chip passes over the top when the passing lanes are cut off? I never see our guys do that. That’s coaching.
.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
A Barca like approach, but without the individual creativity require to make it successful.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I would be willing to bet that Iniesta and Xavi are on 60,000 pw!!!!
I know for sure that Yaya Toure earns less than 50k pw, thats why he was haggling last season and this one.
Turns out these big clubs actually dont pay as high a wage as most people think.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Kaiserslautern would work for him.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Mazza, I agree that the ‘midfield lubrication’, as you put it, has suffered with Hleb’s departure and Rosicky being absent due to his persistent physically unreliability. That said, I still don’t think the midfield has upfield options with sufficient striking potency. This came through last season, we simply didn’t have strikers of sufficient quality to mesh together and capitalise on the midfield possession we enjoyed. At the end of the day teams like Arsenal need to score goals – and a lot of them – and to do this you need players with the quality and ruthlessness to bury your chances.
Many people are upping Arshavin as the saviour next season……I’d suggest a note of caution. I admit I was one of the first to advocate for his signing during 2007/8. Yet the 4 goals against Liverpool may have painted a picture of his strengths that are less than accurate. Wonderful player he is, but goal scoring workhorse? Perhaps a goal contributor ala Bergkamp is a more sensible expectation. So where will the goal venom come from?
May 27th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
They bought him the same way EVERY single club makes BLUNDERS in the transfer market.
Is your new argument line going to be “Hleb is great because Barca bought him” ??????
LOOOOL!
Your Hleb sob story is getting boring.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Arguments generally get boring when you haven’t actually got one. Still, hasn’t stopped you before.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
And the moments of style has been few and far between this season.
Watching the youth team play Liverpool over both legs was sheer enjoyment. They displayed all the traits our past teams exhibited and put up a scintillating display. Unfortunately, our 1st team and Reserves have been unable to duplicate that feat.
Something to think about!!!! HHHHHMMMMMMMMMMM
May 27th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
True. Arshavin’s goal record isn’t great. Decent, but not great. And he wants to play in the hole as well so it’s a conundrum.
I expect Arshavin to be a luxury type player next season. His work rate will drop, his contributions will become increasingly sporadic, although when they come they will be top draw. All in all though, a risky guy to be relying on to any great extent and I wouldn’t rank him with the Messi’s or Iniesta’s of this world quite yet in terms of consistency and reliability.
I think if we sort the midfield out, and Rosicky stays fit *rolls eyes*, then the goals will come. Ade himself referred to the midfield destabilisation as a contributing factor to his poor season so if we remedy that area, then Ade, RVP, Bendtner, Eduardo, Vela, should all notch a few more goals and seem be more dangerous generally.
May 27th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
So….? Are you saying that all we need to do is stay the course? Keep the team together over the summer? Etc.? After all, getting Rosicky and Eduardo back will be, say it with me….like getting new signings…
Frankly, I don’t think that’s the worst scenario. Obviously bids for Ade are gonna come in, but I think by him being “injured” (benched) AW played him (by not playing him) well as the season wound down. That was some serious BS talking about Milan and Beyonce on the eve of the CL semis. If we get a big offer we can take it, otherwise he needs to put up/shut up.
Is there anyone else who the “big” teams are gonna come in for? Given that we’re convincingly wearing the disguise of a teamful of losers/overpaid/unproven/etc. I don’t see it. But, as always, what do I know….
May 27th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Agree, there is no doubt the pathetic midfields we fielded crucified the attackers. But for me there are way too many ‘if’s’ with the existing strikeforce. And the lack of obvious combinations between them is truly frightening.
Adebayor is damaged goods, I think he will go. Sometimes we forget that egotisical-or-not these guys are people and the barrage of criticism Ade has got is likely terminal.
RvP is too fragile. Arsene needs a robust focal point in attack like Henry. Not a guy who can’t play 3 games in a week. When the acid was on in the clutch RvP was out AGAIN. No team can mesh to a guy that is perpetually in and out. What would happen if you got to the CL final with a team built around RvP and he broke down again? He’s a liability on that score. RvP would be ok as a backup but not 1st choice.
Eduardo’s ETA is uncertain. I know he looked good in his cameo return. But he broke down again, predictably, and until he returns and gets a decent run no one can rely on him in the short-term.
Walcott’s output is basically crap. I can’t think of a more overhyped Arsenal player ever. Not saying he can’t start to contribute – but yikes, come-on…..
Bendtner, I know you like him, and in another squad he may be useful but he hasn’t shown the personal determination to step up. Too much belief without substance.
Vela, it’s all a tad academic with this boy. Wenger obviously doesn’t rate him as a 1st teamer currently. And why would he, when Walcott is so adept at doing nothing?
So…..without the cutting edge our game is impotent. I said this last pre-season, many folk poo poo’d it and ran off lists of names and stat’s. Time always tells.
May 27th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Mate, your opinion is as valid as anyones.
I could see RvP going to Barcelona.
RvP is an impact player, talented, highly individualistic. He struggles at Arsenal because we need him to be a regular starter and a focal point. But he’s not physically robust enough for that. At Barca he could be an ‘option’. It would suit him and the club. He probably knows his body can’t cope with 50-60 games a season – so what better than to play a major role for a great team without the slog of starting every game.
I could also see Gallas going. Notice his deafening silence? He’s no shrinking violet so I’m guessing he’s quiet because he has his future sorted and there is no reason to talk.
May 27th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Agreed. Unforgiveable, and the reason he gave for not playing Arshavin is truly silly.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Henry was having a subtle dig at Wenger.
May 27th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I guess this is my point Fred.
Wenger was NEVER going to buy meaningful replacements so even though Flamini and Hleb are seemingly limited and seemingly replaceable it elevated their importance. The same thing applies this off-season.
The other aspect is that even a quality replacement may take a season to bed-in. So any way you look at it, losing ’solutions’ is not a clever thing in a side that is forever-emerging.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Though they did allow Ronaldo to shoot the ball in the first half… and he just missed on about 3 of them… he didn’t do that much in the 2nd half, it was just domination on most of the pitch by Barca.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Agree, it is interesting to observe the time lag between when we stop performing stylishly and when the masses notice. The media are forever referring to ‘our style’ when in truth it has been absent for most of the season.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
I still don’t think the players lost anything in leaving Arsenal.
Big contracts, playing in great cities, for massive teams… with more opportunity to collect silverware than at Arsenal.
If you are a STAR player, and ego driven… then maybe it bothers you that you aren’t starting every match or many matches.
But I give Hleb and Flamini credit, or their agents… they played well at Arsenal and that got them a chance at a BIG contract at a BIG team… in leagues that are not as tough physically… (prolongs career)… and in a better climate than England.
Smart. They are good players… not stars. Stars have different ambitions and will get the money no matter where they go.
Hleb and Flamini don’t fit that category.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
It seemed that way, a dig at Arsenal playing pretty, but I think he has a great rapport with Arsene… he was just stating fact.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Agree 100% Kiwi, we don’t really have a fit, established, clinical, go to striker. As you said, there are more questions than there are answers. Maybe someone will step up next season, but who? How?
We have a boat load of potential and injury prone crocks. Manu can roll out Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov and Rooney. Barcelona can roll out Messi, Henry, Etoo, Iniesta, Xavi. Chelsea can roll out Drogba, Lampard and Anelka. Liverpool rolls out Torres, Gerrard, Benayoun and Kuyt.
Arsenal rolls out Arshavin. There lies the difference.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
The GOAL changed the match.
It was a gut punch, that shook United, who were very confident and were taking it to Barcelona. Being up 1-0, made it a bit easier for Pep to be “astute”.
May 27th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Ummmm.
Part of the equation is about match-ups.
Chelsea outplayed Barcelona… and they were the one’s going to the CL Final, if not for a late late goal… and some questionable non-calls by the referee.
So, even though Barcelona looked wonderful this evening… and took it to ManU, and we all loved it…
They were LUCKY to even be there. Chelsea shut down the Barcelona offensive machine for 183 minutes… stifled them, frustrated them…
You still need some STAR players in the team… even Barcelona, to score a goal out of nothing… Barca have about 5 players that can do that.
How many do Arsenal have?
That is the major difference.
It is often a thin line… you can look mediocre for a few matches… (and that’s what Chelsea did to Barca)… and you can look magnificent in the Final, and that is what you’ll be remembered for…
May 27th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
The most overused word in Arsene’s vocabulary is “POTENTIAL”. What Arsenal needs now is not potential, but potent, complete players in their prime who can compete at the highest level.
The second overused word is “YOUTH”. I am tired of hearing how young our players are and how much time they need to mature.
Wenger is getting paid over 5M per year to win trophies using his available financial resources, and not to pay 5M for a kid (Ramsey) who is still 2-3 years from being a complete player or signing an injured dwarf (Bischoff), paying him a full year salary and all of his medical expenses, only for him to walk away on a Bosman.
That is not being financially prudent and clearly does nothing to help a team which needs help now.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
There’s truth in there! The truth is football is one of those games where the result is defined by a few (often only 1) crucial play. It’s a game at the margins. 95 min’s of puffing reduced to 1 or 2 defining moments. And even if Chelsea had scored during the game, no one can then say how that would have altered the rest of the match. Great teams respond and often find that extra genius to get through.
People tend to refer to luck when they lose. Barca have not been ‘lucky’ in becoming the first club to do the Spanish treble. They’re immense this season.
Likewise, when we did the ‘unbeaten season’, whilst there were games when we enjoyed our own ’slice of luck’ and remained unbeaten, over the course of the season we deserved the honour.
Winners focus on improving the odds.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
I think there are a lot of supporters weary of hearing of ‘potential and youth’. One wonders what the ’silent majority’ actually think. The media has suggested that the silent majority believe in Wenger and this team. I’m not convinced on that. Four seasons is a long time in football to be transitioning. I doubt whether anyone could articulate what a winning line-up with this squad would look like. I’ve asked that question 4 times on this forum and there has been stoney silence. No one can see the emerging side that Wenger is so excited about.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see attendance numbers drop next season. The thought of seeing more of the same is hardly inspiring. And I do believe that Wenger and Hillwood were ill-advised to speak down to supporters. There is a reason why the ‘customer is always right’. Without customers you have no business. Ditto professional sports clubs. Wenger’s story about the guy in the loo was truly bizzare.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Henry missed, but Messi scored. Barca have more than one player who can make a difference. That’s what makes winning teams.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Fair enough Stag, well argued. I guess only the guys themselves in time will be able to say they are happy or not with their decisions.
I would have thought though that when you’re in your prime age-wise you want to play regularly. But maybe some guys have low aspirations in that regard and are happy to pick up medals and enjoy the lifestyle while other guys play the major roles.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Kiwi, I think of a 7th or 8th man in the NBA… where he might start on a poor team… make an impression, get a good contract, and become a role player on a great team?
There are worse things for role players… than to be on AC Milan or Barca, getting paid well… MAYBE… Hleb might want to play more… and go elsewhere.
We’ll see… he didn’t strike me as being the ambitious type, but who knows.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I believe Pires was the 2nd leading scorer in every season he played at Arsenal, except the year he got injured.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Carib, I would say Wenger is paid by the board to be competitive, stay in the top 4, and MAKE A PROFIT…
He is part of the problem with his dream of how to create a Championship team with a bunch of kids… but the board allow it, and I’d say encourage it.
They are just as much a part of the problem, if not more…
As long as we make the Top 4, I doubt there is any way the board fire Wenger.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Kudos to Guardiola on winning the league, cup and CL treble in his very first season!!! Do people still think there are no coaches who can replace Arsene if he left?
Agreed, Pep had a decent team and lots of money. But Riijkaard won nothing with the same team for two years. Neither did Pep spend a lot – Alves and Hleb were his top signings.
Finally, Pep had the balls to get rid of Ronaldinho and ask Eto’o to shape up or get lost. Imagine Arsene getting rid of any of his kids or asking any of his senior players (like Ade or Gallas) to shape up or get lost!!!
May 27th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
To this I have to respectfully disagree. Fans are more or less locked into their ticket plans and, if we get off to a decent start next season, attendance will be fine.
And I have every reason to believe that we will. Unlike the previous season when we started beautifully and then limped home (after the horrors at Birmingham), this past season we played like crap and then restored our dignity against the lesser clubs before faltering against Chelsea and ManU at the business end. Whereas we entered last season with newbies in central midfield, this year they are (somewhat) seasoned players. We’ve got the additional threat of Arshavin and we spent much of the 2nd half of the season beating up on the lesser teams and solidifying our CL spot. Of course, who knows what’ll happen over the summer, and if we lose some of our more “marquee” players AND we have a little run of bad luck early season, it could all go bad. Still, I think we can open the season as an opponent the lesser teams EXPECT to drop points to.
You do, however, make a strong point about the actual line-up of an all conquering Arsenal. In depth (my opinion only) we look to rival Liverpool or ManU but we lack the outstanding, goal scoring talents of Torres/Gerrard or Ronaldo/Rooney. I actually think Chelsea are by far the deepest team in the EPL, but off seasons from Drogba, Lampard and Cech, and the absence of Essien hurt them badly. (Not to mention the late Iniesta goal in the CL.) I gotta say, much as I despise him, I’d swap Ade for Drogba in a second. (But not Kalou, please….) We’re gonna need goals early season and people are correct to worry about where they’re gonna come from.
Still, all told, I think we’re way ahead of where we finished the season a year ago and again the summer is more about who stays rather than who will bring in.
May 27th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Good point. Kroenke and Gazidis need to shake up Wenger a bit. Win something next year or else …
May 28th, 2009 at 12:12 am
I don’t mean to be so disagreeable….but what exactly do you think AW is doing by benching Ade these last few games (allowing RVP to get to 20 goals and top goalscorer while Ade watches) or stripping Gallas of the captaincy and getting the best play we’ve seen from him since he joined the team? At this juncture those two are odds on favorites to be gone over the summer and the fans will be none too crushed if they go. Of course we would require adequate replacements for them, and we all know how that goes….
Agree on the kudos to Pep and Barca–they were outstanding…early season and tonight and in that goalfest in Madrid–this team will likely go down as one of the great attacking teams in history….And so sweet to have ManU as the final whipping boy…..
And, if Tottenham is the feeder club for ManU (Carrick and Berbatov) shouldn’t we be proud to have provided Henry, Sylvinho and Hleb (he still got a medal…) to the CL champs?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Excellent point Nip, we are rewarding mediocrity with EXCELLENT salaries. Where then is the motivation?
May 28th, 2009 at 12:18 am
You are correct Stag, an unimaginative Board combined with a megalomaniac Coach puts us right where we deserve to be at this point in time.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:20 am
You forgot Piquet, who has really blossomed this season. I never thought he would amount to anything based on his Manure performances.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Yes Stag, but he did it, unlike certain coaches who wait until the 75th minute.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:33 am
Ofcourse, nothing to argue about.
I say he is a talented but not that special player. He has no real application, no drive, no toughness, no will power. No team can win relying on him. I see him as no better than Recoba or Jay, Jay Okocha.
If you start him in your eleven, you wait for a few years, flatter to deceive and still fall short. If you dont play him he deteriorates on you, lowering his transfer value ensuring you lose. You never win with him!!!
You on the other hand think he is the best thing since sliced bread – with absolutely no basis for your outlandish claims.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:24 am
The footballing gap between that of the young gunners in the Carling Cup wins and the senior team was too much this season. Even though there were some nice moments in the F.A Cup with a mixed team, especially in seeing Vela, Eduardo and Arshavin in the 3-0 win over Burnley, the senior team didn’t come close to hitting the footballing highs of past years. It seems this season success for Arsenal didn’t flow from the senior team down to the younger teams but instead the younger kids performed well on their own — the Carling Cup performances were good albeit with no trophy but the youth team got their trophies.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:35 am
Yeah he was for his last 4 seasons putting up goal scoring numbers like 16, 19 (unbeaten season), 17 & 11. I think even in the season he was injured he still had 13 goals and was just a few short of the 2nd spot to Wiltord and Freddie. But I am only looking at goals but he offered so much more…sigh…
May 28th, 2009 at 3:31 am
for professor fred
“I have watched Cana enough times and he is faster AND stronger than Flamini.
We can NOT buy the Russian …..and Martins is not only an OLLLLD man…..he is WHHHAAAACK !
nfact thinking about it, for you to call him “slow” or like Song….it shows you really, reall, really dont have a clue.”
fred ..i love your arrogance…your belief that you are the best …but it seems you are truly blind…
ability is if you can spot a talent….and i dont think that you really have that at all…
cana is slow and i dont know what games you are talking about ..it seems you were watching some different french and champions league…you are crack to even say that cana is faster and stronger than flamini…i mean you must be on some real high dope to write or even say that.
go watch games of cana or better still gimme one game were you think he was fast…forget fast even if he ran at a decent pace…just gimme one game and i swear i will admit that cana is fast
u know wat fred???..i think that he will be a good enough player for everton or the likes..he is a good hassler and is quite an irritant like flamini, but his pace is nowhere near flamini’s.
re: martins …it seems u have seen his passport and his birth certificate…you are daft!!..isn’t arshavin’s example enough with respect to the age factor..
also fred my dear ..do a favour ..watch some newcastle/inter games and you will know why i am saying he has talent…dude..u need to see beyond the obvious!
same with respect to pavlyuchenko….get a life.. try to spot the talent..watch some games of russia….see his movement off the ball…his pace..his ability to be a constant threat…he needs a team like arsenal, not spuds
p.s. btw, i really hope you are talking about lorik cana the captain of marsielle..LOL!!!…i still cant believe that you think he is fast…he is so slow in the french league, i dont know what he will do in th PL
May 28th, 2009 at 3:38 am
if you wanna know how he will the premier league…watch the champion league games against liverpool…watch both the games(home and away) and watch the entire game..from start to finish..then tell me how good was he…
and that is just so that you know….if those games dont satisfy you ..catch some french league games..and you will see why so you are so so wrong..
you know something??…when cana was linked to everton last summer for 6 million, i decided to keep a track on him. i tried to watch as many marsielle games as possible, just to see whether he is good enough for arsenal….and then i realised that he will never fit into the arsenal team, btw there is this youtube video of him, i was really impressed that video,but when i saw him play game after game for so many games, i was convinced that he can never fit into an arsenal team, atleast as long as we are playing a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3…he may fit into a 4-5-1
May 28th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Steve, with the attendance and tickets. You’re right of course to say that most fans are locked in with their season ticket arrangements – so that negates the risk once they’ve signed up. But I’d be interested to know how we’re faring this year with advance season ticket sales. With the economic downturn hitting London badly and the season of lacklustre football served up by a team that could only challenge for 4th all year……I don’t know. Hardly a recipe for people to be queuing to pay the inflated prices Arsenal charge.
To make it worse, surely now few people expect Arsene to take any serious action in the transfer market. So the hope of better things is strictly limited to internal development.
The other aspect is the change in supporter dynamics – and our changing catchment of consumers. With a 39,000 seat stadium we had a higher proportion of ‘hardcore’ supporters, the type who will pay for a seat through thick and thin. When we went to 60,000 and moved the price bar you are tapping a more ‘discerning’ viewer. One who on the passion/entertainment continuum is attending more for entertainment. It is what it is.
Folk can whinge and whine all they like – but face facts if you want to fill the stadium with folk who follow football obsessively and myopically it’s better to price lower at a level the masses of fanatics can afford. If on the other hand you want to fleece the richer folk then don’t turn around and tick them off when they say they’re being served sausage.
May 28th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Wenger tries to be funny -
“I don’t see why we should educate the players, get some stick and when they’re ready we sell them. That would be masochistic.”
May 28th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Agree on much of this, except the last part… if we don’t bring in a bit of experience in key areas, we will be the same team… in which a few injuries will cripple the season. That is not acceptable at this point.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:08 am
He didn’t have no problem doing that with the likes of Bentley did he?
Could it be because he personally picked these players out from abroad and has invested more his reputation and time on them?
He’s so full of crap. Denilson, Diaby, Walcott are not ‘ready’.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Yes. I still think its extremely difficult to replace a legendary manager, with … who exactly? It can work, but the percentages are not very high for a new manager coming in and winning a trophy, let alone a treble.
The manager also needs time to adapt, just like an incoming player.
It’s not a light switch. There aren’t many Pep G’s out there… if there were, perhaps Newcastle would still be in the EPL…
May 28th, 2009 at 11:12 am
LOOOOOOOOOOOL.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:14 am
Martins … has skills, and has “burst”… he is a gem in a team that was terrible. He will blossom on a strong team.
But… he is injury prone… which should make him very appealing to Arsenal!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I stopped reading your comment when you said “…we entered last season with newbies in central midfield, this year they are (somewhat) seasoned players …”
Seasoned??!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I disagree. Newcastle are in a mess. At Arsenal, the basis is set. We need a few tweaks and addition of experience. You yourself have said that multiple times. A new manager can come in and do exactly that and win something. Wenger just refuses to do it himself. If a new guy does it, everyone will say – Arsene set the foundation, the new guy just put the icing. Hell, Arsene can (and should) do that himself.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:26 am
I always knew Pep would make it as a coach – it always depends on the type of player and he is the right type. He was the perfect field-mapping “visionary” midfielder in the early to mid-nineties.
Won’t be too harsh on Rijkaard though. Rijkaard was the one who rebuilt Barcelona in the first place. He brought through Valdes, Iniesta, Messi, Sergio….he revitalized Xavi and he directly bought Eto’o and Ronaldinho.
And he was the one who took Barca back to the 4-3-3, flair attack. Before he came, Barca were shambolic.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:41 am
and Ribery is apparently being stalked by Chelsea for… 44 Million GBP-ish?
The number might be inflated… but it just lets you know that in regard to a STAR player of that status, we are never going to be a destination.
That’s 30 million more than we have to spend!!!
Nobody is worth that amount… I guess Chelsea / ManCity and a few others are not affected by the world… ummm… recession??!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Wow. I totally missed all this going on here. (I kept looking under the Defensive thread.)
What a great read, guys. Some terrific, smart posts and/or discussion on here. Even among the disagreements. Rather than spoil it by adding nothing much, I’ll just say Thanks.
Good season for AA in general. The written record exists and demonstrates the football intelligence (and foresight) many on here have. Really well done.
Finally, I’m also grateful that worse things have gotten for Arsenal, the funnier it’s gotten on here. For a few years, it struck me there was just a smidge too much seriousness on AA. We’re intensely passionate about our club, of course.. But at the end of the day, you have to be willing to laugh. Especially when Wenger is talking. Or Fred and Mazza are (still) arguing about Hleb.
Anyway, good season here, guys. Thanks for all the good talk. It’s been more fun than it had any right to be.
Now if we can get a CB, DM, GK AND OUR FOOKING EDIT FEATURE BACK, it will be a good off-season as well.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I really LOVE to argue ….. thats my thing! But for YOU I might just take a pass.
You were afterall the same one who blasted me when I was touting Arshavin in 2007. LOOOL.
Your common sense is a bit suspect if you dont see how rather impossible it will be to buy a Spurs player.
Your ability to gauge talent is completely off if you rate 35 year old Martins.
So when you talk about Lorik Cana it is clear you dont have a clue. I will wait for someone else who has actually watched the player in question.
But then again you were blasting me on Arshavin so …. I guess you really do “know” your talent
May 28th, 2009 at 11:49 am
35 year old Martins is your typical African striker. INCONSISTENT in everything to the very core.
Yes he has “burst” but you also need “brain” to go with the burst.
Even then Walcott has more “burst” and is just as inconsistent. The only difference is that Walcott is 15 years old younger!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Arsenal are set to sign Cheltenham’s 15-year-old prodigy Jamie Edge for a basic fee of £100,000. Midfielder Edge chose Arsenal over Manchester United.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1188975/Arsenal-Edge-United-doing-deal-15-year-old-Cheltenham-starlet.html
May 28th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
This is why I said after the Stoke game that we were missing something dynamic (eg.speed) that Walcott is allegedly suppose to bring to the table. Despite beating Stoke 4-1, I was not enamored w/ our performance because if we were Barcelona, it would/should have been >5 goals. We haven’t been a ‘fast’ team since Fabregas has been orchestrating the attack.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
The problem for Rijkaard was he had lug nuts named Deco and Ronaldinho who destabilized the team w/ conflict and declining abilities.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I love taking shots @ Hleb and Flamini because it’s fun. It is not, I repeat NOT because of unrequited love.
Ronaldo says it all went wrong because the tactics were wrong. Bada bing to you Sir Ferguson. That was a shot across your bow (wow). Truthfully it really didn’t matter, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1. You could have tried 4-5-1 or even 5-4-1 and it would not have helped. Your MF was whack. I mean Giggs, Carrick and Anderson vs Euro 2008 winner Xavi, are you kidding me. In the the star match up, Ronaldo could not exploit the flanks or the middle of a make shift back line while Messi when moved to the middle found Man U’s center to be jelly donut soft.
After watching Barcelona play the way we aspire to play I am more depressed about the alleged quality our team possesses. I’ve watched Barcelona all season long and their only losses came when their opponents were having the games of their season.
Fabregas is okay but he doesn’t have anyone to ‘play’ with in the middle. Hleb was that guy and now we have Diaby, Nasri, Denilson, Song and they are not even in the same country as Xavi and Iniesta in terms of technical ability, speed of thought/play and rapport.
Adebayor quite frankly was a disaster last season and has no motivation to be better next season. I’m afraid we actually have more holes than we think we need to fill and we should be looking to Spain/SA to fill them.
I can not think of one thing good to say about Walcott other than Pearce desperately needs him and than is an indictment of the quality of the U21 team. Capello needs him because Lennon and SWP have not stepped up to the international level of play.
The best that Bendtner can hope for is to become the next Ibrahimovich and that can be seen as an indictment as well.
We all thought we needed a ‘Vidic’ type CB to prevail in the BPL wars. Hangeland is the hot rumor. What we really need is need is a taller William Gallas not a lummox ala Senderos but w/ defensive smarts.
We need a faster, more technically gifted AM to partner Fabregas. We need a ‘Torres’ type CF who is smarter, faster, technically better finisher than Adebayor.
I keep saying we need a ‘Senna’ type DM because he anchors a decent Villarreal side, he won in Europe and he’s a warrior.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Yup, and we got another 15 year old CB from Europe too. Paperwork just need to be completed.
Would love to see our 1st team making such efficient and immediate signings. Maybe our “Youth” team negotiator should be hired by the 1st team
May 28th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
“You on the other hand think he is the best thing since sliced bread – with absolutely no basis for your outlandish claims.”
Wengerball Mark II collapsed when he left. For that he deserves to be thought of as a nice, crusty, slice of french bread.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
AA’s like a placid Volcano that erupts every now and then.
May 28th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I am not being harsh on Rijkaard. In fact, the Rijkaard/Guardiola is a good example. The former coach achieves success then loses it, but the foundation is in place. The new guy comes in, changes a few things, no wholesale changes and guess what? A treble. Sometimes change can be a very good thing.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Fred. Either your math is suspect, or as usual, you think you know something, and you don’t.
Obafemi Martins is 25 years old.
Where was he for the other 10 years if he is 35?
He scored 11 goals in 24 games at Inter in 2005/06.
He scored 17 goals in 43 games at Newcastle in 2006/07.
He scored 9 goals in 23 games at Newcastle in 2007/08.
He scored 8 goals in 22 games at Newcastle this season.
INJURIES are the only question about Martins… can he play regularly
without getting injured?
I can say the same for RVP, Rosicky, & Walcott.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
25 years old.
NOT 35.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Good point.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Naturally, the kid was given the 5 star treatment. He was apparently given tickets for the last league game and shown around, while his parents were taken shopping. LOOL!
Naturally, Man U offered reasonable wages and Arsenal came in and doubled the offer and …. got him.
The entire episode is pathetic.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
We dont need a “taller Gallas”. We do NEED a “vidic” type (despite the original getting skinned yesterday! lmao) to PARTNER with Gallas. Its about combinations and two partners complimenting each other.
A taller Gallas wont be of any use if he is partnered with current height Gallas or Toure.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Interesting stats:
Arshavin had 6 goals and 7 assists in 12 games. Over an entire EPL season that would roughly translate to 18 and 21. No one else on the team even remotely comes close to that.
What does that tell us? We need a few proven, experienced, complete players who can provide similar impact.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
And what does THAT tell us that we didn’t know this time last year?
May 28th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Nothing, nada, nyet, non, nay
May 28th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
repeat. for the last 2 years 3 years 4 years.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Bullshit. Nigerian players lie about their age all the time.
Saw a very revealing documentary some years back.
For Martins in particular is own age is completely in doubt. Thats why Inter let him go. And stupid desperados at Newcastle plomped for him.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Those 10 years were “magically” erased by some local Nigerian fraudsters
I think a random Nigerian FA “mistake” a few years ago pretty much confirmed that
Those stats are not that good. Infact those stats are similar to Bendtner’s. Minute for minute he doesnt have more goals than our very own Danish oaf. Who is 15 years younger. And not as injury prone.
Usually your stats, when listed, should help your argument dont u think, staggy boy?
Overall not surprised you rate the guy, you afterall rate ‘em Marcus Bent and thought Milner and Young are top, top class. Ah well.
PS: Stag, I really, really hope you are not “alexvincent” as well !!!
May 28th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
True Stag. Recent Arsenal can be divided into Before Henry and After Henry. So we tend to unintentionally focus on the last 2 seasons.
There was this sense of us being in limbo until Henry left. While he remained his very presence shaped the whole team and it wasn’t until after he left that we could reform.
Thinking back, the 2 seasons before he left were very ‘transitionary’, with only the CL final to spice things up. The main theme of those seasons was the clearing out of the Mk II side and looking to see whether the newbie’s could step up. But thinking back, for a variety of reasons no one has really shone. I’m assuming Wenger saw the new Arsenal team fashioned around:
Henry, RvP, Adebayor
Reyes, Hleb, Rosicky
Fabregas
Cole, Eboue, Toure, Senderos
That was only 3 or 4 seasons ago, yet how many of those guys have stood out since??? Mk III clearly failed to evolve into a team – it didn’t gel and didn’t last. So what we have seen is an unforeseen messy morphing process into Mk IV.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
chip passes: Song to Eduardo
May 28th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Considering we played like crap for most of the season, its refreshing to see everyone hoping that Wenger will ‘this summer” finally address our weaknesses.
As I was watching the CL final I was wondering how can you start Giggs over Tevez?
Momentum changed after Barca’s 1st goal, I wondered what adjustments SAF was going going to make at half time to get ManU back into the match. At the 1 hour mark, I kept thinking the addition of Tevez was “not enough”.
Rooney was a non-factor, why? Hiddunk figured out how to diffuse the Barca attack. SAF got his tactics wrong and his player selection only added to the eventual result. Why couldn’t Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, and later Berbatov get service?
Barcelona’s control of mid-field kept ManU on their heels so much, that when they did win the ball back, they lost patience – rushed their passes & made poor decisions.
The ball control domination by Barcelona reminded me of our play last season. I am not saying last year’s Arsenal squad compared in talent with Barcelona, but last year regardless of who we played, we attacked with confidence and controlled mid-field.
ManU never capitalized on Barca’s constant attacking – with any counter attack. ManU lost this game in the mid-field.
May 28th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Really nicely done, Kiwi. I especially appreciate the observation that this started BEFORE Titi left. MKII ended in 2005.
Okay, so, if you’ve correctly explained how and why the MK.III hole was dug, why did AW do absolutely nothing corrective after last season (when half of that ideal team you reference was, one way or another, unavailable to Arsenal)?
If The Plan (TM) had gone that far awry, that quickly, how could he (effectively do nothin)g? Unless he really believes some of what he’s been saying?
And this is what really scares me…in his mind, MKIII (or is this IV and we’re working on V?) can still be salvaged. Meaning, as stagg suggested, wet, lather, rinse, etc.
May 28th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Worryingly it comes down to his management worldview.
I think he is genuine in believing that he can develop an internal conveyor-belt of young talent schooled in the Arsenal-style. And from this pool, as the players get a few years of first team experience they will be as productive as externally recruited players. Over the last 2 years we have seen an increasing reliance on replenishing from within.
I also think over the years he has got progressively frustrated at the lack of loyalty and spirit shown by the externally recruited players in their prime years. Ironically the watershed for this was the ‘invincibles’. They spat the dummy bigtime when Vieira left and I think this hardened Wenger’s negativity toward the mainstream transfer market even the shadow market of mature but off-radar players. His plan appears to be to get them young and hopefully improve their sense of loyalty.
So in Wenger’s mind he is not doing nothing, quite the opposite, he is implementing his vision. That is why he is so aggressive and dismissive to those who question his approach.
The approach has several risks. First can anyone really predict which young players are really good enough and strong enough in mind and body? Second will the team ever get traction and win something or be forever caught spinning it’s wheels with the better players leaving for greener fields (RvP being the latest). Third, what internal culture is developing – and is it producing the necessary fire in the belly or simply pandering to a bunch of spoilt young men?
May 28th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/82548/I-want-to-be-a-Gunner/
Last season this story would have got our juices flowing. Now I wouldn’t take him for free. I’d prefer Alonso because he can pass, is technically proficient and understands the continental approach to ball possession that is ‘foreign’ to Barry who looks poor in England’s MF ( as does everyone else Capello has to chose from).
May 28th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Again, well explained.
“Third, what internal culture is developing – and is it producing the necessary fire in the belly or simply pandering to a bunch of spoilt young men?”
This is one of my biggest problems with all of this. Paying top dollar to kids with no resume. Pay them Arsenal money. Tell everyone they’re Arsenal quality. Hope you get better than Everton results.
If that’s his vision, then Lasik surgery is in order. Stat!
May 28th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Fred.
So basically you have no proof at all about Martins age…
Your theory is … that you have a feeling, and you saw a documentary a few years ago.
And somehow you think these are things that support your argument?
Seriously. You can do a lot better than that.
His stats aren’t bad at all… He’s a good player…
and… I don’t need to be anyone else you donkey.
Hard to argue with you, when you bring no facts to the table.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
The battle is usually won or lost in midfield… isn’t it?
And we have a poor one… with little quality.
Unless Rosicky comes back and actually plays… we need to add
quality and experience.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I’d prefer Alonso too, but he’ll cost more… and we don’t have the financial ability to get Alonso. We’d spend more than we have available.
So… if we can get Barry for 12 Mill., he’s an upgrade, has experience.
Quality and Experience.
Can we get him before August 15th though?
May 29th, 2009 at 12:04 am
I would definitely go for Barry. He has EPL experience, is a quality player, is desperate to win something and at his age, has a narrowing window to accomplish that.
He would definitely be an upgrade to Song, Denilson and Diaby, an excellent free kick taker, good in the air, has a good engine, and can also operate across the back 4 with some modicum of success if needed. He also brings tremendous leadership qualities, has a few years left in the tank and would be a good mentor to the young ones.
Alonzo would also be nice, but his stock is very high after this season’s performances and Benitez would be stupid to let him go.
Add Lescott to the mix and we have a shot next season. The target striker is still a quandary as:
1) Will Eduardo overcome his injury concerns and provide us a full season?.
2) Will Ade bounce back and is he mentally strong enough to perform at his best with so many doubting fans?
3) Will Walcott and Bendtner come of age or will they continue to be just potential?
4) Will Arsene set Vela loose to showcase his enormous talent?
5) Will RVP finally come of age and live up to his huge potential and stay healthy?
Too many questions to be answered for our front men, but unless Ade is sold I don’t see Arsene making any adjustments there. Even if Ade is sold, I’m not convinced Arsene will add a world class striker. Hoping I’m wrong in this case.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Fred, you are right, most African players, West Africans in particular, tend to lie about their age. However, what is with the cultural stereotype when it comes to African players. I guess RVP and Bendtner have been prime examples of European consistency.
May 29th, 2009 at 3:50 am
Am not stereotyping anything. Just calling it as I see it – from years of watching African nations cup and watching some really appalling displays from players who can do better.
Etoo is the exception to the rule. He is incredibly talented, consistent AND hardworking. And in my view the best out and out striker in the world.
RvP and Bendtner are prime examples of plain old mediocrity.
May 29th, 2009 at 3:56 am
The BBC documented the “scandal” about Martins. Google.com -> try it. Then shut up.
His stats compare directly to that of Bendtner – goals per minute played. And Bendy aint great shakes. We need a top class striker like Eto’o …. not a short, slower than Walcott, 35 year old Nigerian with a worse scoring record than Bendtner, who has been linked to Arsenal every summer for the last 5 years.
Log out and log back in as “alexvincent”. He hasnt replied in quite a while.
May 29th, 2009 at 4:00 am
I will take Barry too. Am not exactly a big fan….but I like that he is desperate to win something.
That is the exact type of player we need at the club. 28 year olds truly craving silverware.
Plus, he balances the midfield physically and aerially …. and he is not exactly a technical oaf. Am sure he can do much better than the sideways passing of Denilsosn and the nonsense that Diaby does.
May 29th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Wont it be awesome if we could get in a DM and a CB early in June…….even before selling Adebayor. So that we know at least that we have covered the very basic problems.
But no. When August comes Wenger will still be talking about bringing in one or two “top quality” players.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:28 am
http://www.clubfanzine.com/arsenal/v2.showNews.php?id=19814
Barry heating up. I suppose his positives out weight his negatives (technical ability and pace). He clearly would be a step up over Denilson, Song plus his experience would be priceless. He is prone to committing unnecessary fouls. I seriously question his ability play the way Arsenal would need him to play on the European stage. He can plod around well enough for the BPL but I have reservations about him once he leaves the comforts of ‘home’. Denilson and Song have more experience w/ winning in Europe than Barry who can only dream about it.
Some a**holes have been talking up bringing Celtic and Rangers down south. Bad idea. There are enough idiots in England without bringing sectarian stupidity into the picture.
An Adebayor sale could fuel a Dzeko bid. This guy could be the stud CF we’ve not had since Henry in his prime. He could become our ‘Torres’. Check out 4-4-2’s Talent Spotter blog to see his scouting report as well as the often mentioned Blaise Matuidi report.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:50 am
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5354124,00.html
I like Everton from a neutral’s perspective I like David Moyes because he seems to be a reasonable sort of coach. They did better this season than I thought they would. This is nice story on the way to The FA cup final. David keep your dream alive but the gulf between 4th and 5th is not only about the money my friend. Hope won’t float your boat to 4th. Despite our holes we still had more quality in more positions than any of the teams that finished below us and except for Arshavin, our players were not expensive buys. That’s call scouting and development my friend and having an inimitable style of play that keeps us from falling into the abyss below 4th (although it was close). All your team has is honest endeavor which won’t get you the keys to the kingdom of CL riches.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Say what you will, but Everton got closer to us than we did to Chelsea (much less United). And given the gulf I imagine between their overall spending and ours, Moyes’ point seems fair enough.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Yeah, I just don’t see us going in for Barry, unless it’s a move just to shut up the critics (fans?). And I don’t see his price-tag dropping as quickly as they say in the article. (He is English after all.) Also, I was relentlessly unimpressed with him as I watched Villa during their implosion. (The turning point of their season–and ours, unfortunately–were those two late goals they gave up against Stoke City. It was just unbelievable that they couldn’t pull their heads out of their butts and win a game for over two months after that. And the return of Carew and the signing of Heskey helped not one bit…interesting.)
If one were trying to spin the disappointments of this recently ended season positively it would all begin with the growth in the play of Alexandre Song. Late in the season (particularly 2nd leg vs Villareal) he showed that he can vary that lumbering pace of his, make timely (standing) tackles and play with a degree of intelligence and verve (he was on a yellow that whole game and avoided a 2nd one). Of the three we lump together (Song, Diaby, Denilson) Song was the only one who obviously moved forward. (Didn’t we actually lament his lack of inclusion in the FA cup semi almost as much as Arshavin’s?) And, of course, late season we saw him used as a CB–Perhaps we have replaced Gilberto (from within….) or have found our equivalent to what Barca did with YaYa.
But getting back to the Barry (non) signing….AW, like many of us, probably had his head turned by what Barca did on Wednesday with their small (and/or frail) midfield threesome of Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, and is probably thinking why can’t I play some combo of Cesc, Nasri, Diaby/Denilson and feed my front line of Arshavin/Rosicky, Ade/RVP/Euduardo, Walcott/Bendtner? There are some OBVIOUS reasons….but that doesn’t mean Wenger sees them.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:51 am
42 games, 26 goals. 1 game left of the season.
Who is he?
Henry.
Come back and replace Ade PLEASE!
You’ve won your CL. You’ve proven your not past it. Give us 3 more years.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:56 am
If BBC and Soccernet and Newcastle all list his age as 25, then I’ll go with that… since its not helping them any by lying about his age.
We need a top class striker like Eto’o. Yes. Who doesn’t?
Unfortunately, they cost about 3 times as much as we have to spend… so we have to go with diamonds in the rough.
And I don’t need to log in as anybody else, but apparently you are spooked
by this dude… and you are still using your wonderful theories…
I bet you had the same feeling about Van Gaal back in 1991… that he was actually Wenger.
I hear Arshavin is actually 42… its well known that the Russian Mafia have doctors that can do wonders with plastic surgery, and they own him.
Run with that… and when you get facts, let me know.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Mark II collapsed in 2005, history-reviser.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I will wait for you to log back in as Alex and continue my argument with him (or you…LOL).
You are certified clown who hasnt got a single prediction right on this site ever. But as “alexvincent” you might still have hope
May 29th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Henry returning will actually retard us further….even if we strengthened other parts of our team.
The guy has lost pace, his dribbling is out and was based mostly on pace anyway, he was never the hardworking striker type, and he was never a fox-in-the-box.
And last but not the least, he is way past being the go-to guy.
He will be completely frustrated here.
The current Barcelona set up is PERFECT for him at his age.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
You’re right about Henry. He sits on the wing in acres of space and waits often forgotten by the FB and then Wham! In England they’d be all over him like a cheap suit and he has lost more than a step for the style he likes to play which is run at the defender.
He is no longer explosive unlike Eto’o who can still bring it when he turns a defender. I remember one game this season where Eto’o turned and split 2 defenders and was simply not there any more he was that fast. He did not score on that occasion but he sure sacred the pee out of that team.
I also liked the way Forlan played because he scored some great goals, set up his team mates and just seemed more tactically aware and involved in the offense.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
True but Moyes had to flog them to get to the finish line while O’Niell’s horses broke down in the stretch. Everton now can’t afford their best striker down the stretch, Jo. We on the other hand finally got into our stride once we got more quality in, grew up, and lost Clichy to injury.
Teams like Everton w/ shoestring budgets and small stadiums can’t afford enough horses to have a serious go in Europe. Leave Europe to teams who have a clue and won’t go there to flame out in the opening rounds. We’ll see what Fulham can do next season in Europe.
May 29th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
If I’m a Portsmouth supporter I’m thanking management for firing Tony Adams when they did.
If I’m a Blackburn Rovers supporter I’m thanking management for firing Paul Ince when they did.
If I’m a Middlesbrough supporter I’m not happy that the Gareth Southgate debacle will continue next season. ‘Fortunately’ for Middlesbrough they should be able to keep all their players. Who else would want those tainted players on their team. How do you take a UEFA Cup finalist and drag them straight to hell if it’s not about the coaching.
If Aliadiere hadn’t shot off his big mouth on the way out I’d feel sorry for him now. I guess that 1 goal he scored against Arsenal was not enough to turn the tide. Now he goes back to the Championship and Wolves come up. Ain’t that a bitch.
May 29th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
If you see my point above concerning my depressed state about Arsenal. I too think Wenger will say our MF trio is really “close” but we’re a “bridge too far”. Wenger will say with another year’s experience and we too can be like Barcelona. Only in my wildest dreams will that happen. We’re missing Messi (aka Walcott), Eto’o (aka Adebayor) and Henry (aka RVP).
May 30th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Ashavin’s pal is heading to Chelsea.
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/09/05/29/manual_112002.html
Sometimes I wonder how we managed to sign Arshavin. No competition from other clubs at all?
May 30th, 2009 at 1:23 am
How many really believe that Arsene will sign a quality CB and DM this summer? I don’t. Looking back at his reign, name the top CBs and DMs he has signed.
Campbell – free transfer, otherwise would it have happened?
Gallas – swap with Ashley Cole, otherwise no chance
Senderos, Stepanovs, Tavliridis ???
Some might say Toure.
Petit
Gilberto – I believe Arsene wanted 15M pound van Bommel but settled for the cheaper 4M option
Grimandi, Denilson, Flamini, Diarra, ???
Now again, how many really believe that Arsene will sign a quality CB and DM this summer?
May 30th, 2009 at 2:09 am
fred i am sorry to say …but i really dont think that you have any perspective at all….seriously dude even if martins goes on playing for the next 10 years at the top level , you will still argue that he is 45 and that he was lying about his age..lol!!
and trust me dude i agree with stag on this one thing that to get a player like martins for 8-10 m would be a real bargain…all that guy needs is a decent midfield…he can do the rest…and so do i think will pavlyuchenko….try to see the talent and desire…that is if you can…
and cana is slow..he is good but slow..
May 30th, 2009 at 2:12 am
re: fred:
fred i am sorry to say …but i really dont think that you have any perspective at all….seriously dude even if martins goes on playing for the next 10 years at the top level , you will still argue that he is 45 and that he was lying about his age..and the fact is that you are basing your arguments on a documentary…lol!!
and trust me dude i agree with stag on this one thing that to get a player like martins for 8-10 m would be a real bargain…all that guy needs is a decent midfield…he can do the rest…and so do i think will pavlyuchenko….try to see the talent and desire…that is if you can…
and cana is slow..he is good but slow…
May 30th, 2009 at 8:11 am
Nope, no it didn’t.
We had the same style of player throughout 1997-2005, when Vieira was playing in the middle. Of course, there were different teams within that time period.
When Fabregas played centrally after Vieira was sold our style changed to a slower, more continental game.
The fact that I’m actually having to explain this you is worrying.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:45 am
btw, i dont remember saying that arshavin wil not be a good player in 2007….and i personally think that it is a bit too early to rate arshavin..it is better if we wait till the end of next season to judge him…
May 30th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Remember that Everton have actually FINISHED in the top four before !!!!
Sure they slumped out easily and early ….but Moyes does have the experience of breaking the top four.
So no need to be too dismissive.
May 30th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
And Chelsea win the FA Cup, 2-1 over Everton. Would’ve been nice to see Moyes and the Toffees get their due…
May 30th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Ofcourse you dont remember telling me “Arshavin is not very good”.
Yeah sure, Arshavin is iffy but 35 year old, “Marcus Bent” Martins is top class.
And buying a striker from Spurs is remotely realistic only to a clown who has not followed soccer for more than 1 month
Just go sit down man, your entire argument is stag-like (utterly nonsensical) and quite frankly boring.
May 30th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Talk of breaking into the top 4 when you have a stadium that can generate profits and you can get buy a big enough squad of quality players that can compete in 3 competitions in a season. Otherwise keep your fantasies to yourself David Moyes.
Hibbet was poor. Osman was invisible. Cahill was invisible. Saha disappeared after the goal. Fellaiani was on an island but at least he could actually trap a ball played into him ( were you watching Adebayor?). Lescott was great on Drogba if you forget about the goal
So Phil Neville is still playing, damn I thought he retired along w/ his brother.
Pienaar and Fellaini were Everton’s best players today. Moyes cannot expect to win if your team hunkers down w/ 87″ left to play. Not against Chelsea.
Another goal miscue on the ‘grand’ stage of the FA Cup. How embarrassing was that? About as embarrassing as an MP fudging his expense reports, oops.
The out cry for video replay will again fall on the deaf ears of luddites
May 30th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Remember. Everton and Moyes have actually BROKEN into the top four before!
I dont understand why you are so pissed off at him for talking about breaking into the top four. What else should he talk about??? Should he say, oh no we will never break into the top four.
Stadium size is irrelevant.
Their players today were not any poorer than Man U were against Barca or we were against Chelsea in the semis.
Remember they are missing a LOT of key players from Yakubu to Arteta to Jagielka, etc.
At least they are not fleecing their fans, their wage bill is in the bottom 10, and they are still the fifth best team in the country. Leave ‘em alone.
May 30th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Barry’s price will drop because he only has 1 year left on his contract. If he does not re-sign with Villa they would stand to lose him for free next season.
Ergo, 12M should be more than sufficient.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
“….Local pride insists that Guardiola remains for at least two more seasons, to deal with Real Madrid’s next set of Galacticos.
Then it will be time for Wenger to move upstairs to be technical director, and for Guardiola to become Arsenal’s head coach… a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/michaelcalvin/2009/05/31/arsenal-need-a-pep-up-115875-21401993/
May 30th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I’m not pissed off at Moyes. That would make it personal and it is not. My anti-Everton comments are from the Alex Ferguson play book. Any team that is a ‘viable’ threat comes in for criticism. Sp**rs are not a threat to our position and so they are only criticized because of who they are and not for their potential to usurp us (not in my life time hopefully). Everton could be could easily displace us as was done to Liverpool. Aston Villa turned into pretenders to the throne and simply fell by the wayside. Everton are the ‘Little Engine’ that could.
If stadium size is irrelevant then I guess we should have stayed at Highbury making ‘chump change’ instead of 3mil + per game at The Emirates.
May 30th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
sol campbell
mikael silvestre
ashley cole/gallas….
so you see a move for roman is not quite impossible…and with harry redknapp anything’s possible
and i dont think i rated arshavin in 2007…seriously, i think you are mistaken….
May 31st, 2009 at 12:52 am
@ctpa,
I called it last season and I was wrong. I said that Spurs had the potential to be a top 4 EPL team. I am calling it again. If old Harry makes 1 or 2 astute moves Spurs will be a threat to the top 4.
Don’t ask me for facts on this one, I just have a hunch based on the accumulation of good players they have which just need to be molded into a cohesive unit.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:14 am
@ctpa, I’m a little confused. Initially, it sounded like you did have some sort of resentment towards Moyes/Everton (I still feel like they got a lot more out of their….everything…this year than we did.)
Now it sounds like you admire and/or are wary of them? (Which would make more sense, but seems to be a 180 from where you started this conversation.)
I don’t think anyone literally believes stadium size doesn’t matter. But it is irrelevant, clearly, to what Everton accomplished this year, as all Emirates bought us was 9 points clear of them.
As always, it’s less about size than what you do with it.
May 31st, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Barca offer 40 Million GBP for Cesc…
If that’s anything close to reality…
Bye Bye Cesc… thanx for playing.
Arsenal can’t turn down that kind of money.
We have to continue the pipeline of our best players to Barca.
Maybe we can sell RVP with him for an additional 10 Mill.
Arsenal need to BUY early, show we have initiative and want to win next year,
and that will show the players we mean business, as in WINNING, not as in making a profit.
Otherwise, the rumor-mill for our best players goes on all summer.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Would Barca even want Cesc? It’d be hard to find room for a young 21 year old in a midfield that already boasts TWO established, experienced, talented central playmakers, both of whom are Spanish. I’m talking of course of Iniesta and Xavi (who is not just Spanish but Catalan). Yet you can’t sit a player of Fab’s calibre on the bench. I think it would be problematic. Plus, they just won the first Treble in Spanish history with the team they already have, which means they’ll be buying players to strengthen weak areas; they’ll want to keep the core of the team largely the same, and there’s no way a player like Cesc can’t be a core player in any side.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Already being rumored. You can guarantee Real Madrid will also come calling. And teams like Barcelona don’t do the … “where would we play him” philosophy. He is a young star. They play in all the competitions, and will have the World Club Champ tourney added as well. Injuries occur every year. If you can add a young star player to your team, you do it. You don’t worry about where he’ll play. That’s the thinking of losers…
My point is… ARSENAL need to act. NOW. Early. Often.
If we show that we are buying players to improve our team, set our line-up and show some actual ambition, our best players will stay. If we fuck around, and watch the world continue to pass us by, we will continue to be a selling team, and the RVP’s and Ade’s and Cesc’s… will wonder what the hell they are doing hanging around and waiting for… when the “other” big teams get better or attempt to every single year.
Lastly, if we were offered 40 Million GBP, as it is rumored (and I know its a rumor)… it would be very difficult for us to turn down that kind of money. Wenger could easily point to the period of time Cesc was out injured, and what our record was during that time and say…. we can cope without him.
(it would be crap, but I could see it happening)
June 1st, 2009 at 12:11 am
Thing is Stagg, Cesc could easily be replaced by Nasri without any drop in quality. The question would be who would be the backup? Ramsey and Merida aren’t quite there yest and so the squad would become thin in that area. I could see Arsene saying that his love child Denilson would be a good AM backup, but I’m one of the few Arsenalites who absolutely do not think Denilson has the quality to be in our squad.
Like CG said, I cant see Barca wanting or paying 40M for Cesc when they have Iniesta and Xavi with Keita, Guudjohnson and young Torres as backups. Barca will definitely shore up their defense and another versatile MF to replace Hleib who most certainly will be let go so he can forage in the Bundesliga.
40M for Cesc and 20M for Ade would be more than enough to bring in badly needed replacements.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:52 am
Walcott to play for both the U-21s and the senior side in the summer. What are the odds he will get injured and miss the start of the season? Pretty high, I would think.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:19 am
it seems that a majority of the dutch players in real madrid are unsettled…it will be great if we can get 1 or 2 for a bargain….royston drenthe and sneijder/van der vaart could be great especially if we can get them for pound 15 mill combined…drenthe could be used as our cdm, he is quite good and impressed me the few times that i have seen him play..has pace, tenacity and can tackle….
June 1st, 2009 at 11:10 am
Carib.
Nasri can’t carry Cesc’s jock-strap.
He can’t replace Cesc, because he isn’t close to being as good as Cesc, and Cesc is getting better every season with experience.
Sorry… “without any drop in quality”… is ridiculous.
So would ManU not get Ribery…because they don’t need him, or would they get him and just find a place to play him?
Barca want great young players… and Cesc is en route to becoming one.
If its not 40 Mill, its 30… but they would love to get Cesc.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:16 am
I’d say its 50/50 he comes back healthy, which is why Wenger is pissed.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:47 am
if we could get danielle de rossi for the midfield position…it will be really cool..
June 1st, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I agree with Caribkid here. I don’t think there is a big pile of difference between the two players, the only similarity being that they’re both a tad overrated.
Fabregas is a better long passer than Nasri, however Nasri is more mobile, agile, can dribble, is quicker.
I think they’re near enough on the same level.
June 1st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Personally Stagg, If I was offered the choice of any 4 core players to start a team, Fab would not be in the mix. God forbid, he can’t even make the Spanish team as a starter.
Fab is an excellent player with good heart and leadership potential, but his skill set does not qualify him as a player to build a team around. In fact, Arshavin is the only current player who comes close to meeting that criteria.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Wait till he has a proper partner in CM before we pass judgement on Fabregas.
An intelligent but EPL experienced player like Alonso would be ideal for him. A hardworking guy with a brain would also be good.
But if we persist with Denilson or even Song half of the time in the MOST IMPORTANT POSITION ….. everybody in the team will continue to look far worse than they really are.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Drenthe is all of 5ft 5in !!!
Sure height and size isnt the end all and be all … BUT we are already the smallest team in the league.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I would never, evr, ever, compare Denilson in the same breath as Fab. Total difference in class.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Wenger’s very first purchase, before he was even formally the manager, was Patrick Viera.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:51 pm
What has Nasri done to even earn him a comparison to Cesc?
And… if you don’t think Cesc figures into the Spanish team in the near future, I don’t think you’re watching.
You can have Nasri. I wouldn’t care if he left this Summer. It would be no great loss. He isn’t as good as Hleb was.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Couple responses to the comments above:
1. Cesc will not leave regardless of how much is realistically offered (it would not be 40M). He is under contract and central to Arsene’s plan. There has been zero indication that either the player or club want a move.
2. Wenger will likely – as he does almost every summer – bring in one or maybe two players. And if you listen to his previous hints it will likely be a more defensive central midfield player. The only reason he would bring in more than that would be if current players leave. But even then I doubt he would replace players in positions wherein we are considered to have depth (i.e. Ade). He would more than likely look to current squad members to step up.
3. I think a player like Alonso is where Wenger will look. He suits our style, has experience, would partner well with Cesc and even Cesc’s backup, Denilson. He would help in many ways. Let’s hope Gazidis is a man who can get us such a player.
4. I think Van der Vaart would do well in the EPL, but we have loads of young wing players under contract. I doubt Wenger would seriously consider it unless the price made it too good to pass on.
5. The big unknown in my mind is what happens with Gallas. Do he stay or go? If he goes, how do we replace him? Even despite his occassional struggles, he is vitally important to our young and defensively suspect team. His leaving would leave another hole that may take a while to fill.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
What will it take for some people to see that Wenger isn’t into buying ready-mades??????
Here it is, in 3 easy to digest steps……
1. internal replacement (Denilson)
2. restock with youth (Ramsey)
3. last resort, nic a guy on the cheap if the opportunity presents on the last day of the transfer window (Alonso)
June 1st, 2009 at 9:02 pm
even i think his height is too short for us….but i have liked his drive whenever i have seen him play..
June 1st, 2009 at 9:44 pm
What about Bischoff?
June 1st, 2009 at 9:56 pm
well spotted Nip,
4. small kitty available for acts of; nepotism, love children, charity, peace & goodwill to all men
June 1st, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Injured family friend?
June 1st, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Stagg, I’m not going to argue with you on a very subjective topic of Fab vrs Nasri. True, Fab will prominently figure in the Spanish team at some point in the future, however, we are speaking in the present. It’s like saying Walcott will feature in the English team in the future, but right now he is still on the periphery.
Nasri is in the same place as Fab in regards to the French team, on the periphery and both will be excellent players one day. Personally, I think Nasri has more upside because of his skill sets.
I know this is an unpopular view for most Arsenal fans, but I call it as I see it and only time will decide whether I am right or wrong.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:04 am
Nasri is just another player. Good, not great.
Cesc is going to be a star.
No arguing necessary!
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 am
Barry talking to Man City.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/8079088.stm
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:48 am
champions league football!!….huh!!….its all about the money now-a-days
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:52 am
i really think that something is going on at arsenal fc with regards to the transfer market scenario…. i am sure that arsenal is into advanced talks with atleast 1 player definitely…all this quiteness, this is exactly how arsene prefers to work….i am sure that after the internationals we will have some definite concrete news about atleast a few transfers both incoming and outgoing …..something’s definitely happening behind the scenes….
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:25 am
It better be a transfer in and not a transfer out.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:19 pm
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=101691697408&h=tTyDi&u=mY2wr&ref=nf
barry no longer talking but now officially mooching. so much for leaving for a team that can offer champions league. hes gone for the money….money talks and pretty much all footballers are alike.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Signed, sealed, delivered, and Barry is his name as sung by Stevie Wonder.City is now on track to outspend the Spuds this year.
Unfortunately, he is a good buy for them although I wonder how they fit Barry, Elano, Petrov, Ireland, Kompany, De Jong, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Fernandes, Johnson and Etuhu in the same MF.
With Jo returning to reinforce the forwards they have a pretty good team on paper, especially if they add another CB. However, will Hughes be able to manage the big egos of Robinho and Elano and get them on the same page is the billion $ question.
Shit, if Moyes had that team they would be triple championship winners.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
June 2nd.
ManCity have wasted NO TIME at all, and for 12 million, they get a very good player.
Why exactly wouldn’t we have offered the same 12 Million for Barry?
We have CL football… and the way we spend on players salaries, I am sure we could have matched whatever he gets there.
This is bad news.
You know ManCity and the other teams are SERIOUS about improving.
I don’t know how you can say you think “something is going on at Arsenal FC” (Alex)
What makes you think we are close to doing a damned thing? We watched City grab a player we definitely could have used, for a reasonable fee.
It will be an insane Summer if we have to watch teams buy players and attempt to improve, and we do our usual FUCK ALL.
Madness.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
and its being reported (on Spanish radio)…
Kaka to Real Madrid for 56 Million?
We’ll just watch. Surely.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:58 pm
“Unfortunately, he is a good buy for them although I wonder how they fit Barry, Elano, Petrov, Ireland, Kompany, De Jong, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Fernandes, Johnson and Etuhu in the same MF.”
According to stag, it doesnt matter….you just stick ‘em all in
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Man City are not doing any improving.
Infact they are not even going to enter the top 6 this next season.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I saw Bischoff play in one game for Arsenal this season and I was very impressed. Hes a hard tackler and looks to have balls. Thats one thing our team has been lacking.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
good, perhaps we could take De Jong or Kompany off their hands for cheap. Considering they are certainly overstocked.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
edit isnt working………De Jong or Kompany would be decent solutions for DM if we’re not looking to splash out 14m+
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
not Kaka. that man has values.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I dont want this to happen. I really respect Kaka because he is a very virtuous player. This is usually lost once the fame and money roll in but not with him. Real Madrid is run by sleazy, cocky pieces of shit who never know when to shut up. I’d rather see him at Chelsea tbh. At least they conduct deals with a shred of decency
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
my ideal and realistic transfer hopes for the gunners…..
ins:
*Hangeland[CB] – at 6′5″ he should take care of our problems involving headers driven into the box by the opposition.
*De Jong[DM] – ManCity has an overcrowded midfield even more so now that they pick up Barry. They’ll be looking to offload 1 or 2 so we should bid for De Jong and pick him up cheap.
outs:
*Gallas
*Diaby
————–RvP———Adebayor—–
Arshavin—–Cesc——De Jong—–Nasri
Clichy——-Toure——-Hangeland—–Sagna
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I would rather have too many good players than not enough.
I think they’ll figure out who works best and off-load the rest.
Its easier than not having players good enough, and trying to make do.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
You are right Fred. They aren’t doing anything.
Watch the players that come in this Summer…
Perhaps you think they should just do nothing, and settle for being also rans…
though that appears to be Arsenal’s plan.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
So we are waiting for City’s cast-offs?
How exactly is this a good thing?
They get Barry, and we try and nick someone from their team… great plan.
I say… sell RVP, Ade, Cesc, Toure, Clichy, Gallas, & Arshavin… and go for an almost exclusive under 21 team… play the kids from the Carling Cup… and make HUGE profits on the sales of the above players. That way, we will really cut into the Stadium costs…
Bring in that 15 year old that was mentioned… and a few other kids that will be spectacular in 2015.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I hope it happens.
I’d love to see Kaka in the EPL. It would be great for the league.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I like when big names move… it adds excitement.
Milan need to re-tool and overhaul their team.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I said I hoped he didn’t go to Real Madrid. I wouldn’t mind it if he went to Chelsea. I agree it makes it more exciting. This is also why I don’t want Ronaldo to leave ManU even if he destroys us when he plays.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
how is it not a good thing?
City overstocked their midfield cause they’re idiots with too much money. This doesn’t mean De Jong is a bad player. De Jong is a terrific player with loads of potential. Hes a hard worker that does the dirty work thats required from a DM.
And screw Barry. imo hes just another overrated Englishman.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
@ Stagg
In my experience I have found that too many egoistical players competing for the same positions can disrupt team chemistry, particularly if it’s a young team. Somewhere between too few and too many is ideal
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
@Muffin,
Just what we need, Kaka to Chelsea so they can kick our butts next season. Give me a break.
Send him to Real Madrid where all the egos will conflict and they will blow up once again.
Kaka to Chelsea, you gotta be outa your mind.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I would take Kompany over De Jong only because he is tall, strong, very good in the air and can play across the back and as a CM/DM. We need the height down the spine.
De Jong is excellent mind you, but we need more height.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:22 pm
@Carib, yes Kompany would also be an excellent choice. I haven’t seen the two players too much but I know I like De Jong better. We desperately need height in the back so perhaps Kompany would be a better choice but I’m hoping Hangeland’s towering 6′5″ height would be enough to mark the tallest striker on the other team.
anyways, I’ll stop speculating for now
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Speculation is good for the soul Muffin
I ws just thinking of overall balance, since the rest of our midfield with the exception of Diaby, are midgets.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Carib, we will NEVER have too many stars… (ego players) competing for the same position. But it would be nice to have a few star players in the team.
Like Vieira & Henry … and 2nd tier stars such as Petit, Pires, Campbell, Cole, etc…
If you have too many egotistical players, you can always sell a few… if you have no stars and no character players… or too few, you aren’t winning anything.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I’d take Barry over DeJong and / or Kompany all day… and twice on Sunday.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Too bad most of the matches are played on Saturday, stag.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:44 am
My words are “are not doing any improving” …. of course they are doing “anything”.
Go ahead and tell us Man City are going to break top six. Go ahead!
Every summer, we have a “wanna bet” moment …. this could just be it.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:47 am
Staggy boy, we dont need “stars” we just need competent and dynamic ones in the Arshavin/Eduardo mold and price range.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:51 am
“I’d take Barry over DeJong and / or Kompany all day… and twice on Sunday.”
Yeah stag, but you also think Villa’s midfield is top, top class and how Arshavin wasnt anywhere close to Tevez before we got him. So please!
You just prefer names you are more familiar with.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:14 am
arsenal are linked with an italian defender….and it seems we really have only 13-15 million pounds …
tony states that there is a very good chance that song can be used as a defender next season
also there is an interview on arsenal.com, wherein nasri says that he can be used as a CDM….
where does that leave us??
are we looking at a scenario where song is the backup defender…and where nasri is the cdm..and wenger goes for a winger….
what all this really tells me is this: that there is no use predicting who or in what position wenger will buy next season….
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:16 am
http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/Football/2009/06/03/Exclusive-Adams-on-Arsenal-interest/gnid-55518/
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/nasri-i-see-myself-in-defensive-midfield
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:21 am
it also seems that wenger spoke something to a french tv channel yesterday…waiting for a transcript of the interview ….it will be very interesting to hear what he said…
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:19 am
Song moves to CB, Nasri moves to CDM and Wenger gets to buy an attacking player instead of a defensive one. Sounds exactly like an “Arsene Wenger” modus operandi.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:51 am
Alex,
Amen to Arsene’s “unpredictability”.
May, June, and July is the main window for everyone’s speculation. I think Arsene will surprise all of us.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:56 am
something about a nigerian striker….really expected it to be something else
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 am
The issue of Rosicky………
Its a difficult one. Certainly a world class winger before his spell of injuries. Do we offload him? We wouldn’t be able to get a decent transfer fee for him considering his future is shrouded in doubt but he is one of the top paid players at Arsenal. We need to free up some wage space. Also, we already compensated for him no longer playing with the pickups of Nasri and Arshavin. The wings are full. Offload him so we can take some of that money and put it towards other players.
This is all assuming we can break his contract by selling him.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:57 am
The wings can never be never full.
Nasri is a poor left winger and Arshavin doesn’t even like playng there in a 4-4-2, and who else is there? Diaby, Vela?
Rosicky has proven he can do a good job on the left hand side and is definately worth keeping if he can get fit for an extended spell. A Rosicky who can play sixty per cent of games is worth more than a Denilson who plays every game.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
I’ll take you up on that one Fred
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:42 am
This is probably what you are referring to:
http://www.kickoff.com/static/news/article.php?id=8845
Wenger was commentating for French TV for the Nigeria – French friendly and was praising Uche, the Nigerian striker. He remarked “What’s his name again? Ikechukwu Uche. I should ask for his phone number,”
Nothing more than that, just something else to stir up the unfounded rumor mill.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:42 am
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1190482/adams.html
It’s official. We’re broke!
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 am
spot on!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
the only way you can predict what and who wenger will buy is to think exactly like he thinks….only then can you even come near as to even predict as to what he really wants and what arsenal will really get..
he will not want to stop the development of his 3 midfield musketeers…hence the experiment of moving song to centre back…the possibility of nasri becoming our CDM with diaby and denilson as first-option back-ups is a real one.
after this wenger has eboue, rosicky, arhavin, walcott, vela, bendtner to play in the position of wingers….and wenger will think that he has enough to play on the wings..
with adebayor,dudu,bendtner and van persie as centre-forwards..the only real concern for wenger will be if as rumours say ade is a trouble-maker in the dressing room…if that is the case then wenger may transfer ade, otherwise even him getting transferred will remain a big if….
for defenders we have song,djourou,gibbs,clichy,eboue,sagna,gallas,toure and silvestre..again wenger maybe tempted to not buy, but there is the ANC this year and toure/song will be out. also silvestre is too error-prone, combined with the height factor may force wenger to buy a proper center-back with a lot of height.
he can also keep song as a CDM and then buy a CB so as to make up the numbers…
also remember wenger has said that this year he will want to keep his players and he wouldn’t let them leave even if they wanted to…in a way he is being strict with his players in a way he never was before.
REMEMBER: wenger knows he is under pressure to win big this year, but he wants to win it his way…he wants to prove to the world that his kids can do it…so he will try his best to tinker around with players position’s but he will never go all out and buy experienced players …
that leaves with only 3 real definite possibilities that can happen:
1. a proper CB
2. a back-up for fabregas i.e. a CAM who can play on the wings also
3. if ade leaves only then a center forward.
now ivan gazidis may have a different view about things, but if he is as non interfering as wenger would like him to be..then i think more or less the above 3 possibilities will be more or less possible.
and i dont think wenger will buy a CDM, in the winter when our CDM problem was so very glaringly apparent, wenger still went out and bought an AM….what makes you think that he will really buy a CDM?….only gazidis has a chance of making wenger buy a defensive midfielder..otherwise our dream of a buying a real proven CDM WILL REMAIN THAT: A DREAM….
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Is that as official as Tony is now the manager at Celtic?
Come on now. I love Tony but the guy tends to talk up his own self worth a little too much
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Anyone who questions whether Arsenal has money or not just need to look at the official published financial reports on Arsenal.com.
We have over 100M. Now, why we are not spending is any ones guess. Is it the Board? Is it Arsene? That is the 100M question.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
That’s the problem AV, who the f$$k knows what Wenger is thinking. Every time I think I have him figured out he changes the game plan.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
a little bit of both maybe?
With the Emirates debt affecting things its easy to see that the board would “restrict” on how much AW could spend.
But I also thing there is an ego portion that makes AW think he can win with what he is building so he is “reluctant” to spend.
Restrict – if it is an absolute must have buy that AW would want – I think they would free up the dollars.
Reluctant – I wasn’t too happy with AW this year but even with his ego, I don’t think he is completely blind to what he lacked and will buy if he can find someone who fits into his plans and what he perceives the needs of the club to be
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
We’ve signed Thomas Vermaelen for £10 million?
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
It doesn’t have anything to do with the stadium debt TSL. Debt repayments are covered by match receipts, with a surplus for operating expenses.
That’s why its so hard to figure out who is playing Scrooge.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
i don’t think that is happening…..
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Every time we think he wants to win trophies, he makes us think again?
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Nasri’s hilarious attempt to stop Anelka as he strolled centrally through our midfield and defense before scoring is a CLEAR picture of what will happen if Wenger carries out that plan. DISASTER.
That said, he still will be better than Denilson at CDM.
If Wenger doesnt get a real CDM we are dead before the season even starts.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Wenger is a fucking cocktease.
Big, giant holes in midfield, defense and between the sticks and he is talking about the number of a random Nigerian striker (when he hasnt even sold Adebayor yet).
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:25 pm
False comparison.
A Denilson who plays every game is a disaster. Comparing them like that is just plain wrong.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
The whole debt excuse is complete BOLLOCKS!
Liverpool, Man U have HIGHER debts than we do and they cover their debts with gate receipts which are LOWER than ours.
And NO, the owners of Man U and Liverpool have not put in a single cent into their clubs.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I hope it’s not true although most of the news services are latching unto it now. He is another Gallas, small, mobile, excellent ground game.
Is that what we need right now?
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Adams must be on the sauce again. In the space of two days he has said:
1) Their is an anti Arsene Board member who refuses to provide financial assistance to the manager.
2) He is getting the job of Celtic manager only to be refuted by Celtics themselves and his supposed friend who is hiring him.
3) Now he is saying that he is scouting an Italian defender for Arsene, Arsenal has made an offer for the player but there are financial road blocks at the moment.
In between all that he is saying he would love to return to Arsenal as head Coach. After saying all the above crap, how could he expect to even be considered for a future job at Arsenal. Losing the job at Portsmouth must have put him back on the sauce.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Wow man, you took the words right out my mouth….(er…keyboard).
He is just another Gallas.
It seems Wenger does not even agree that we need a “Vidic or Terry” type in CB or CM.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:28 pm
So I admittedly am not the biggest Nick Bendtner fan. For all the reasons we have mentioned previously – but I got to love his rebuke of Ibramhimovic.
Now whether you agree with Ibramhimovic or not, you got to love that Nick went into the press to slap him down.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/06/03/1303704/arsenal-striker-bendtner-hits-back-at-ibrahimovic-junior
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
….the saddest bit is that Ibrahimovic is 100% correct. Nick is just parrotting Wenger – and no one believes Wenger, aside from a few loopy’s. If you don’t agree, then articulate how Wenger’s policy is going to result in success and when………
Guys like Nick are obviously going to rise against Ibrahimovic’s comments, Nick is a perfect example of Wenger’s policy in action. A guy who has got too much 1st-team game time too quickly, who we rely on too much, who doesn’t seem as good as we are told, has an inflated opinion of himself, is paid too much and ultimately isn’t delivering at the level we need. 60,000 pound pw Walcott’s is another, as is Denilson and Diaby.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
…….hard not to think that Tony has some legacy issues with alcohol.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
brilliant
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Everyone should chill.
The likelihood of Wenger signing anyone substantive to resolve the CM and CD roles is very very low.
He has a fetish for smallish mobile CB’s so more of the same is likely…..if anything. CB probably hinges on Gallas. If he leaves a replacement may come but likely in the form of er..um…another cheaper younger Gallas!
With CM, Wenger probably thinks that Denilson did a good job and got a lot better and deserves perseverence. Sorry.
Attack, either up front or out wide is probably where the action will happen if at all. When Wenger spends it is here. Surely 13 years of applied management under Wenger is enough for even the most dreamy supporter to cotton on to? But frankly Wenger’s ‘thoughts’ on this area of become an absolute mess. There is no clear pattern that has emerged on how he wants the teams to shape up and the mix is blurred by the crockiness of RvP, Eduardo and Rosicky. So predicting any transfer action in attack/out wide is even harder than normal.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Arsenal will never pay whatever Juve demand for Giorgio Chiellini. He’s in prime form for club and country, so therefore Wenger’s not interested. He wants to claim that he was the first to see potential in his players, not someone else.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
btw, it looks like they’ve already given up on the Italian and are going for a cheaper (less capable) Belgian. Typical.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
So Kiwi, when has Zlatan acquired the credentials of a great football manager?
Arshavin, Cesc, Rosicky, Eduardo, Ade, RvP – I guess these are poor signings by Arsene. If anyone is parroting its Zlatan.
The only reason why Bendtner “got too much 1st-team game time too quickly” is because the #1 striker lost focus, and played with no heart. The hustling 21 year old took the opportunity to make an impression. “doesn’t seem as good as we are told” For preseason, what expectations did you have for Nick?
“inflated opinion of himself” –
good strikers must be their own biggest cheer leaders…..
There are two types of managers. Those that have the vision to invest in youth and nurture their development into the club mix & those that can’t teach and buy players in their prime.
Nasri, Walcott, Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, Ramsey, Wilshere, Gibbs, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Fabianski, Almunia, Sagna etc. – the no names! This is the vision and side of Arsene that we must trust.
Is it the fault of these youngsters for injuries to key players like Eduardo, Rosicky, Cesc, and Gallas? Had Eduardo and Rosicky been available all year, we would not be moaning about the lackluster season.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
my edit tool:
Sorry, take Cesc out of my list of injured key players. For this past season, Cesc was paired with Ade as major disappointments.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
It’s sad Kiwi, I really liked him and hope this does not destroy his career.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
You missed out on the third type of Manager SP, the successful one who knows team tactics and know how to slowly wean young players into a team with veterans who exhibit leadership qualities. Someone like Sir Alec.
Outside of Arshavin, this team has no natural leadership. Arsene is the leader and we have a pack of Borgs who worship their leader and can follow orders well, but not think for themselves..
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:39 pm
me too
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Spot, Ibrahimovic is simply saying what he sees/thinks. What has ‘credential’s’ got to do with it? The issue is whether you agree with him or not. Of course if folk lack the intellectual capacity to assess things for themselves then they have the convenient option of blind faith or hiding behind Arsene Knows. The real oil is when do people start to think for themselves?
I don’t agree with your simplistic portrayal of managers being either youth or experience oriented. If you took a pole I’d guess that less than 5% of Arsenal supporters give a rats **** that their team has an average age of 21 or whatever. They care only about the quality of the squad and whether it can challenge next season. The relevant lines to segregate managers by is between successful and not successful. Their methodology in achieving success in terms of squad compilation (and age) is wholly irrelevant.
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Superstar Emmanuel Eboue…..
“told Soir Info: “My future at Arsenal is not clear yet, I did not play a lot in the season and the World Cup is coming. There are many clubs interested in me, so let’s wait. Before the season’s start I will make a decision.”
….Double E, let me drive you to the airport.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Arsene in center-back shopping news SHOCK!
Arsene eyes £10m deal for Ajax ace
By ANTONY KASTRINAKIS
Published: Today
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger was last night on the verge of sealing a £10million deal for Ajax star Thomas Vermaelen.
The 21-cap Belgium centre-half, 23, is considered one of the top defenders in the Dutch Eredivisie.
And SunSport understands Gunners chiefs were trying to thrash out a deal with Ajax general manager Rik Van Der Boog.
An Ajax insider said: “It’s true. He’s a very good player and could certainly be a success at Arsenal.”
June 4th, 2009 at 12:17 am
ok. I will buy you a beer for your efforts
by the way, can you also hang out at the airport and try to grab some experienced players? That way, if you drive them to the club, then maybe something might come of it, although I won’t count on it. But then again, I am not sure what players would be arriving at the London airport.
on another note: I am not sure if this link was posted above or not but this outlines all the clubs turnaround and debt:
Liverpool’s figures were not in yet so their debt is only an estimate. Arsenal have the third highest debt and also the third highest wage bill. Arsenal have the second highest turnover and are tops in the % that Wenger has talked about previously — the wage/turnover ratio. Arsenal are doing just better than a certain other North London team in that ratio.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:35 am
The link on BBC has slightly different numbers on Arsenal’s debt from the Guardian link.
But the aspect that Arsenal have the third highest debt and third highest wage bill is the same on both links. The BBC link also contains the wage/turnover ratio for the big 5 European leagues.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:42 am
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2463690/Arsene-eyes-10m-deal-for-Ajax-ace.html
this is very wierd…i really believed tony when he spoke about thomas and the dutch league in general , moreover thomas himself admitted that there had been no contact from arsenal……was the whole tony adams interview a diversionary tactic a hoax ? or is the Sun as usual linking us up with players, so that we read that paper?
onw will never know….this guy wenger is a real fox and a brainy one at that…
June 4th, 2009 at 1:15 am
The BBC has the correct figure Sachin because they are rightly excluding the debt on the Highbury development. That development is in a separate company and any losses there would not be attributed to holding company for Arsenal FC.
The BBC’s version would even further reduce our debt to turnover ratio.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:45 am
The gap in wages between ManU and Arsenal increased from last year – 3.6M to 19.8M. What happened?
Flamini, Hleb, Gilberto and Lehmann earned a lot? Berbatov earns too much?
June 4th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Hilarious how our team has such a huge wage bill for such kids. Just plain hilarious.
One question though.
How on earth do Newcastle have 250 million in debt????????? At least with Arsenal and Liverpool, there are stadium debts. With Man U, that is the debt from the takeover, while for Chelsea it was taken out by Abramovich.
But what exactly have Newcastle doing with that money. They arent building a new stadium or anything. And their wage bill is very, very high too.
They wont be able to service their debt with such reduced revenue.
I have a strong feeling they will do a Leeds and end up in League one or two very, very soon.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:34 am
Yeah I thought so too but I do remember how those Highbury flats were used as an excuse for the lack of transfer activity. I am too lazy to dig up the links but I remember reading things like since there was a delay in all the Highbury flats getting sold, Wenger could not have transfer money or Wenger had to keep things tight because the flats redevelopment might not be completed on time, etc.
Back then, I believed those reasons…now…not so much
June 4th, 2009 at 2:44 am
Newcastle is an example of an incredibly badly run club that make bad decision after bad decision.
They are serially unsuccessful, spend a lot, buy bad, get a bad return on their player investments, go through high-profile managers then sack them and pay then pay out large cessation amounts.
They have much going for them, loyal large and passionate fan-base and a fine stadium. Those are things that money can’t buy per-se. It is the sort of base that a clever manager and a stable visionary board could build on and there should be nothing to stop them over a period of 10 years developing into a powerful club who challenge regularly for a top 4 spot. That is a totally realistic objective. But they’re dumb, they run through ‘local’ owners and local ’star-player’ managers. It’s been a recipe for rubbish.
I feel for their supporters. They deserve much much better.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:50 am
I think a credibility problem has developed. We get told to ‘believe’ things that are blatantly contrary to what we are seeing – so after a while you stop giving Wenger and the club the benefit of the doubt.
They only have themselves to blame. If you keep saying “I want to win”, “this is my best squad ever”, “they are good enough”, “we will challenge this year”, “we don’t need big signings”……..I mean what can you expect. If your assertions don’t stake up with reality then you lose credibility.
June 4th, 2009 at 2:51 am
June 4th, 2009 at 2:54 am
Actually the numbers are not for the 08/09 season but for last season and the 2006/07 season. I am curious to see the 08/09’s season’s wage bill because of the departures you mention.
But what is striking is that in the summer of 2007 after Henry and Freddie left, Arsenal’s overall wage bill jumped by about 11.6 million for the 07/08 season. So where there some contracts renegotiated? Chelsea and Man Utd’s wage bill jumped up by almost 40 and 30 million respectively in that time.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:01 am
that story has been denied by gunnerblog…
June 4th, 2009 at 3:02 am
Yeah I agree, their supporters deserve better. To think that they were close to winning the title in 1996..I kept waiting to see their improvement in the late 90’s but instead they have been on a decline over the years. Will be interesting to see if they will finally try to set things straight or continue to fall further?
June 4th, 2009 at 3:09 am
They need to sort things at both Board and manager level. And for them this means sorting out the ownership as well.
I wouldn’t hold my breath for improvement.
June 4th, 2009 at 5:30 am
what do you guys think of goran pandev?…the guy has got age on his side and only has one year left on his contract…
June 4th, 2009 at 6:08 am
the thomas vermaelen reports are very murky at the moment…..there are a lot of varying contrasting reports at this stage and no one knows which is true….
hleb and viera are reportedly targets for lyon
and the way man city is going (wrt the transfer scenario), i am pretty sure that they alongwith everton will give us a real fight for the fourth position….next year
and perry groves thinks that arsenal, if we can get 2 signings in next season will be the only team to actually challenge manu next season …now that is what i call a “hyperbole”…and i really thought that perry groves is a sensible arsenal fan
June 4th, 2009 at 11:12 am
To unload Rosicky now would be a mistake. Rosicky can be an option at either wing and as attacking mid-fielder. These are weaknesses for our club.
He has returned to training. Our squad has a deficiency for experienced players with the ability to raise the level of play of our youngsters.
He is a proven entity tactically and technically plus any new incoming player would not help us short term & we need a fast start for the 09-10 season.
Not sure that comparing his to Denilson is fair analysis.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:22 am
AV – If Arsenal are fighting for 4th spot next year, all will be spending more time at the pub vs. this site.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:36 am
CK – Yes, you are right, there can be other types. I thought long and hard abt Sir Alex & where he would fall. ……but then I was looking at the investment in their attacking players:
Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov – some big salaries here. Rooney & Ronaldo were Wenger approach acquisitions. ManU have balance and depth.
Tactically, I think Sir Alex gets more credit than he deserves. He understands the demands of the EPL – and his player types are hard working, strong, likely have height, and fast – like the Germans…..yet this type of stereotype player struggles to compete with well organized skillful ball control teams.
My point is that with added experience at CB, DM, and mid-field we would have the balance needed to see our youngsters fair better in all competitions.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Kiwi,
I guess I read the article and interpreted Zlatan’s comments differently. Wenger does buy experienced players, just more selective as the other big clubs.
And to assess Arsenal as Junior club, well it is obvious we are young but we will see this past season as an aberration – soon to be corrected.
You are right – most could give a rats *** abt what is the team’s avg. age. But the same % will say we need some “older” experienced players to balance our youth. Denilson and Walcott maybe only 19 or 20, but some would argue they have volumes of experience and this is misleading……..
As is classifying managers limited to successful and unsuccessful – too subjective. Every club has different levels of expectations, set down by owners and fans.
Anyway, the point that I failed to make clear is we have a talented number of young players (especially Vela, Bendtner, Walcott, Song, and Diaby) that need “experienced support”. At 20 years of age, it is not fair to ask them to perform as a 26 year old – too much pressure; even Cesc’s performance felt the loss of Rosicky, Hleb and Flamini.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Well, it depends on who those two signings are.
If nobody leaves and we sign two, super, super players, one CM and one CB. And Rosicky and Eduardo are fit….we will SURELY compete strongly next season. No doubt.
So technically he is correct. But what are the chances of that happening?
PS: I can assure you that Man City will not give anybody any fight next season. There is ONE way to know a team that is “Newcastling” themselves – teams that buy anybody and everybody – just because they are available.
Villa, Everton and Spurs (with Redknapp they will become more sensible) have a lock on positions 5 to 7.
Fulham probably in the mix there too.
Infact I wont be surprised if Man City do a Newcastle this next season.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Yeah, this site will be a ghost town around February if we have more of the same.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
what do you guys think of goran pandev?…the guy has got age on his side and only has one year left on his contract…
June 4th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Well I don’t think they will go down this year, but I get what you are saying. It seems to me the Sheikh is buying players because he can not because they are any part of a team strategy. Its the old Mets play – we have money we must buy players. How good has it worked for the Mets. I suspect the same way it will work Citeh.
Plus all reports are the Mancurians have met the asking price for Tevez. Which means he will stay there. I mean come on – a good shot at winning another EPL title – Champions League football or what? A chance to fight Villa and Everton for a Europa Cup spot? Come on now.
I am reading some of the sites now and its the same pre-season drivel – this is Tottenham, Citeh, Villa, Everton’s year to break into the top 4. Ever year the same 4 teams are supposed to be the one’s who break into the top 4 and each year they don’t.
When it happens I will shut up – until then – have fun in the Europa Cup.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I’m not sure if it’s worth pandering to Pandev.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Alof of the weaknesses you’ve mentioned Kiwi are in large part due to the ignorance of the fans. They’re the ones obsessed with every incoming managerial/directorial acquisition being a geordie.
Sam Allardyce may have sorted them out if the fans hadn’t of got ideas above their station.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Huh?
I’m saying I would rather have Rosicky be available for half the matches next season than have Denilson available for everyone. Rosicky would give more to the cause, more quality, those 25-30 games than Denilson would in 60.
June 4th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
See above.
Used Denilson because he’s an actual first teamer that I don’t rate. Of course positionally they’re different but I would rather Nasri play centrally and Rosicky to play on the flanks.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
3SL,
I rate Tevez very close to the level of Messi.
The money is only part of the issue at ManU, not being a regular starter is sufficient reason for Tevez to move to another club.
IMO – Tevez is more critical to ManU than either Rooney, or Berbetov & more productive this season than Ronaldo.
You are right about the spurs, villa, evertons fighting for the left overs.
June 4th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Aight, CK, we are on!
June 4th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Tevez is not anywhere near Messi. And he hasnt been anywhere near Ronaldo either. Infact he and Berbatov are a tossup, with Berbatov (who has been a dud) being a more “elegant” player.
Tevez is the Gattuso of strikers. Useful …. but still ….
There is a reason Ferguson doesnt start him. And Fergie aint a masochist like Wenger.
June 4th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
He is on the Martins level. Needless to say I dont rate Martins.
June 4th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
“In fact I wont be surprised if Man City do a Newcastle this next season.”
I’ll take a wager on that one Fred and I will even give you 2-1 odds.
June 4th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
2-1 is too low for a relegation bet ….considering the whackery that just got promoted. And they still have Robinho.
I will however take a 1-2 that they wont enter the top 6.
June 4th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Hleb trying to jump ship at Barca. Apparently hes not happy spending the entire season on the bench (and sometimes not even making the bench).
Oh well, if he stayed we never would have bid for glorious Arshavin.
June 4th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8084328.stm
Raid Valencia for Villa. His style is what’s missing for us. Let the ‘pool take Silva. Maybe we could even get Joaquín and/or Albiol?
June 4th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Too expensive, City and Real Madrid would have to be prime contenders.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
What proof de we have that Adams is drinking?
That is fucking NONSENSE…
I would not mind Tony Adams at the club as an assistant coach at all.
He knows a little something about defending.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I attempted to post an article titled: Summer Transfer Talk – Part 1
So that we don’t have to scroll down 300 postings, but apparently there is nobody at the switch!
I think we should post “transfer threads” after every 100 postings…
or we can scroll down 500 postings!!!
WTF?!
June 4th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
You gotta wonder where professional soccer in England is heading.
The debt levels are a concern given the changed economic outlook. Clubs like Liverpool and ManU appear to have been purchased not with owner wealth but with owners who have the ability to secure enormous amounts of debt. This sdebt has then be saddled on the club. That was fine when everything was swinging along, banks fell over themselves to give credit, and the consumer market was bullish with spending. Then ir changed – and quickly.
Now, banks are tightening credit everywhere, credit is viewed for quality, the cost of borrowing is higher, consumers are turning bearish, and highly leveraged sporting franchises don’t look too flash. Massively wealthy benefactors like Chelsea’s Abramovich are ok – their wealth still gives them huge discretionary ability – to stay interested or not. Abramovich et al can likely still afford extravagant toys. But what about the less wealthy owners? If their real income generating businesses aren’t travelling too well are they able to ride this storm? Or do they need to cut and return their focus on REAL business?
To answer this for any club you need to know the owners portfolio of business interests and we don’t so people can only speculate. But you can be sure that in these times, an egocentric toy like a professional sports club occupied by young men being paid non-sensical sums stops making any business sense whatsoever. And when the unregulated player market is fuelled by owners with the wealth of participants like Abramovich and Man Citys Arab owners you can be sure it is cause for REAL concern.
Part of the problem is the totally unregulated nature of the player market. The other part is the fetish and ability for individual wealthy owners to buy clubs.
In the US and other countries professional sports environments a semblence of sanity is maintained with a salary cap system. England has nothing. Unfortunately without regulation player remuneration will simply keep increasing – given the economic reality of pricing and a limited supply of quality players. Of course players themselves want this to continue as do managers (whose remuneration levels move in keeping with their stars). So don’t expect to hear commonsense from either.
On ownership, the cult of the foreign billionaire fuels the unstable environment. Financial doping is an apt term. Mega funding (for a time) that destabilises the market and skews everything.
Ultimately something will give. Perhaps a series club crisis is needed to bring ‘an adjustment’. Or maybe the football power bodies will act. But I think it will come.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:31 am
it does look like thomas vermaelen will be our first signing of the season…atleast that’s what a lot of reports are indicating at the moment….
it seems that arsenal are playing hard-ball about the transfer money…
this latest one is from setanta:
As negotiations between Ajax and Arsenal continue regarding a potential summer transfer, Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen is reluctant to comment on whether he will move to Emirates Stadium.
Vermaelen, 23, has emerged as a likely summer signing for The Gunners as Arsene Wenger finally looks to recruit the commanding centre back that he first identified as a priority 12 months ago.
Players such as Brede Hangeland and Giorgio Chiellini have been mentioned as potential signings but strong reports in both Belgium and England claim Arsenal are in direct talks with Ajax regarding Vermaelen.
A figure of £10 million has been mentioned but it is believed that some hard negotiating from Arsenal has ensured that talks have failed to come to a swift conclusion.
Vermaelen, with a potentially lucrative move to The Premier League in the offing, is understandably reluctant to speculate on where his future lies.
“Officially I still know nothing,” Vermaelen told De Standaard.
“I leave everything to my agent. Personally I have no voice.”
and very strong rumours about edin dzeko this morning…but lets see what happens with ade first….
June 5th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Arsenal season stats
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/season-review-stats
Denilson, Song and Diaby and 1, 2 and 4 in the number of appearances in midfield !!!
Tackle success rate in central defense – Silvestre (100%), Djourou (92%), Toure (90%), Gallas (67%) !!!!
Tackle success rate in midfield – Song (76%), Cesc and Denilson (64%), Diaby (52%) !!!
Minutes per goal – Arshavin, Ade, Bendtner and RvP in that order !!
June 5th, 2009 at 6:49 am
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8922_5364792,00.html
Udinese defender Cristian Zapata has claimed Arsenal are among the clubs interested in acquiring his services this summer.
The 22-year-old has made 17 league starts for Udinese this season and his performances for the Bianconeri have not gone unnoticed.
“Juventus, Fiorentina, Milan, Arsenal and Villarreal have requested information about me,” said Zapata.
“There are many teams that are keen to sign me but an official offer has not been made so far.
“I think if a good offer arrives then Udinese will have to consider it.
“But the club don’t need to sell me immediately.”
Udinese reportedly turned down a £9.5million bid from Arsenal for Zapata last summer.
The Colombia international joined the Italian outfit in 2005 from home club Deportivo Cali.
He is under contract with Udinese until June 2013.
was tony adams talking about this guy??
June 5th, 2009 at 8:51 am
pretty easy to have 100% tackle rate when you’ve only had 5 TACKLES!
June 5th, 2009 at 10:21 am
I know. The surprising part was Gallas’ 67%.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Sounds like interest in Ade is drying up. What do we do with him?
June 5th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Rumors say he has started a camp for strikers: training emphasis on Law 11
June 5th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Silvestre’s “100%” tackle success rate is completely off considering he failed to tackle 70% of the balls he was supposed to.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Apparently Ronaldo has a clause in a pre-signed contract with Real Madrid, that if they do NOT sign him, he gets 26 Million?!
HUH?
So it will cost Madrid that much if they don’t sign him? If I am United, the price just went up up and away.
While I’d like Arsenal to do their business early, and be set for the Summer and pre-season … it is highly unlike us, and we’ll likely be pulling our hair out while other teams do their business.
And Wenger will say… business takes time, its not done quickly.
(for Arsenal, not for everyone else of course)
June 5th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
We should offload him for 10 million to ANYBODY at all.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Whats up with AA? No new threads, edit feature still not working and volunteer postings not being accepted.
It would be nice for someone on the Board to give a response.
June 5th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
trade him for swine flu. swine flu isn’t offsides as much and doesn’t have such a high weekly salary.
milan need him and should get him. he fits their style of play perfectly. hopefully they’ll sell kaka for an incredible amount of money and then with that they’ll overpay for the dade.
June 6th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Kiwi, all your points are so right.
The entire system needs be overhauled. How can a manager sign players and look to build a cohesive team for any length of time?
“Of course players themselves want this to continue as do managers (whose remuneration levels move in keeping with their stars).” – lets not forget the agents and their influence on the players……and agents motivated by greed.
June 6th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Ditto!
June 6th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Yeah, it was a bright start from the new administration but like most ones, it all peters out pretty quickly and things grind to a halt.
June 6th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Like I mentioned above, I TRIED to post a “transfer talk” thread… they’ve ignored it… asleep at the switch.
So we have to scroll down 330 postings and counting.
RIDICULOUS.
June 7th, 2009 at 9:41 am
hey hey!
It’s summer, we can safely assume that somebody took the family to disney or something. Let’s not be so harsh so quickly to a forum that’s given us so much.
Accidental metaphorical advice?
June 7th, 2009 at 11:39 am
You know what happens when you make an ASS of U and ME, Stephen. Unless it’s a scientific theory one should rather not ASSUME.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Everybody is on a scouting trip maybe? or going around asking for funds so we could buy somebody? Just a thought
June 7th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
No transfer thread: f**k it. I’ll just do my own thing unfettered by a that mere formality.
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hln.be%2Fhln%2Fnl%2F1300%2FEredivisie%2Farticle%2Fdetail%2F876071%2F2009%2F06%2F04%2FArsenal-biedt-11-5-miljoen-euro-voor-Thomas-Vermaelen.dhtml&sl=auto&tl=en&history_state0=
The news this morning boyos. If it is true then this shows is proof that Gazidis is in the house. Early transfers makes an Arsenal team healthy, wealthy and wise. As I predicted, the Gazidis ‘effect’ would cut through all than Wenger last minute transfer b.s. The best part of this news is that Wenger is apparently in China while this is being reported. That says to me that Wenger is now in the “…see if you can get me these players mode” and leave it all in Gazidis’s hands. As it should be.
Any hoo, Vermaelen is 5′11” and suppose to be ‘good’ in the air. How quick is he? How many yellows and reds has he given up in the Eredivisie? How come nobody ever puts together youtube videos showing great defensive play. A CB scoring headers in the Eredivisie does not exactly rock my world. If he turns out to be John Terry circa 2006-7, then maybe we’ve gotten someone that will make us all sit up and say wowzer.
Some media sources keep churning the Christian Zapata rumor but “there’s another mule kickin’ in our stall” (that’s for all you Blues aficionados out there).
Edin Dzeko. I’d like to think that we on this site were talkng him up before the media started their dance. He certainly seems more viable than Ibisevic at this point. The clues that favor us are: he’s made muted statements about his future. His agent sounds cautious about our ‘offer’ although that is an oxymoron. The thing against us is that the player is in contract extension talks. Arsenal could be a ploy. The thing in our favor is that the player has not come out and blatantly shot down a move away
w/ the common statements: “… I remain loyal to, I want to continue may develop at, I pledge my future to, etc., etc., etc., blah, blah, blah”.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Vermalean in, who goes, Toure or Gallas? At 10-12M is he an upgrade to Djourou, Song, Gallas and Toure? Not convinced of the above, and then he would be a relacement and not an addition..
If we get Dzeko, then Ade is a Gooner goner. Then, Dzeko would be a replacement and not an addition.
That leaves CDM. No rumors on that point outside of Mbibe.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/06/07/1311056/sunderland-set-to-bid-for-middlesbrough-winger-stewart
Please tell me when I can stop laughing. Downing joins the list (along w/ David Bentley) of overrated under talented English wide players that seduce teams into spending stupid amounts of money foolishly. “Those who don’t know history are doom to repeat it.” Beckham at 35 is still superior to all these wannabes.
Kaka to Real Madrid just makes me sad. AC Milan has loss its gloss. Pato is not there yet. Ronaldinho is past it and can’t go past the most jr. defenders now. Seedorf is past it but his body hasn’t told him yet. I like Pirlo but he brings up the rear and is not the tip of the spear. To make matters worse AC Milan sold Gourcuff to Bordeaux. On the bright side AC Milan still have Senderos and Flamini and hopefully Adebayor
June 7th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Wenger worries that Man City could break into the top 4. Wenger: wake up and smell the coffee. We been there and done that last year when the sale was announced. Unlike Chelsea, man City still look like a ‘project’ that is still at the single cell stage of evolution. They have some nice pieces but but cannot take their show on the road at this point in time.
I didn’t have a stream up in time to evaluate Walcott in the 1st half but SWP looked like he was wearing his Chelsea shirt because he played like Eboue did when he got booed off the pitch.
June 7th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
335 and counting.
June 7th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
http://www.4thegame.com/
This link is for the Wenger in China interview in the video clip before Wales 1-0 victory clip. His ‘canned’ response to a soft ball question.
June 8th, 2009 at 12:03 am
I really hope that Kolo stays.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
So is this an attempt by the AA leadership to create the longest running online discussion thread?
June 8th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
let’s go for at least 500 posts here….as I Iove to scroll…..
And I love to troll…..
What says everybody to this list of transfer targets just put up on the Guardian?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2009/jun/05/transfer-window-manchester-united?picture=348554280
I say Ade at #10 is waaaaay too high…..As is Bentley at #37……
June 8th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Kaka officially joins Real Madrid according to AC Milan’s website. The amount of money isn’t said but its expected around £58.9m.
Okay AC Milan….fill that void with a tall lanky fella for £25m. surely they’ll overpay with the money they receive from Kaka combined with Wenger’s stubborness to let him go. £17m+ would be sufficient imo.
June 8th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Kaka will help Real Madrid. It is insane money, so who cares if its 40 or 50 or 60 million, it doesn’t matter… in footballing terms, if Real Madrid wants a fighting chance to overtake Barca, then Kaka is the type of signing they need, along with a few others. Great player who is not on his down side.
AC Milan. Well, they need to completely overhaul their team with younger players, they are too old at too many positions. So they can use the massive amount they received, to improve the team in many areas with incoming acquisitions. (or at least try to)
Let’s HOPE that Adebayor goes to AC Milan… now that they have cash to spend…
—-
As far as this site… RIDICULOUS.
Negligence. The first post is on this thread is MAY 27th.
Its fucking JUNE 8th…
and we have 340 plus posts….
PLEASE. DO SOMETHING.
June 8th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Come on guys. It’s a young board. They are still gaining experience. You must have belief! We are not miles away from the United board. Do not believe your lying eyes. In a few years (etc)….
June 8th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Kaka’s transfer fee is the highest-ever in terms of Pounds, but “only” second in terms of Euros:
Zidane…..€73m……….£45.6m
Kaka……..€65m………£56.0m
June 8th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
348 and counting
June 9th, 2009 at 12:08 am
Don’t quote me on this… but I think Kaka’s contract (based on the exchange rate on the Euro from 2001 vs it’s value in 2009) is worth more than Zizou’s in both currencies.
In 2001, the Euro was worth less than a dollar (about 83 cents) while a dollar was worth about 60 cents on the pound.
June 9th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Kaka’s deal equates to $92 mil USD.
June 9th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Which, these days, equals $10 USD.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
352 and counting.
The following is not ’sour grapes’:
It would appear that beyond an ‘inquiry’, Arsenal were not serious about Dzeko and thus relieving ourselves of Adebayor. Sigh. Dzeko apparently also likes ‘Beyonce’ and is going to let AC Milan “upgrade” his salary after a serious money move. One pundit thought the Kaka move would be the domino for this summer’s transfer binge. Little did he realize that it was probably the Ancelotti move that will start the flood.
Ancelotti to Chelsea
Kaka then goes to Real Madrid.
Dzeko to 99% to AC Milan.
Pato now has to ‘talk’ to Ancelotti and AC Milan about his future.
If I’m Dzeko, I’d have listen to Arsenal before going w/ the lure of my boyhood team. Pato 14 goals were mostly created by his own creativeness. Dzeko is not that type of CF. With Kaka gone and Gourcuff sold, Dzeko will have no one to get him the ball in scoring situations. Ronaldinho sells t-shirts. Seedorf is on the backside of his career, Beckham yo-yo’s back to Hollywood, Pirlo brings up the rear and that leaves Gattuso and Flamini
Seriously, Dzeko has to realize that AC Milan is where good CFs go to do die, just ask Gilardino and Borriello I (Borriello II spent the season injured).
I would love Pato at Arsenal because he will not stay at AC Milan if Dzeko comes in nor should he. Will he be CF 1a, 2, 2a, 3 behind the stalwart Inzaghi who carried AC Milan down the stretch and the prodigal son Borriello? Reminds me of Podolski’s ‘dream’ move to Bayern which got usurped by Luca Toni. Now Podolski returns to Koln and Toni is 2 yrs older, not scoring and expendable now that ‘Super’ Mario has jumped out of the phone booth.
Cheer up, we still have Adebayor and all things considered, that might not be such a bad thing in the end
The demise of Setanta is almost at hand. It appears that Setanta had the ‘emperor in new clothes’ financial model. Arsenal really need to do well next season so that we don’t wind up watching Sunderland-Bolton or Villa- West Ham on Sky in Oct.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Which, when you consider entire stadiums built these days average around 300 million (depending of course on where it’s built), that is an insane amount of money.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
“but I think Kaka’s contract (based on the exchange rate on the Euro from 2001 vs it’s value in 2009) is worth more than Zizou’s in both currencies.”
June 9th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Baseball has no salary cap, but for some reason there are always team that are built sensibly and have good years (Marlins, Rays, etc.). It isn’t always the Yankees and Red Sox that are successful.
June 9th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Vermeulen has grown this week. He is now being listed as 6′1″.
June 9th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Well my source was the BBC, and no offense to anyone here, but they’re a little more reliable for that kind of thing.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:01 am
La Liga passing the English Premier League as the world’s premier league? Barca claim the crown from ManU and Real are now gathering the world’s best players from every other top league. If Ronaldo transfers to Real surely that will signify La Liga’s position as the world’s best league.
June 10th, 2009 at 2:04 am
The admin is literally killing the website. Maybe we have been arguing too much.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Early signs are promising that Mr. Gazidis is having a positive impact for addressing positional shortcomings and roster depth.
The league is physically brutal. The reality of playing 61 matches, it is UNREALISTIC to expect your best 11 to survive this grinding ordeal.
Our current Arsenal roster will NOT allow us to be competitive with key clubs “over the full season”. Defense and midfield are in need of a transfusion of a few experienced players. Fix these and the effectiveness of our offense will be raised a higher notch.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:15 am
Lining up with Gibbs, Silvestre, Djourou, and Eboue is a stark reminder for Arsenal’s lack of depth. Even replacing any two within this group with more experienced players, Arsenal will be exploited by tactically stronger teams.
Gibbs and Djourou hold promise. Gallas and Toure may not make the best of CB partnering, but both can be effective for depth OR partner with new blood.
As for goalkeeping – Arsenal are using one of those 50 mile spare tires, while the engine ‘hot’ light is on, the priority is to correct the engine emergency, then take issue with the wheel.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:17 am
IMO, a midfield solution has more drama. You have two talented players in Cesc and Theo that play marginal defense. This is compounding the defensive deficiencies and offensive expectations. We started this past season out of sync. It wasn’t until both were almost simultaneously injured that our play settled in.
To have both Cesc and Theo in the line up, other players must be purchased that will compensate for their defensive shortcomings. Theo has been a work in progress, whose play is best described as “unpredictable”.
Ramsey and Wilshere need more productive playing time, but when and where? Is Arshavin out of position on the left wing? Is selling Ade an option for bolstering our midfield options? Will Eduardo and Rosicky be an influence on our starting line ups next fall? Will Vela spend another season as a UFO sighting?
The next 60 days is the window for our future, Wenger’s reaction to this season’s performance. We will be witnessing a snapshot of this relationship of Wenger and “Gazi”
June 10th, 2009 at 8:28 am
So they’re doing this to bring us all together? Against them? I guess the off-season is always a teaching opportunity.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:34 am
So goal.com is saying that we are going to be bidding on Sabastien Bassong from Newcastle.
I’m not too familiar with him. Anyone know of him and whether or not he would be a good addition to our back four.
Also – what in god’s name are the admins doing here. It takes an hour just to get to the bottom of the page.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Since I can’t edit – there is also an interesting story on Goal.com that in 1986 Fergie was originally offered the Arsenal job but since he was too focused on the Scottish World Cup team wouldn’t commit to giving them a quick answer until he was back.
Imagine what Arsenal could’ve turned into had Fergie been our Gaffer.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Muffin, they can’t be considered the World’s best league, until they start
putting 3 of the final 4 finalists in the CL… like the EPL has done twice running.
Sorry. They can buy whomever they wish, but the English Prem. is superior.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
What Fergie could have done can’t be answered…
he would not have had the MONEY that United give him to spend on players, and Wenger’s record is extremely impressive.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I should have listened to Ryecatcher when he said “don’t quote me on this”. Just leads to problems…..
June 10th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
We can’t all be as placid as you Fred.
June 10th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
THE SITE:
OK. So its beyond ridiculous that we can’t get a new thread, and that
we have scroll down 400 postings…
In the “about Arsenal America” section… there are these two
email addresses.
Maybe we should all send emails to both and ask them to FIX THE SITE,
POST A NEW THREAD, or AT LEAST LOOK AT THE SITE OCCASIONALLY!
I would imagine that 20 or 30 emails in the inbox with the headline:
FIX THE ArseAm site!!! might wake someone up to what is going on, or not
going on!
For general inquiries, contact David at president@arsenalamerica.com
For website matters, contact Mike at mikek@arsenalamerica.com
June 10th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
That’s spelled f-l-a-c-c-i-d.
(Sorry. It was just, umm, lying there. And we are trying to get to 500.)
June 10th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
i think so. stag and fred will be holding hands soon
June 10th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
exactly. fergie has accomplished what he has largely due to the vast resources at his disposal……..
i think the better question would be…..what could wenger accomplish with those funds?
he might end up regretting turning down the offer from Real. what a dream team that would be. all those amazing players they’re getting coached by wenger………..
June 10th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
amazing players there*** getting coached by wenger
i couldnt live with “they’re”
June 10th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
There’s a bit of an echo developing down here.
Maybe we should let off a few flares and someone might realise where we are.
June 10th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
“FIX THE ArseAm”
They might think it’s some gay porn spam.
June 10th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Ah, yes. Thanks for the correction
June 10th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
agree about the scrolling inconvenience but its not like we have to revert to dial up…..
June 10th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
This could be the start of an internet based reality show: the unending blog and those who contribute to the ’stream of conscientiousness’ musings of Arsenal fans.
June 10th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I emailed.
They are re-doing the site… and Arsenal America will be moving
away from AFC News and Opinion… to “Arsenal America Content”.
No idea what that means… but that’s what I was told.
Carry On. Good Luck. Pip Pip and Cheerio.
June 10th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Okay, that explains it. I was starting to think Tolstoy would have struggled to have got War and Peace published if these guys were around in his day.
June 10th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
That sounds bad. For starters, really great of them to keep us in the loop.
Aren’t most of us here for opinion? We can get the news anywhere, and the company line from the official site. If this goes South, I’d be up for a Facebook group or something like that, where we can gather without this BS.
June 10th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Which basically means we will no longer be able to rant and rave about the Arsenal – they will do all the writing.
June 10th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Bad manners not to keep us informed of what is going on. I feel like a stepchild.
Thank god for 7amkickoff.wordpress.com, hosted by timmy the tooth. I’ve been getting my fix there now for sometime.
June 10th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
It doesn’t matter what the topics are. We can go off a tangent regardless – something we always did anway.
Obviously it would be good if there wasn’t lulls like the one we’ve just had.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
@ Mazza I guess it depends on how one reads what they told stagg. It reads to me like the content here will be pre-packaged and not inviting our opinions. Hope I’m wrong.
@ck, thanks for the tip. Have to check that address out.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Ok, just a thought:
Maybe, some official Arsenal folk across the pond was checking up on the ArseAm which is officially the Arsenal America forum …. and came across all the bile and anti-Wenger rhetoric … and so read the ArseAm board the riot act – or else they pull the plug on their “official” status!
If that was the case, I will actually be pleased …. it means “important” people do read our comments! I also notice that a lot of things people say on here get COPIED and appear on the blogosphere within 1 or 2 days (as someone here as mentioned before, Caribkid or Vibe? cant remember). I remember talking about Lorik Cana one day and the next day I saw 2 or 3 blogs talking about him – which was a bit suspicious.
Our constant heated arguing and bickering probably draws enough clicks and most likely makes the forum number one outside England anyway.
I guess I should finetune my commentary and avoid the “wenger is a c%cktease” level. LOOOL!
June 10th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Yeah, all we will need to do immediately after every post is … write a comment saying “A little off topic …” then start firing off as usual. LOL.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
This is strange, whatever way you want to look at it.
According to the Alex Fynn book AFC have become increasingly paranoid and controlling. I sensed a little while ago, there was a move to change the tone of the forum. That’s futile. The forum is the barometer to how fans feel. It is what it is. If you don’t like what the fans think and write look at the ‘product’. The customer is always right.
I think AA is probably the most insightful forum I’ve seen. Contributors actually put forward ideas, and argue them. Most sites are for the benefit of a few ‘article authors’ and only allow the masses a small space to comment. As a result the site attracts contributors of limited capacity who are happy to limit their football worldview to about 20 words laced with vulgarity and abuse.
If AA goes that way – it will become irrelevant and probably die – and rightly so.
CK I’ll check out that sight too.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
There’s probably a contract out there on you as we speak Fred.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I know! I can imagine folks like Denilson being utterly pissed off at me after stumbling on this site after googling himself!
But then again am quite sure Adebayor will have some shady guys after you too.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Very true.
It’s not as if we’re a bunch of manic depressives. We’re just telling it as it is or at least our interpretation of it. If we start off next season well and Wenger signs two/three major players over the summer then the site will reflect that. If he doesn’t and we feel that things haven’t improved much, then again the content of the site will reflect that as well.
We also have to remember that Wenger has been here for thirteen years and that’s pretty unique in the modern game. So when we’re commenting we’ve got alot to work with, being able to use the past and knowledge of Wenger’s character to add opinion which is probably more opinionated than your average football forum.
That’s what probably makes the forum so interesting and multi-dimensional. So much opinion of the present is derived from what we know of Wenger and how he works. It would be impossible for a Chelsea forum or Barca forum to replicate that depth because the fans don’t know the managers as well.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I think you’re probably right on about this. Which might explain why nobody bothers to let us know. Nice that they’re letting us eat cake.
I think you guys are safe. Judging by how hard he is, Denilson’s hit man will probably be a Care Bear. While Ade’s won’t be bothered to get up off the couch.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Couldn’t agree more. I’d rather read what you, CK, Kiwi, Fred, Stagg et al (that’s off the top of my head) have to say than any Arsenal ‘beat’ writer. Even if there’s broad agreement among the realists, we’re hardly all singing off the same sheet. There’s a tremendous diversity of opinion and ideas here.
And, yeah, it gets combustible sometimes. And we’re not afraid to criticize the side. But if the boys at the home office are paying attention, what the mainstream press is saying about AFC NOW, was being said on here A YEAR AGO. So our crime is knowing the club? And saying so?
My guess is they want a happy, clappy board (or ‘optimistic’, if some prefer).
As you suggest, Maz. It’s a chicken(shit)/egg situation. Our view doesn’t determine the team’s performance. We merely reflect it. Not everyone likes looking in the mirror. But destroying that mirror won’t change the appearance of things.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
or a Madrid forum for that matter where a manager can change in the blink of an eye
Vicente del Bosque was their last longest serving manager getting about 4 years in one go and also the last to lead them to the CL trophy. Since he went, it has been a revolving door…And one has to go way back for Madrid’s longest serving manager in Miguel Muñoz (1960-74). I really wonder if in the future a Madrid manager would ever clock 5 straight years? Not with the current presidential cycle of promises and big name signings..
June 10th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I too checked out 7amkickoff. And if they do away with the version of ArseAm that we all know and love (which may not be the case- we have no idea) then we should all start a mass migration over there and continue our bickering as if nothing ever happened. In all seriousness though, you guys on this site are my best Arsenal friends. No one that I actually know or care about in person knows a thing about Arsenal, so this is the only place I can have a meaningful conversation about the club I love. I’m sure there’s lots of people on here that feel the same way.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
You may be onto something
..a few months ago, I remember reading a person who left a comment on arseblog saying that he had found a lot of negative comments on AA. The person went onto add that he lived in the UK but read AA every now and then..hmmm..maybe he came across a certain person’s comments about an arsenal player being the illegitimate son of a certain manager whose name will not be taken in case a certain webrobot is filtering this website for incorrect comments.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
One of the major aspects of this site which made it different to others, was the contributions by many folks with differing opinions. Yes, we have all cussed easch other without remorse but that’s what made it AA.
I’ll wait to see the final result before passing judgment, but if restrictions are placed I’ll either start a forum or partner with someone else to do so. How else am I going to get my Arsenal fix without Fred, Mazza and Stagg
June 10th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
well I had posted this comment on the top thread (about the Charity game) but will repost it here since this thread is still the happening thread…
off-topic [I think this thread went off-topic on May 27th after comment #2]:
The past Bundesliga season was certainly entertaining and Honigstein’s hilarious entry is fun to read too.
One of my fav comment is regarding good old Lehmann:
The Toni Schumacher Award for taking out opponents: Jens Lehmann. When Hoffenheim midfielder Sejad Salihovic lost his right shoe after a foul just outside the box, the Stuttgart goalkeeper dashed out to pick up the boot and threw it over his shoulder. It landed on top of the goal-net, from where Salihovic had to retrieve it. “I’ve always respected Lehmann but that was unsporting conduct and should have been a yellow card,” said Ralf Rangnick.
When he was at Arsenal, Lehmann made me nervous at times as I was not sure when he would explode but there is certainly no one like him. The only Arsenal player who could easily shove a Man Utd player into the boards at Old Trafford without breaking a sweat!
June 10th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
This is…. the 400th POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 10th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
you beat me..I thought I had #400… not sure what you win though
although I can take comfort in the fact that my few recent posts pushed the number high enough that you could tap in #400..
June 10th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
I’ve been saying this for awhile. Some of my comments and particular phrases were turning up on other blogs without credit being given.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Hey now, it doesn’t have to be a contest… I’m sure with our collected efforts we could push the envelope all the way to 500. We’re already 80% of the way there!
June 10th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Absolutely CG, I would really miss all you guys. However, where there is a will there is a way.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
1 more for the road, 4??
June 10th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Mazza, raises a highly valid point – well done
Arsene has been in tenure for 13 years. For those of us that have followed the club thru his AFC career we have a lot to go on. We know his MO, how he operates, the type of guy he tends to buy, which positions he’ll spend on, strategic philosophy, coaching style, etc. With that evidential background we’re in a unique position to argue the toss. The real issue is that some folk just want AFC to be a positive distraction – and hey, nothing wrong with that. If you want to ignore the signs – no mater what – and think happy thoughts – cool. Just don’t mistake that for analysis.
June 10th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I agree CG, where else can we engage in such great informed banter about our club?
June 10th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Yeah, this raises something I’ve though about before. I know about as much as anyone on here when it comes to Arsenal since the Invincibles. 2001 is when I first got interested in the club (around the age of 12) but I didn’t follow it seriously at all, so I have a rough knowledge of things from 2001-2003. Wenger’s reign prior to that I never experienced first hand. Like any fan, I know the big things in Arsenal’s history (the club’s founding, move to north London, start of the Derby, Herbert Chapman, the ’50s, the ‘71 double, Anfield ‘89, Graham, and Wenger being the biggest things).
But that’s not the same as following a club day in-day out throughout several consecutive season like I do now. Anyways, to get to the point, it seems like the Wenger from the late ’90s is a very different man(ager) from the one I have known in the post-Invincible years. For those that have been around Arsenal for much longer than me (and much longer than Wenger in several cases), how much has he really changed, if at all? Are the things Kiwi mentioned (“his MO, how he operates, the type of guy he tends to buy, which positions he’ll spend on, strategic philosophy, coaching style, etc.”) very different from what they used to be, or has he always done things the way he does them now, with the real difference in the final result coming from the fact he has had more time to completely implement his full vision?
June 10th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I have not followed Arsenal since Arsene’s tenure and therefore, like CG I was not privy to the day to day dealings. However, I have made it a point to research not only Arsene’s, but Arsenal’s history and see a definite change in MO in the past few years.
Would love some of the vets to comment on that.
4??
June 10th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Informed Kiwi? Now, that pushing the envelope
June 10th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
What the hell is going on here? Four hundred posts! Are you fucking kidding me? What did you guys do?
Sorry, but I can’t possibly go back and read all you guys have written so I’ll just start with the last post. The biggest difference between Wenger then and now is he seems determined to build a team exclusively of academy graduates. He want’s to prove that you can build a championship team from within by promoting academy graduates rather than spending big money on transfers.
This is indeed a revolutionary approach for a team that expect to be challenging for honors. This is a day and time in football when it’s considered acceptable management to strengthen your team by simply buying better players. Wenger is completely going against the grain. I won’t go so far as to say that it can’t be done but it will take patience and will not be easy. If anyone can do it, it’s Wenger and Arsenal. We’ll let time tell the tale.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
To fill you in, they’re changing the site.
Not just the format, like previous changes, but apparently the entire outlook of the site. There are fears that a mysterious figure sitting at some desk hidden away somewhere within the depths of Ashburton Grove has decided that the behavior and rhetoric of the fans on a board which is officially connected to the club do not have the positive image that the club’s higher-ups wish to project, and that major, wholesale changes which will take away the posters’ freedom of speech are on the way. Only time will tell how much of that scenario actually plays out.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Two points here though Joshuad,
1) He did not necessarily spend exorbitant amounts on players previously, but rather found hidden gems for little funds and turned them into superstars.
2) The shape of the youth/reserve/emerging teams seems to differ vastly to what he shaped before. Gone are the tall, big, fierce, competitive back line and MF’s. Instead, we have small, mobile players, most lacking in pace and while being technically polished lack a sense of being combative. Gone are the forwards in the shape of Henry and Anelka with devastating speed and one on one creativity.
Our current team more resembles the “Borg Collective” with Wenger being #1.
June 11th, 2009 at 2:06 am
There is a very great probability that Gazidis or even Kroenke himself have checked out our site – considering the “official” status and the new and stronger American focus of the club.
The more I think about it the more tickled I am.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Carrib, what you’re saying isn’t exactly true. Think, in years past, whenever a big player left, Wenger would bring in another player to replace him. When Merson left, we signed Anelka. When Anelka left, we signed Henry. When Overmars left, we signed Pires. When Petit left, we signed van Bronckhorst. When Suker left, we signed Wiltord. When Adams was left, we signed Cygan. When Seaman left, we signed Lehmann. I’m sure that there are quite a few etceteras as well but that’s off the top of my head. While all of these players didn’t work out as Wenger might have hoped, he almost always looked outside for new players. Not anymore.
Who did we sign when Vieira left? What about Parlour, Edu, Cole, Lehmann, Keown, Bergkamp, Reyes, Henry, Pires, Flamini, Hleb, etc.? If we did sign someone new, were they actually expected to come in and make a difference right away? Those players all left in the past few years and Arsenal have promoted to replace all of those players from within. This policy is yet to produce silverware but the clock is still ticking. We’ll see what the future holds.
June 11th, 2009 at 7:17 am
My history following Arsenal is relatively limited. Following this sight has been refreshing and informative. Just as Josh posts above with his examples of how Arsene has dealt with key players being replaced, this type of commentary adds to the credibility for the sight.
The sight’s title is not pertinent. The content, the contributor’s knowledge is the value.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Cygan replaced Adams??!! Really?????
June 11th, 2009 at 9:48 am
And in the day’s least surprising news, Ronaldo to Real official…
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/index?cc=5901
June 11th, 2009 at 10:03 am
The Gunners are preparing a £4m bid for Feyenoord’s 16-year-old Dutch striker Luc Castaignos.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2475441/Arsenal-take-Luc-at-wonderkid.html
ARSENAL are leading the charge for Feyenoord wonderkid Luc Castaignos.
The Gunners are preparing a £4million swoop for the 16-year-old Dutch striker.
His agent Arie Treffers said: “Luc will only sign for Arsenal if the club is prepared to let him stay at Feyenoord on loan.”
Arsenal will let midfielder Amaury Bischoff join Paris St Germain for free.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Wouldn’t surprise me if someone @grove was trying to censor this site.
Having come from Ireland (which is similar politically to the UK) censoring is SOP. Somebody has signed contracts to get ‘official’ status that takes all final control away from the site owners, I would guess.
The blogosphere was not meant for such influence, and this won’t work. I will abandon ship with the changes if they are as rumored.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I was not disagreeing on the point that he has moved to internal replacement. In fact, I am agreeing, thus, that is what I perceive to be the change in MO.
But apart from that, he is changing the physical structure of the team.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:22 am
This is exactly what mystifies me when Arsenalites speak about Wenger’s financial prudence and him not spending money on new acquisitions.
We are spending a ton on 15-16 year old players who may or may not ever make it into the team, Ramsey, Vela, Coquelin, Edge, Angha, Walcott, Botellho, but very little on proven players who could help us now. Also, won’t these acquisitions help stifle the existing Academy and Youth players?
Where is the balance and how can this be called financially prudent?
June 11th, 2009 at 10:24 am
We could have had a world class GK for less than 3M last season. I also forgot to mention Nordveit.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Ahoy Captain,
And I’m sure most of your faithful crew will be willing to walk the plank with you
June 11th, 2009 at 11:26 am
It doesn’t add up. Nor does it bode well.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I didn’t say that Cygan replaced Adams. I said that Cygan was signed to replace Adams. I also said that some of Wenger’s signings didn’t work out.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
The fact that, even now, nobody official has bothered to address any of this suggests our worst fears are closer to true. As long as we can keep our group together, I could care less what banner we meet under.
Someplace with an edit feature would be nice.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
where is Real Madrid getting all this money? 58M on Kaka and 80M on Ronaldo and they’re nowhere near finished apparently. Its making new president Perez actually look like he knows what hes doing. But who can’t bring in these players wiith that amount of money to shell out?
I want both Real and ManCity to fail miserabley next season to show that money can’t but championships. Unfortunately, this may not prove to be the case with Real’s stellar lineup….
June 11th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I know they’re losing Ronaldo, but what can /will ManU do with all that money?
June 11th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I’m here until they unplug the server
So no more Ronaldo to kick around. Sigh. He will not run rampant in La Liga despite the increase referee protection. Unlike Messi, Ronaldo cannot beat more than one defender at a time :0
Real Madrid will be an ‘interesting’ (that word again) project to watch, sorta of like the ‘Bride of Frankenstein’. If they bring in a defender or 2 then you’ll know they will be a serious club and not an all-star team.
The big question for me now is does Tevez stay or go to Real Madrid lite (Man City). How much will Ferguson get his hands on and how much goes to pay down the debt? If I’m a Man U fan I’m very unhappy with Ferguson’s lack of credibility/transparency over Ronaldo’s move.
We definitely need to strengthen our defense now to take advantage of a ‘weakened’ Man U next season.
How refreshing: a Youtube video on an Arsenal prospect that doesn’t contain goals galore but misses. Hey Feyenoord get a clue. If we bid for a kid he’s coming to us and not staying on loan to ‘learn’ how to continue to miss. We do know a thing about player development and you can ask RVP.
June 11th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Real Madrid is highly subsidized by both the City and Provincial Government, and get fantastic tax concessions for both the club and players.
They are also a membership club with many rich patrons who bear gifts of mucho Pesos.
June 11th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Don’t worry, they will find a way to spend it. Wish I had choices like that.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
(Ahem) Off-topic..whatever that currently is…
You guys following this Sentanta business? Might not be bad for us US Gooners if ESPN got the contract. Sentanta’s SD feed is terrible looking, whereas ESPN2 has an HD channel.
I couldn’t say for sure what ESPN 2 currently shows on Saturday and Sunday mornings, but I’m guessing it’s Fishing, Poker or some combination of the two.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/09/setanta-board-crisis-talks
June 11th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
That would be fantastic if ESPN got the EPL…
they already show some highlights of bigger matches or great goals.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
And Prem and La Liga scores are turning up pretty regularly in the scroll for the first time that I recall.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
And back on-topic….
http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/06/11/1319529/dutch-federation-director-questions-arsenals-football-schools-in-
June 11th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Kaka or Ribery would be suitable replacements but of course one is already at Real and the latter will soon be joining him.
We can be sure of one thing, they won’t be spending it on an unproven 16 year old like Arsenal would
June 11th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
that would be one of the best days of my life. football is finally catching on in america (not including the MLS). hopefully I’ll be watching 10am matches on TV instead of a shitty illegal stream
June 11th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
hmmm lets not build the football school and instead pick up some high quality experience like mr. arshavin.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Right? This is infuriating. There’s clearly money to spend. NOT spending it on guys who have actually performed at the top level is a CHOICE that is making increasingly less sense.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
ESPN have the worst announcers in the world. Tommy Smith is an A$$h$$e and they have no one to offer a partly educated summation.
They need to get Ray Hudson from GOL, his brogue is terrible, his mispronunciation ever present, but he is exciting and insightful.
June 11th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Naw, lets just spend 4M on an unproven 16 year old who we will give back on loan for a year or two then hope it makes it 5 years later.
Why would we want to spend 10M on someone who could help us immediately, it’s not financially prudent. Prudence is spending 10M on Walcott 3 years ago and giving him big bucks and annual salary increases in exchange for him playing a part time role on the senior squad.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
That would be AWESOME if ESPN showed EPL and La Liga matches on the weekends!! Not sure what they would do in the fall, though, seeing as they already show a SHITLOAD of college football games all day long on both ESPN 1 and 2. And then they show NBA and college basketball all day throughout the rest of the year. And college basketball and football aren’t like the pros where all the games are in primetime. There’s games starting at 10 AM CT every weekend, which is when the best European football matches would also be on. I guess they wouldn’t be bidding if they didn’t think they could do it though.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Lot of this stuff would be shown on ESPN Classic and would also air on ESPN360.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
ESPN says it will not step in for Setanta (nor should they). Setanta’s games will be available for rebidding once Setanta folds.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_5375468,00.html
Another transfer window opens and Gervinho is once again ‘pimping’ himself to the the league w/ the money.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:35 am
447
June 12th, 2009 at 1:52 am
I wouldn’t care who announced the match if it were on ESPN, in Hi-Def…
That would be fantastic.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:58 am
I’m not sure I want ESPN winning Setanta’s rights.
ESPN is seeded in American culture sports marketing: World sports (ha ha ) like US Football, Basketball, Baseball have priority for real time viewing: paid for by endless commercials. (Try and sit through the last 2 minutes of a football and basketball game. Whatever game flow existed to this point, it comes to a grinding halt: purposely to allow networks to slot in added commercials. Baseball has no flow of action.)
Anyway, when it comes to key competitions for our beloved soccer and key competitions for the homegrown “world” sports, the US market audience (a majority of good old boys) ratings will push soccer events to delayed broadcasts and most of us will find ourselves still searching online for a reliable stream of real time.
We need to see fox soccer or GOL tv add a second channel and support these specialty networks dedicated to SOCCER.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:05 am
With the summer transfer process gaining traction, more light is being shed for the details about club debt: Real, ManU, Liverpool, Valencia, etc.
Marquis players (& their agents) will soon want to see the clubs financials b4 signing any deals. If Arsenal can stay in the black, it will be another advantage to lure targeted players.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Not quite true SO,
I have been to Asia on a few occasions and surprised by the fare offered there on ESPN. I was able to watch a plethora of Football, Cricket and Rugby. It’s seems they merely respond to what provides the best ratings for them in a region.
If the demand for Football continues to grow in the US they will get behind it.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:33 am
CK – agree with your observation for ESPN’s programming in outside markets as I too travel abroad and experience a different ESPN AND your are right about regional culture influencing the programming.
“If the demand for Football continues to grow in the US they will get behind it.”
the $64 question is when will we reach this tipping point? for ESPN, not soon enough for the readers of this sight.
I don’t see ESPN’s USA marketing plans changing until immigrant population (hispanic, asian, european) becomes a sizable percentage and even then the good old boys will protect traditional sports.
This is why I encourage broadcast diversity. Specialty marketing / broadcasting is defining every media. Sirius/XM for satellite radio; cable tv (espn – golf channel- shopping channels; mtv; specialty movie channels)
In the USA, I only see soccer as a step child on ESPN. For the companies with vision to invest early in soccer programming – lets hope they can survive financially and grow match options.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:01 am
They’re patrons are Mexican? Interesting.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Given the age of most of the players we seem to be interested in, I think candy and video games will be a sufficient draw.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I’d hardly be surpised if they splashed it down for another big name, but with the Glazer financial situation, it would seem smarter to use the money elsewhere and let Nani play for a while. It’s United… yeah losing Ronaldo will hurt a bit, but they’re still United.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Smart move for ESPN, and all around good for football (er… soccer) on this side of the pond. For those that remember the early 90’s and what ESPN did to boost the NHL, it seems such a deal would bode well.
Agree with Carib though… they’d need to recruit some real announcers/color guys, but as long as Tommy Smyth is kept to a minimum, I could live with it.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Spot, we don’t buy the players that the other big teams do!
We don’t spend the money we make on players!!
So it is no advantage at all to be in the black.
United have 80 Million from the Ronaldo to Madrid deal… and I just read that Ferguson OK’d it… ONLY if he could spend ALL the 80 Million and 20 more on players to replace him.
We’d take the 80 Million and spend 7 Million on a 17 year old…
that, is the difference.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:18 am
I’ve been saying that for a while… much to the naysaying of a few individuals that aren’t using foresight (or historical precedence of clubs like Forest and the (once) mighty Leeds, who have been marching on together in the lower tiers for going on 6 seasons now…
But I’ll say an amen to what you’re preaching, Spot.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:34 am
“Someplace with an edit feature would be nice.”
lol.
such a simple feature, but you miss it when it’s gone!
June 12th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Chelski already proved that money CAN buy championships.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:36 am
They’ll spend half and save half. And by save I mean put some money against their debts to please the creditors.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:37 am
If there’s one single thing missing in Arsenal training, it’s how to take the shot and finish.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Money certainly helps, but don’t discount Mourinho’s role. They’ve not been the same since he left.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:49 am
ROFL! Tommy Smyth is from Co. Louth in Ireland like myself. He’s such an embarrassment! If I hear “The auld onion bag” once more I’ll throw the TV out the window. He’s an old schooler who got onto ESPN when soccer was smaller. They should get at least a class B ex-Prem player who lives in the states to do commentary. I hate listening to Smyth when he rhymes on and on about United – he’s completely in the tank for them. The other guy Derek Rae is a great commentator and has a great voice for it. In fact there’s numerous times each match that he corrects Tommy who talks complete rubbish. You can tell he gets frustrated with him.
Didn’t Andy Gray do Euro 2008 for ESPN? He could do the Prem with Rae doing play by play.
The amount of ‘Lucky Charms’ style phrases that come out of Tommy’s mouth drive me mental. Tommy Smyth is the Irish “Uncle Tom” – pun intended.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Is this the end for Tommy Smyth?
GREAT article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/apr/15/tommy-smyth-us-soccer-espn
June 12th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Spot — have you ever thought about the relative numbers of soccer players in the US vs. the followers of the game professionally? It’s not as though the sport isn’t big here… just the viewership/following as a pro sport.
But why is that?
True it will have a hard time cracking the ‘Big 4′, but the MLS is most certainly NOT the answer. With ESPN’s muscle, putting the EPL, Serie A and La Liga on more US televisions, it will grow.
A show of hands: how many think that the Eastern Europeans and Turks initially got so into basketball? Watching their domestic leagues, or watching the NBA? The NBA is the pinnacle.
Watching MLS, while locally more sentimental, is still like watching a minor league baseball game to anyone who’s use to MLB. So how is it that casually interested American soccer audiences (i.e. a potential boom market given the right circumstances) is going to catch the bug if they aren’t watching the best product available?
Case in point for anyone who thinks it won’t ever catch on here (although they’ve been predicting soccer to take off — as far back as I can remember anyway — since the 70’s)… look to the World Cup. It actually does register for your average sports fan here every 4 years. A lot more American kids today will turn on Portugal vs. England today and know Rooney and Ronaldo then would kids during Spain in ‘82 know Paolo Rossi and anyone from the West German side….
The game is growing. Slowly, but it is growing. ESPN helped boost the NHL after it had lapsed (for much of the non-NHL cities in America) into relative obscurity after NBC dropped it when I was just a kid. And they aren’t dummies in Bristol. They won’t take it up if they aren’t intending to market the hell out of it. Guys like Kroenke, Glazer, Lerner and the Scouser’s ownership partners would almost be guaranteed to support it.
Think Field of Dreams. If you build it… they will come.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
On another note… anyone else find Blatter’s position on non-English mega-teams bringing in foreign players to seem just a bit biased?
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news;_ylt=AkcinzyY9v6_Ru3AfFbzy3gmw7YF?slug=ap-blatter-ronaldo&prov=ap&type=lgns
If the shoe had been on the other foot, he’d be lamenting how English clubs couldn’t field enough English players, not how good spending obscene amounts of money is good for the game.
June 12th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I would recommend they use the english commentators when they broadcast. As it is right now, they talk to the game from a booth in Bristol Connecticut and it loses some of the magic.
June 12th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I don’t think Ronaldo will spend too long going into the bowels of Madrid’s financial vault to find out the integrity of his pay check.
Seriously, we spoke about his shit three years, two years ago, and we’ll still be talking about in four years time. None of these projections of doom for other teams will EVER materialise. There will always be someone to bail them out. Not many clubs are as stupid as Leeds.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
The American public would go absolutely go bananas if they turn on ESPN or ESPN2 on a Saturday morning and a bunch of foreign guys playing soccer during college football season. That’s absolutely unthinkable. We only have to wait a few months to see our teams play but these guys have been waiting since January and if they tune in to see a bunch of skinny guys with funny names kicking a ball, there would be riots all over the country.
For our non-American brethren who don’t know, I’ll try and break it down for you. College football has attendances that dwarf those of our lowly 63 thousand Emirates Stadium. There are several venues in college football that boast capacities of over 100,000 fans every weekend and these stadiums are packed to the rafters with die-hard fans in the cold screaming for their teams. College football is so big here that I’m willing to bet that on any random, uneventful Saturday morning, that there are more fans tuning in to watch the college pre-game show on ESPN than fans that tuned in to watch the CL final last month. That’s American culture. There is no way in hell that ESPN could survive the drop in ratings to show the BPL, regardless of the quality of soccer. Make no mistake, we’ll miss Setanta.
With that, I’m not too thrilled to see Champions League games on FSC. I like watching the games on ESPN because they’re in hi def. Fox needs a HD channel. FSC should also have a portal where they show all of the CL games and you get to pick which game you want to watch. That way, you can make all of your football fans happy.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
In an interview recently FSC came out and said that it likely would be running in HD come this fall.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Stag –
When a player is in the media spotlight for trade, you rarely see Arsenal mentioned alongside ManU, Chelski, Liverpool, Real, Inter in the list of clubs showing interest.
Most of us believe Wenger lives in his own ‘parallel universe’. His idea of targeted players is apart from mainstream publicity and other club’s philosophy.
“We don’t spend the money we make on players!!”
None of us have access to Arsenals books! Nor can we explain why more money was not spent last summer. Anyway, how did we fund Nasri & Arshavin? b4 that Sagna and Eduardo!
“So it is no advantage at all to be in the black.”
Globally, businesses in every industry(including sports teams / owners) are entering an era when being cash strapped is a competitive liability. Credit lines and interest rates are changing the landscape for business strategies. The $80 million made on Ronaldo is a SMALL correction for the Glaser debt. (over $600 million);
“I just read that Ferguson OK’d it… ONLY if he could spend ALL the 80 Million and 20 more on players to replace him” – You are too savvy a contributor to believe everything posted in articles – and reference as factual. More than anything, I see this as a necessary tourniquet to save team morale!
How old is Arsenal as a club? I see the last four years as a blimp in the clubs history & journey, carefully maneuvering for a decade of real identity.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
rye – see Joshuad’s comments below…….
Josh hits the mark with his example of college football (a religion in the south) and showed mercy by omitting college basketball in his argument. There is no time slot room for soccer on espn from August thru April. We must hope for expanded coverage thru another venue.
We are a society of “show me the trophy”!
a) when America wins the world cup plus b) have a number of american players STARING in EPL, SPL, Serie A, etc…..then there is a chance for the field of dreams OR the MLS becomes the #1 league in the World (LOL).
June 12th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Spot, if you are waiting for the collapse of United, or Chelsea or Liverpool… or any huge club, because they are spending a lot on players…. you are going to be waiting a long long time.
United are about WINNING. Do you think they are going to stop spending on players and attempt to pay down the debt?
We sell star players… and make good profit on them.
We buy young kids, usually for too much money, and overpay salaries…
That is completely out of whack… and not a recipe for success.
Do you believe Ferguson and United won’t spend the 80 million plus more in this Summer…? Seriously?
I am sure they are lining up players as we type… its definite, not even a question…
If we were to sell say…. Adebayor… the question would be, as always, will we spend the money to replace him.
The blind followers will say… oh, we have to reduce the stadium debt!
Why does a supporter care if we reduce the stadium debt, if we are not competitive to win trophies any longer?
I don’t give a shit about Arsenal making a profit… which is what seems to be most important to the AFC and Board. If you are in the business of sports ownership to make big profits, you shouldn’t be in the business.
a decade of real identity?
based on what?
we are well on our way to a decade without being a factor in the league.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Exactly
June 12th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Nick Webster also said it was coming. He said that in January 08.
The cable/sat providers have limited HD bandwidth. I’d love to believe they’d be adding a second channel for a fringe network like FSC, but I’m not holding my breath.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
They have been saying that for 2 years. It’s an olive branch.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Clubs like Manure, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barca are going nowhere in the foreseeable future. Their branding, commensurate receipts and world recognition ensures that If they really got into financial trouble they would just have to sell shares and there would be a lineup of entrepreneurs waiting to cash in on those offers. AC and Inter Milan may fall into that category also.
Unfortunately, twisted politicians worldwide will ensure Oil remains a valuable commodity during our lifetime, so City isn’t going anywhere soon and other Oil magnates will get involved in football ownership and bring their billions along for the ride.
Arsenal is just catching up to those teams in terms of branding and recognition, and that’s where Gazidis and Kroenke comes into play. They have the expertise and market knowledge to take us to the next level.
However, success breeds success, and we need to maintain a high performance level in order to compete. As we speak, the stakes are getting higher in the EPL and it’s going to be more difficult to win the title than previously. City and Spurs are developing very good teams and Aston Villa and Everton could be poised to break through depending on their capability to invest during the current transfer window.
We could easily end up outside of the CL next season unless we acquire “REAL” players rather than spend millions on 15-17 old boys who may or may not make it 3-5 years from now. Let’s make no bones about it, if we fall out of the CL all the Kroenke “branding” initiative goes down the drain. Yes, we will stay in the EPL and be a good mid table team who plays good football, but we will be nothing else.
If that’s all you want from Arsenal, you are more than welcome to support the Wenger “TOTAL YOUTH” policy. I am greedy and expect a lot more from Arsenal. What’s wrong with being financially prudent, playing good football, having team balance and winning trophies?
June 12th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Don’t know if I agree with you Joshuad that there is no space for “Soccer” in the US. There are more than enough channels which show US Football. All the major networks have packages and a plethora of Cable subsidiaries exist.
ESPN could even show it on ESPN Classic. The Latin population in the US is over 20% and growing, all being avid fans of the game. Combine that with the vast number of imported European, Asian, African and Caribbean folks with the growing support of US born citizens and it becomes a very tangible market share.
“Soccer” is also a very fast growing concern among younger US females who just love to see handsome young men in shorts. Even the new US women’s league is pulling in more spectators on average than the WNBA. I confidently predict that “Soccer” will supplant Hockey as the 4th most watched US sport within 5-10 years.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
“What’s wrong with being financially prudent, playing good football, having team balance and winning trophies?”
Yes, but what’s the point if you accomplish it with a team with an average age of 26-28? That “accomplishment” pales in comparison to the difficulty of getting 4th in the EPL with a side that has an average age of 20. Can’t you all see that? That’s why they’re shutting the sight down, because of us short-sighted fans.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
481……………….
almost there
June 12th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
CG, stop smoking that stuff.
“Yes, but what’s the point if you accomplish it with a team with an average age of 26-28? ”
It’s all about winning the war. Would you rather win a few battles but lose a war using young soldiers or win the war using experienced soldiers?
Thank God the Allied Forces didn’t think that way in WW2 or we would all be saying Seig Heil.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Agree abt the influence of oil’s ‘power’ – wealthy owners diversifying investments and viewing team ownership as way of building on their public image.
from my perspective:
- Kroenke is not looking at Arsenal as a new hobby; winning the Champion’s League or EPL will only raise the team’s market value & stock price.
- besides salary, every manager thrives on notoriety. Wenger is no different and winning silverware or having the soccer media praise your teams style of play is ‘priceless’.
- Arsene has priortized prospecting & signing great young talent a necessary function of the club. If a player can make it to the Arsenal starting lineup the investment will have rewards for the players value: Clichy, Song, Gibbs.
- Competition for the top 4 spots is going to be more challenging; but depth is key as Moyes and O’Neill will attest. I don’t see Villa or Everton having the resources.
I have respect for Hughes & what he accomplished on Blackburn’s budget, but the level of talent City are trying to sign is over his coaching experience and ownership will see this as a stumbling block.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Despite the current demographic trending, ESPN is never (in our lifetime) going to make room for soccer programing in a meaningful way on the two existing stations.
If ESPN is serious about programing soccer, then they will need to launch ESPN3 or rebrand ESPN Classic.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:45 am
CG – why would you speculate they are shutting down this sight?
June 13th, 2009 at 10:17 am
That was not my speculation. I don’t think anyone said the site was being shutdown.
Someone said AA was being improved and moved to another Developer/Site Operator. Some speculation was about whether the MO of the site would change to inhibit current interaction.
June 13th, 2009 at 10:42 am
If they gave trophies for
“getting 4th in the EPL with a side that has an average age of 20″
you’d have one hell of a point.
June 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I’ve never said that there’s no room for soccer in the US, but that ESPN won’t make room for it on their primary channels (ESPN & ESPN2). If they were to try and do that, they’d piss off many spectators and their ratings would tank.
To grow as a spectator sport and attract new fans in America, soccer needs to be on basic cable and in high definition. Like Spot On said, maybe ESPN can make an ESPN3 or ESPN International available on basic cable and transmit the channel in HD. If they do that, I believe ESPN can find big success intergrating soccer into American culture. ANYTHING else would be less than adequate.
June 13th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I think ChicagoGunner said that as a bit of a joke.
Wenger’s goal is to find these kids that have the look of the next big thing and sign them for 2 million instead of signing them for 22 million five years later. I just watched the league youth cup and the stand-out player for me in that game was a kid Wenger just signed for cheap last summer named Francis Colquelin. That kid is a mix of Flamini and Denilson possessing both of their strengths. He will be a France international in the future. He will be a big player for Arsenal.
We’ve already seen the likes of Fabregas, Song, Clichy, Diaby, van Persie, Ramsey, Senderos, Fabianski, Vela, etc. go on to become internationals for their respective countries since coming to Arsenal. The most expensive of that group (excluding Walcott) was Ramsey at five million with van Persie coming in second at under three million. All of those players will demand a much larger transfer fee if they were ever to leave.
I understand the desire to see guys come in that can make an immediate impact but who are those guys? For every Bacary Sagna, there’s a Pascal Cygan. For every Anderi Arshavin, there’s a Davor Suker. Look at how much of an impact Hleb has had since his twelve million pound move to Barcelona. You just never know how these players will fit in. If a youngster with big potential and smaller money comes in, there’s no stress of justifying a large transfer fee by performing immediately. Not only that but you can probably sell him for about what you paid for him. I know it’s frustrating to want to win but Wenger’s the boss and his approach boasts a very valid and legitimate argument.
June 13th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
……a valid argument from a financial perspective. I forgot to mention the future England #1 plays for Arsenal too.
June 13th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Interesting the way the media spins things…
Henry, Hleb, and possibly Fabregas from Arsenal to Barcelona, and we’re dubbed a Barca feeder club.
Beckham, van Nistelrooy, and now Ronaldo from Man U to Real Madrid, and no one calls them a Real feeder club.
June 13th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
“Like Spot On said, maybe ESPN can make an ESPN3 or ESPN”
Twice on here, immediately above and slightly further up, CK already suggested they could re-brand ESPN Classic. Even as you guys are echoing his suggestion, it sounds like you’re disagreeing.
I haven’t seen anyone suggest soccer would replace NCAA Football. (Nor have I seen that programming start at 7:30 am in the East.)
Seems like one most of us see the same way.
June 13th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Sahko’s agent says we’re interested but being “cheap” about it. I don’t know whether to be insulted or feel proud. I’ll go for the latter because cheap is our middle name and in our dna. If the agent doesn’t like it and wants to really move his client then I’ll give him Florentino Perez’s phone number. Idiot.
The media has surveyed the transfer market for Real Madrid’s next targets’ after Villa and ?Maicon and lo and behold it’s Clichy, “come on down at The Price is Right”. 12mil? I say go east young man but not for <15mil. Except for one defensive lapse, Gibbs seems to be the better defender at this point in his career than Clichy.
Senderos looks set to bounce back from AC Milan. Now there’s a great piece of news. He also wants to fight for a place in the back line. Silvestre has to watch his back now boys.
I’d love to see Eduardo back for Croatia by say Sept. 8.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones” but calling Arsenal a “feeder club” will not damage my self-esteem nor Arsenal’s.
June 13th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
484, wait for it, wait for it.
Congratulations to the Pittsburg Penguins, a predominately youthful team lead by the youngest captain to ever win the Stanley Cup. Who says you can’t win with kids. Just ask the old men of Detroit.
June 13th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
485.
In another reference to hockey, George Gillett, the owner of the Montreal Canadiens has received a “credible” offer from the Molsons. Benitez better hope to get a little of that ‘beer’ money funneled his way before Real Madrid plop a gazillion down for Alonso to replace “Lass”.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
AAAHAHAHAHAHA!
A picture is really worth 1000 words!
http://arsenalspot.net/2009/06/advertizing-boards-insult-ronaldo/
June 13th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
http://www.hollyscoop.com/paris-hilton/paris-and-doug-back-on_20537.aspx
Real Madrid better hope he wore a total body condom.
June 14th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Keep in mind that the bigger conferences (e.g. the Big Ten which already has its own network) are moving towards their own channels to keep more money for themselves.
If you start losing the bulk of SEC, Big Ten and PAC-10 games (and the biggest independent, Notre Dame, already has it’s contract on network TV) ESPN will be looking to fill in those spots. Not to mention, the bulk of EPL matches are done with by noon in the Midwest to Eastern US, or thereabouts, which is when the NCAA football games on Saturdays usually start.
I see what you’re getting at, but I wouldn’t rule it out (ESPN picking up some league matches). You’re right, Americans love their own sports, but it’s hardly as though soccer is an alien sport here (like Cricket, Rounders, etc)… or boring as fuck like bowling or poker (good God I still haven’t figured that out).
Also, keep in mind that ESPN (especially if you have a digital hookup) has fractured into many sub-channels in the network. So that increases the amount of stations they have airtime on to fill.
Seriously, if college baseball and college lacrosse get broadcast on ESPN (and trust me, they do) there is room for European soccer leagues.
June 14th, 2009 at 2:50 am
Digital TV subscribers already have more ESPN channels than those 3. See my post below…
June 14th, 2009 at 5:12 am
500 – new record?
June 14th, 2009 at 8:04 am
@Vibe
yes, we all seem to have a confluence of overlapping ideas about ESPN & ESPN2…..
As CK pointed out somewhere: soccer interest is seeded everywhere and growing but our sport needs its niche channel. More comprehensive than Fox Soccer Channel and GOL Tv.
June 14th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Here is my greatest fear if included as part of any channel that is multi-sports.
Arsenal playing ManU with kick off at 2:45 pm (EST) but the Ohio State – Michigan game is broadcast in the time slot prior to soccer. The football game goes into overtime & the network decides to stay with football until the game is decided b4 switching to soccer. Basketball has the same lame rules.
For this type of multi-sports channel, soccer is minor to the USA market.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:14 am
503
June 14th, 2009 at 11:52 am
504 – another world record.
June 14th, 2009 at 11:53 am
305 – another world record. Records being broken in record time here.
June 14th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Confederation Cup starts today. South Africa, Iraq 0-0 in an industrious affair. Bernard Parker inadvertently keeps a sure South African goal out of the Iraqi net. The only other item of note is the pitch is terrible. You can’t have that at the World Cup.
Spain should have a walkover against New Zealand. It should be real ugly.
Rosicky has this year to prove he still be player at Arsenal. Good luck Tom
June 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Real quick, boys. I just read this article linking the PSG centerback, Mamadou Sahko, with a move to Arsenal. I saw this kid two summers ago playing in a U-19 tournament with France. I confused him with Younnes Kaboul when I heard Spurs signed him but knew I had the wrong guy when I saw Kaboul’s picture.
If Arsenal were to sign Sakho, it would be a very solid signing. I know it was only a U-19 tournament but this kid absolutely eats strikers. He wins everthing in the air and has extraordinary quickness for a big man, like Sol used to. He’s a powerful and agile player with a very hard tackle. Even though he’s only 19, he’s PSG’s captain (Makelele is at PSG).
The agent’s trying to talk up the price of his player but that’s what agents are supposed to do. If Wenger keeps this price and the player wants to come, we should get him. The downside is it will likely be at the end of the transfer window.
June 14th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article6484591.ece
The media at it’s gullible best. See the 3rd commenter who explains that it was a hoax from a Sunderland fan.
June 14th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Cesc says … if Pep calls… obviously it would have to be considered.
Leaving the door open a crack for Barcelona.
Yes. Rumor… but I just want to add a few posts so we can make it to 1000 posts on a thread… and we can take 3 minutes to scroll down!
June 14th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
If your last job was at Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Indy Mac you have a BIG blot on your resume. You need to say something creative in explaining your role or lack thereof in those businesses demise.
If you’re Michael Owen, your agent has now sent out a 34 page (color!) brochure (eg. resume) to explain your career and why you deserve to be rescued from Newcastle United. The OBVIOUS question is why a brochure (so circa 1960s advertising) and not a DVD :O
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/359585/CAR-TROUBLE-FOR-DEREK-LLAMBIAS.html
It can still get worse for worse for Newcastle United.
June 14th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Pep: Hey Cesc thought I give you a ring: I’ve Xavi, Iniesta and Yaya so don’t hold your breath.
June 14th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Spain 3-0, Torres w/ 3 in the first 17″. Fabregas w/ the assist on the first. WC tune up for everyone including ESPN as the lose the satellite feed.
June 14th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Del Bosque is upset that New Zealand is not providing a tougher tuneup as Fabregas score the 4th on a tap in at 26″
June 14th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
CPTA?!
Are you kidding me?
The Penguins have 6 or 7 players on their entire roster that are under 25!?!
Their 2 biggest stars are young, but you win with grinders and muckers and big experienced mobile defensemen!
June 14th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Yaya is going for the money this Summer… he’ll be in Manchester with Kolo!
June 15th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Brazil 4 – Egypt 3
Nice to have some wide open soccer in the Summer!
June 15th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Oh man, over 500 comments here, gotta be the most commented post ever! Bouldy should be proud!
why isn’t anyone start a new thread?!
June 15th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
yes ctpa, they are killing the forrest. Poor Michael, this gotta be the biggest humiliation he ever faced throughout his career. I remember right after WC 1998, Gerard Houllier came out and said he wouldn’t sold Owen for 50 mil!
alright, i actually quite like Owen myself. but what happened to him happened all the time to players who made his name at a very young age. George Best, Norman Whiteside come to mind. their career came to a halt before they turned 27.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Great game. Nice to see a team stand up to Brazil and push them. I have to say Egypt played a very strong game and for the USA this is the “group of death”. It will be Brazil and ? coming from this group.
Our old friend Gilberto looked weak today and Melo wasn’t exactly stellar either. The Brazil LB was getting run over and Robinho may as well have been playing for Man City on the road for all he did.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
U21s: England, Norway 1-1 but England are down to 10 for the 2nd half as CB Mancienne (Liverpool, I think) brought down the CF in the box.
Don’t worry about Walcott getting burned out in this tournament as he did <0 in the first half and gets subbed for Frazier Campbell.
Gibbs looks very assured at LB.
June 15th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
England up 2-1 as Micah Richards absolutely rips a header in. I ‘d be checking his birth certificate because that was not a boy’s header.
June 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Andes.
Just to update you.
You can’t start a new thread…. I tried to around… 200 posts ago?
The site is changing. They are moving away from Arsenal FC content and Opinion… and more towards… “Arsenal America” content.
Not sure what the hell that means… but its likely the end of the site.
What makes the site good, is we all give our opinions… good bad right wrong or indifferent… without that ability, what would the point be.
Anyway… they (current Arsenal America)won’t post a new thread.
It was a good run. Nothing lasts forever.
June 16th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Bloody hell – would these wankers do something about the Web site already?
June 16th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Where has all the AA’s gone? God be with them, everyone.
June 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
It’s interesting one or two of them have appeared on the one thread since this one. And since all this has been going on. Yet it’s as if they’re pretending this thread isn’t happening.
Seems a fair bet it’s all over but the shouting, as they could clearly not care less what we think.
June 16th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Everyone be prepared to gather at 7amkickoff (see above)!
June 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Liverpool is spending 18 mil on Glen Johnson??? I do not understand how all of these other teams have that much more money to spend on players. IF you look at net spending on transfers over the last few years, Arsenal is at about 2 mil, while the other clubs are 80 or higher. The additional revenue from Ashburton Grove is more than enough to service the debt brought on by the stadium, so the stadium can’t be the reason.
Here is the link to the 2009 deloitte Money league. Interesting read. Click on the link for the free copy and just make up some company name and e-mail.
http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/article/0,1002,cid=246693,00.html
June 16th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
I will alert Timmy at 7amkickoff.wordpress.com
June 16th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
SC. Where you been? AFC are interested in winning the PROFIT league. Why should they spend to improve the team, until the attendence drops off, or we fall out of the CL spots?
They love Wenger, and his frugal ways, and not wanting to spend big to improve the squad.
Liverpool, United and Chelsea… will do whatever it takes to “attempt” to win the league and / or put themselves in position to win trophies. We stopped doing that a few years back.
With a few GOOD signings… 2 or 3… we could actually compete for something.
Bring in an Eto… Alonso or Barry… (who’s gone I know)… a proper centerback (Hangeland?)… we could offload a few players … like Ade and EBOUE who is now saying he is unhappy… and we would not have spend 1/2 as much as our competitors.
But alas… like Arsenal America… the Arsenal Football Club are currently watching and doing FUCK ALL.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
I suggest we use the latest thread about the AA charity match in NY.
And I also suggest people email AA. It would be nice if they gave us all the official explanation on the site… via a thread. Some of us have been on Arsenal America for YEARS… and we all deserve a bit of respect.
June 17th, 2009 at 2:15 am
The most amazing thing to me is that an official arm of Arsenal would totally ignore their fans and supporters, without making any attempt to clarify or explain their position.
This could very well be one of the reasons Arsenal can’t compare to Manure, Real Madrid and other clubs in expansion of their their branding and fan base.
I am at the point where I don’t even feel like using this medium any more. It would be interesting to know whether the parent club knows what is going on and actually supports it. The total non-communication by AA has been very RUDE and somewhat authoritarian.
If anyone has a direct link or Email address for the International support arm of Arsenal I would appreciate the info.
June 17th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Respect, we are being treated like an illegitimate step child.
June 17th, 2009 at 5:47 am
2009/2010 Fixtures are out:
August
15 Everton (A)
18 Bolton (H)
22 Portsmouth (H)
29 Man Utd (A)
September
12 Man City (A)
19 Wigan (H)
26 Fulham (A)
October
3 Blackburn (H)
17 Birmingham (H)
24 West Ham (A)
31 Tottenham (H)
November
7 Wolverhampton (A)
21 Sunderland (A)
28 Chelsea (H)
December
5 Stoke (H)
12 Liverpool (A)
15 Burnley (A)
19 Hull (H)
26 Aston Villa (H)
28 Portsmouth (A)
January
9 Everton (H)
16 Bolton (A)
27 Aston Villa (A)
30 Man Utd (H)
February
6 Chelsea (A)
9 Liverpool (H)
20 Sunderland (H)
27 Stoke (A)
March
6 Burnley (H)
13 Hull (A)
20 West Ham (H)
27 Birmingham (A)
April
3 Wolverhampton (H)
10 Tottenham (A)
17 Wigan (A)
24 Man City (H)
May
1 Blackburn (A)
9 Fulham (H)
June 17th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Last week in January through second week in February – Brutal.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:46 am
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article6503542.ece
Top 50 Arsenal players in the Times – Cesc only at 48!
June 17th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Timmy’s an AKB.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
What has Cesc ever done to deserve to be higher than 48th all-time?
He has good, but he has a hell of a long way to go to become an Arsenal great.
Why bother with these guys from the 1920’s and 1930’s…?
How can someone from that era be in the top 5? let alone top 10?
How the hell can you compare the players?
Interesting that Adams is #1… what is the basis?
Bergy or Henry could have been Number 1… or even Vieira.
All fun in the Summer!
June 17th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Disagree on two points. Just because a player accomplished what he did a long time ago does not make it less meaningful. I don’t know why people always think this way. Sure, maybe things weren’t as competitive or advanced as they are now, but the players of yore played on “normal person” wages and didn’t have access to the high-tech dietetics, medicine, training regimes, or equipment that today’s players have. Things were different back then- not necessarily easier or harder.
The second point I disagree on is who should be #1. Tony Adams wins this HANDS DOWN. The man played his entire career for Arsenal and only Arsenal, for 20 seasons and over 500 league games. He was a league-winning captain in THREE different decades (including the Anfield ‘89 game). “When the going gets though, the tough get going-” that’s what I think of when I think of Tony Adams, the man they call “Mr. Arsenal”. And (not so coincidentally I think), he’s just the type of player that Arsenal could use a few of right now.
June 18th, 2009 at 7:02 am
100% agree CG
Players should be rated on their performance and impact relative to their ‘era’ of competition.
You win championships built around a great defense. Leadership is a player characteristic that you won’t find on the stat sheet, yet vital to a team’s success; most of you on this site have addressed as a deficiency for our club this past season.
The signing of Thomas Vermalean, captain of his Ajax club, shows Arsene’s understanding for not just a quality player/defender but a another leader type for our youngsters.
June 18th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
The summer so far, the most ANNOYIING figure gotta be Cesc Fabregas. It seems like everyday I hear him talking about something new.
If you wanna go, fine. I can understand. You want to win trophy, probably with a bigger pay package as well. You are only human, and footballer’s career is short, it’s within your right to seek for a better life. Fair enough. Just make your stand CLEAR that you wanna GO.
if you wanna STAY. Great. You are a wonderful footballer. We can surely use your passing in midfield. So just tell the world “I am staying. Period”. And rest the case. Enjoy a good conference cup, have a good rest, and be ready for the next season.
but for Pete’s sake don’t come out on Monday and say “I am staying. I have a long contract, if i don’t plan to stay, i wouldn’t sign”….. Then Tuesday “if Barca calls, everything will change”…. Wednesday “it’s all rubbish, the press made it up”….. Thursday “I am disappointed Arsenal didn’t win trophy”….
for f*ck’s sake, SHUT UP.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
take it easy. cesc always shoots down rumours of being transferred. he simply stated that someday he would like to play in spain and that he admire’s barca’s manager. the media takes that and blows it way out of proportion. cesc will play for us for at least another year. its not his fault the media is trying to stir up a bullshit story.
June 19th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Wenger said: “Thomas is a solid performer with good experience of Champions League and UEFA Cup football and is also a regular with the Belgium national team.
“Thomas is primarily a left-footed centre-back, but he is multi-functional and can also play at left-back.
“He is strong technically with a positive winner’s attitude and I have no doubt his arrival will strengthen our team.