My Kingdom For A ‘Keeper!!
Stops like this were a rarity in 2009-2010
I’m probably not writing anything that anyone doesn’t already know but with 1 week left to go before the start of the 2010-2011 campaign, Arsenal find themselves in dire need of a a true number 1 ‘keeper. It’s current top two, Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski, don’t instill any kind of confidence in the team’s ability to contend for a title of any kind.
Lukasz Fabianski was brought in from that goalkeeping powerhouse Leiga Warsaw (I jest) and was touted as the Polish number for their national team. For the sake of the Polish national team I hope not. In the 10 matches Fabianski featured in last season (in all competitions) he lost 6 out of 10 starts – he lost 2 of 4 in the EPL. In his 10 starts he only managed 1 clean-sheet and single handedly cost Arsenal matches against Wigan and Blackburn. He has no confidence in the back and does not command his defenders like a solid keeper should. By the end of the season with a band aid seemingly holding the defencive line together, a strong presence in goal could’ve made up for some of the gaps. As it was, Fabianski didn’t instill that confidence and it was clearly evident.
But with limited last season the damage that Fabianski did was minimal (thank goodness) to the damage done by our #1 shot stopper, Manuel Almunia. In the simples of statements, I think Manuel Almunia is punching above his weight in goal for Arsenal. He lacks presence, influence, and calmness needed in the big spots. His ball distribution skills are pitiful and clearly his back four do not have the confidence in him that he can make the big stop when called on. This last thought puts a big pressure on them to be on all the time, something even the best back four can do.
In ranking Almunia from last season, he was 17th in the league in save percentage. He featured a paltry 67% on 88 shots he faced. To me if you can’t stop over 70% your shots, especially when you face so few (Arsenal were in top 3 of fewest shots allowed last season) then there is an issue. The breakdown of save percentage for the league is:
1. Brad Friedel, Aston Villa – 80% of 157 Shots
2. Marcus Hahnemann, Wolverhampton Wanderers – 80% of 128
3. Edwin van der Sar, Man Utd – 80% of 61
4. Joe Hart, Birmingham City – 79% of 181
5. Huerelho Gomes, Tottenham Hotspur – 79% of 99
6. Thomas Sorenson, Stoke City – 78% of 141
7. Craig Gordon, Sunderland – 77% of 117
8. Mark Schwarzer, Fulham – 75% of 143
9. Jose Reina, Liverpool – 72% of 118
10. Tim Howard, Everton – 70% of 147
11. Shay Given, Man City – 70% of 135
12. Petr Cech, Chelsea – 70% of 81
13. Boaz Myhill, Hull – 69% of 177
14. Robert Green, West Ham – 68% of 176
15. Paul Robinson, Blackburn Rovers – 68% of 141
16. Jussi Jaaskelainen – 67% of 184
17. Manuel Almunia, Arsenal – 67% of 88
18. Brian Jensen, Burnley – 66% of 200
19. Chris Kirkland, Wigan Athletic – 65% of 144
20. David James, Portsmouth – 61% of 106
(This analysis comes from the Plain Soccer blog)
Simply put I don’t think Almunia has the ability to be a number 1 in the EPL. His decision making is shoddy and some of his basic skills – ball punching – are questionable. In fairness he is capable of pulling off a stunner of a game, as was the point in the first leg against Barcelona. But that performance was the exception and not the rule. Another issue I have with Almunia is his lack of focus. In matches where he does not face a lot of shots or there is a lot action on the Arsenal side of the field, he seems to lose his place and forgets to focus on the match. Which results in the late score going in because he wasn’t in the game the whole time.
It is also telling about Manuel Almunia that regardless of the site you check, when pundits are asked to compare is ability he scores low in almost every category. Regardless, of whether its aerial ability, command of the box, foot skills, or reflexes, he is viewed across the board as not having the requisite skills that make you a world class keeper. And even in our winter of discontent, Arsenal is still world class club and deserves a world class keeper between the sticks.
Sure we have Vito Mannone and Wojicech Szczesny in the wings and both are growing but I think the club would like them to get more first team experience without sacrificing the possibility for club success. The performance by Flapianski in yesterday’s final pre-season match of the year only solidified the need for a new keeper in everyone’s mind. It should also be telling that ahead of that match the internet was abuzz with a rumour that Arsenal had lodged a £23 million bid for Pepe Reina. While the numbers affixed to the deal seem to point to this being a rumour, the fact that the club are being tied to numerous goal keepers – Fulham’s Mark Schwarzer and Marchetti out of Italy being the primary targets – suggests that the club know we need a number 1. Whether there is now time left to secure the services of a new keeper.
Who replaces Almunia and Fabianksi is sort of irrelavant at this moment. Both options are not adequate for a team of this club’s stature. Ideally I think it needs to be someone like Schwarzer who is solid but doesn’t have a lot of time left. From every indication Szczesny has the makings of a true number 1. Getting someone like Hart or Green into the squad doesn’t make sense if you have someone with that supposed talent and that young sitting the bench waiting for a shot. A true veteran who has been through the wars and can be a mentor to a young keeper is what we need in here and I hope it happens. But who knows.
Arsenal have always been blessed with a solid attack. Scoring goals doesn’t seem like it is going to be a problem. But it is getting tiring going into each match thinking you can either win or lose by 3 or 4 goals.
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It’s all smoke and daggers at Arsenal.
It’s either hilarious or ridiculous.
Fabregas barely set foot on the WC stage, turns the summer into a circus with his Barca love affair, swans off to play for Spain this week, and yet he can’t play for Arsenal??? He’s captain for heaven’s sake. I reckon he’ll play, Wenger’s just playing games. If he doesn’t play it’s a joke.
RvP? Surely the great hope of all believers is fit and ready to go? No? A bit bit ‘short’?
Song, Diaby and Denilson. Unseen all pre-season. Why??? How can all three be out all pre-season?
And Mr “Like-a-new-signing” Djourou. He’s out apparently? He hasn’t even come back and he’s out??? Utterly unbelievable. We’ve cleaned out the CB cupboards to make room for Djourou and he breaks down before he starts.
I honestly can’t believe that RvP, Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Denilson and Djourou are unable to play at the opening game at Liverpool.
Particularly Cesc. He was able to muster up the energy to play 45 minutes for Spain yesterday so one would think he could play Sunday.
And what the hell is it with Arsenal players and injuries?! The World Cup didn’t seem to affect the rest of the Spanish or Dutch teams, just the Arsenal players on these teams.
I like the smoke and daggers modification :) but I will go with smoke and mirrors as I believe the Ministry of Truth puts out random reports of Arsenal trying to sign someone so to appease some fans. Just to give the appearance that Arsenal are doing something to improve.
As per the posted link above, I refuse to believe the 3rd most valuable club in the world can’t buy a decent goal-keeper if it wanted to.
I didn’t think it looked right!! ;-)
Actually there is a saying called smoke and daggers, so I can’t give you credit for that :)
It’s not the money – we’ve got it.
It’s part Wenger getting even more obsessive about ‘price’ as he’s got older. And part his inherrent crapiness in selecting keepers.
He has a history littered with absolutely crap keepers. He hasn’t signed one world class keeper imo.
Everyone refers to Mad Jens – yet he wasn’t called that for nothing. When I think of Lehmann I think of his circus act every time the ball came in at a corner or freekick.
Anyway, I think it likely Schwarzer will sign. He’ll do ok. It would just be a lot more convincing if we’d signed both him and another CB early. These late additions (if they happen) are ridiculous. Wenger should have been sewing up these deals instead of swanning around at the WC giving urbane and erudite comment to the masses.
Gotta agree with you here Kiwi…the obfuscation is miserable AND it means that pre-season is merely an option. Luckily a few of our important players (Arshavin, Chamakh, Nasri, Vermalaen) and a few up and comers took advantage of the opportunity. IMO it would be absurd if Fabregas, RVP and Diaby/Song/Denilson aren’t at least on the bench if they can pass their respective fitness tests. More info coming tomorrow, I guess.
As I’ve said before the best thing about Schwarzer is that he’s gonna be a player/coach (emphasis on coach) and I’m willing to cut AW/Arsenal some slack in that Fulham needed a replacement but first they needed a manager. Of course having Mark Hughes (and his anti-Arsenal biases) step into that role was sub-optimal.
Count me in the prayer-circle that Schwarzer is coming sooner than later and that at least Fabianski is going out on loan. (Personally I’ll take Mooney in goal for Sunday.) And then onto nabbing a CB, what with Djourou injured (again/as always).
The biggest thing for me, a noobie with a propensity towards optimism, is that I cannot believe that club football takes such a backseat to the dross of the international game. It’s up to the biggest clubs (including Arsenal) to organize and put an end to this crap. The major leagues of Europe all need to be on the same schedule (with a winter break!) and with a sensibly scheduled transfer window (or a permanently open one). And the home-grown rules….geez…. I guess the G-14 (and David Dein’s former leadership role) has more or less evaporated and the move towards more power for the big clubs has waned with the tougher economic times….But maybe others know more than me…
Actually Wenger is hoping to take his time with Schwarzer and he is probably thinking he could get him in January for maybe a million or even less than the current total. By then, he is hoping the current team does well.
If Wenger waited one year for Chamakh, then 6 months for Schwarzer is nothing.
Ofcourse good old Ivan will back Wenger up on this one as well. Because if a club like Arsenal started throwing around an extra million for a player, well it could develop into a drug habit. One million extra for a 37 year old, 1.1 million extra for a competent player and before you know it, Arsenal might end up paying a total of 5 million for a 17 year old :) Hey wait a minute..that sounds familiar.
Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has pleaded with the club to allow him to join Arsenal. “I need it to happen,” Schwarzer said. “I’ve had a couple of chats with Mark [Hughes]. It’s delicately poised. Who wouldn’t be keen to go to Arsenal?” – He has officially handed in a transfer request.
By the way – Season Preview will be out tonight/tomorrow morning
Liverpool/Arsenal Match Preview will be out on Saturday.
I was holding off because I have actually been playing reporter trying to get a real story on the transfers I have been hearing about
I thought I saw that Wenger balked when they were talking 4M as a price tag. How much is missing a CL spot worth? Lets not be penny wise and pound foolish…
which is why the rumor of Arsenal trying to get Reina from Liverpool for 23 MILL. is absolutely LAUGHABLE.
The Wenger Pom-Pom Brigade … who have often said “transfers don’t happen overnight”… have NOTHING to say in regard to the keeper situation.
If we made a LEGIT offer for Schwarzer… he’d already be at the club… and 4 MILLION is SHIT… its CHUMP CHANGE in the world of the EPL… especially for a NO.1 KEEPER…
Imagine trying to get a CB AND a Keeper at the same time?
Arsenal must be in chaos… that can’t be done!! working on 2 transfers at once!!!!
woooaaaah. easy there…
haven’t heard ONE person yet espouse the belief that we don’t need another CB, with only 3 real ones…
and nobody is happy going with our current keepers…
not one pundit has said … they are good to go at keeper and CB…
Wenger and the board have had since…. May… and here we are, 2 days away…
Not sure if Cesc or RVP will be fit… or Song, Diaby, or Denilson…
our most experienced CB has ONE YEAR in the EPL… and we have the worst goalkeeping in the EPL…
all this while we are the MOST PROFITABLE TEAM IN ENGLAND…
how is that acceptable to any supporter?
I guess the big question is ANSWERED:
Have we sold out every home match this season.
$$$$
its all that really matters.
Well, I for one have joined your mini embargo. I’m not buying another Arsenal related thing until they get serious about improving the team. If more people did this AND let the organization know about it maybe they would think twice before not buying players.
The thought of a midfield of Frimpong and Wilshere is pretty damn scary alone, then throw in an inexperienced CB and a shit keeper (take your pick which one) and Sunday’s game could be a real horror show.
>>Arsenal must be in chaos… that can’t be done!! working on 2 transfers at once!!!!
woooaaaah. easy there…
:) Yup, overload. Actually even working on 2 things is tough. Covering the WC leaves no time for apparently signing anyone.
1 1/2 days until the EPL Season starts…
oddly, only 11 participants in the FREE… Fantasy League.
its Free, its a challenge, there are free prizes from DAG.
what’s the hold-up?!
;)
They are afriad I will win.
Some of us don’t really care about fantasy sports. And we think DAG will win.
DAG?
Liverpool Preview coming up?
or…
how about a group prayer and meditation chant?!
;)
@DAg,
If you don’t have the time to do a game preview let me know and I’ll get one out for you.
A group prayer too?
:)
Schwarzer apparently BEGGING Fulham to let him go to Arsenal.
do you think the “rumor” of OZIL to Barcelona was created
to perk up Cescy’s ears?
If Ozil goes to Barcelona, Cesc might not even fit in
next season!
I think they’re doing it, texting him the rumors, and telling
him if Ozil comes to Barca, he’ll never get there!
look for Cesc to hand in a transfer request by Friday!
;)
I think the deals for a new keeper and CB are
already completed…
Arsenal are just waiting for the right moment to announce it.
Has to be.
Manchester United looked a little ‘light’ last campaign. The dual loss of Ronaldo and Tevez left them looking a little patched up, hardly the marauding attacking presence we have come to expect. Too much was left to Rooney with Berbatov struggling and Valencia (24 at the time)adapting in his first season at United.
Well true to form the ole codger Sir Alex doesn’t waste time seeking to address an apparent lack. He goes out and buys an eager 22 year old striker Hernández to back-up Rooney and Berbatov and it looks like Mesut Özil (21) the new German creative midfield star will join them too.
Hernandez looks pretty good so far.
They just signed a young player from Portugal… and if they get Ozil, WATCH OUT.
Arsenal. your move.
Hello?
Bueller?
Bueller?
Bueller?
It’s Ferris Bueller’s day off. He couldn’t sign players b/c he was busy taking the day off in Johannesburg.
“the reality is, we score enough goals to win …”
________________________________
so why aren’t we champions?
I’d adapt your statement to say, if we had a first class defence, and a balanced strategy/formation between attack/defence, the number of goals we score in total would be enough for us to win the title.
The problem is:
1. we don’t have a first class defence and won’t under Wenger
2. we will always have an attack-centric approach under Wenger
3. what the ‘goals for’ statistic doesn’t show you is whether we score ‘enough’ in a given game. We often don’t, that’s why we aren’t champions.
So, you have to set your aspirations within your context. With an attack-centric manager who wants to put out an attack-minded midfield and has come to love vertically-challenged footballing centrebacks you’re obviously going to need a lot more goals than say a Chelsea or Manchester United to win the title.
yes, I agree.
the defense folds like an accordian every time a Chelsea or United kick up the pressure a notch in a “big game”…
if we were solid defensively, and could withstand pressure, soak up pressure a bit, maybe we’d have a shot at an actual counter-attack!
when your keeper(s) consistently give up cheap goals, in key situations… it is disheartening to the defense… and the team.
I actually like Clichy & Sagna as full-backs… but perhaps one of them should be more “stay at home” instead of “going forward”… because our wingers DO NOT TRACK BACK enough to help out regularly on defense.
Give me Lauren.
Give me Winterburn, Dixon… perhaps.
Stay at home, indeed.
This goes against the Wenger philosophy. If the fullbacks are going to venture up the pitch, there better be a winger tracking back to help.
Without a SOLID NUMBER ONE KEEPER… feck it, it really does not matter.
I don’t think Cesc holding the ball too long is the main problem with our attack. A methodical, possession-based buildup is a legitimate attacking strategy. The main problem seems to be that we have no well-defined style/strategy that is proven and effective that we can rely on consistently. This is likely b/c the players in our attack have ill-defined roles, as has been mentioned before. Actually–forget about the roles, even the players themselves are not consistent. If we could have a consistent group of starters in our front six, then a more definitive attacking style would take shape; whether Cesc’s time on the ball would be a hindrance to, or the hallmark of, our attack would depend on the style that emerged.
Here is our most-common Starting XI for each of the past three seasons, based on players w/ the highest number of starts in each position.
07/08………………..08/09…………….09/10
Almunia…………….Almunia………….Almunia
Sagna……………….Sagna……………..Sagna
Toure……………….Toure……………..Vermaelen
Gallas……………….Gallas……………..Gallas
Clichy……………….Clichy……………..Clichy
Flamini…………….Song……………….Song
Fabregas………….Fabregas………….Fabregas
Eboue………………Nasri………………Nasri
Hleb………………..Denilson………….Diaby
………………………………………….Arshavin
Adebayor…………Adebayor………..Bendtner
Eduardo…………..van Persie
# of changes in back-5 from 07/08 to 08/09: 0
# of changes in back-5 from 08/09 to 09/10: 1
# of changes in front-6 from 07/08 to 08/09: 4
# of changes in front-6 from 09/09 to 09/10: 3
So our main defensive problem (too few players) is the opposite of our problem with attack, which is too many players being involved. Some other notable stats: The highest # of starts for any player in a given season in this 3 year span was Denilson’s 49 in 08/09. Yeah, that’s right… Denilson. With 49 f*cking starts in all competitions! (If you want to see the actual numbers for all the players, go to Wikipedia.)
Second notable stat: If you sort Arsenal’s roster by number of starts, for each player (disregarding what position they play), then not a single striker is in the top 11 for last year. Bendtner, RVP, and Eduardo come in at 13th, 15th, and 16th respectively. That’s a problem.
There are two remedies to extricate the team from this situation: (1) Do not constantly sell-off your most experienced players, and (2) get a competent medical staff to prevent injuries, and then manage injuries better when they do occur.
In the good ole days Wenger liked playing with an Anelka or Henry at the apex. A fast physically strong striker. Everything else then worked toward releasing that player. The wide-boys varied in style (Overmars, Parlour, Pires, Ljungberg) yet the idea was that they supported the striker in the fast breaks and shouldered a large goal scoring burden. Bergkamp increasingly became a playmaker rather than a goalscoring forward. That was a clear coherent playing style.
Now what?
Post-Henry(Bergkamp) we’ve collected a bizzare bunch of strikers/forwards. What is Wenger trying to produce? Is there anyone that can put words together to articulate that?
Why have we started to accumulate tall strikers when we don’t like to cross the ball? What’s the point? Why not retain an Anelka/Henry explosive type? Why Adebayor, Bendtner, Chamakh? Height per se, is most effective when you cross the ball from the wings or set pieces and then utilise the tall forward in the resulting havoc. We don’t do that, so why go this way?
And why have tall strikers when we seemingly want RvP to play the central role? Ala Bendtner playing a wide role when RvP was fit!!
What use are the non-descript striker types in our system like Eduardo, Walcott and Vela. Small non-physical types. Seriously, what role are they to play? If you look at the evidence they have looked a tad redundant.
Of course, talking about the strikers is only meaningful when you consider the pattern of play that we employ. As I’ve moaned about on ocassion ;-) our play is very pedestrian. The whole thing just looks quite lame, which seems to be backed up by the lack of verve in our play.
our comments were posted at the same time, although I ask a different variation of the height question.
Maybe Eboue can be the next coming of Rory Delap and has worked on his throw-ins in the summer. Then Chamakh will be a shoe-in to score a few goals :)
the reality is, we score enough goals to win …
its the defense that kills us the majority of the time…
and its worse now than it was last year… without a keeper & somewhat experienced CB coming in, there is a chance that we could be absolutely SHOCKING at times defensively…
I am not worried nearly as much about the attack…
there is talent there, and even some experience…
I am not as diligent as stag in checking for the good news of someone being bought but as DannyT mentions, why is it taking so long? Is Wenger hoping that if 2 million was not enough for a 37 year old, then maybe Fulham will be delighted with 2.1 million?
But looking past the misery that exists in GK, Def and even the mid. So now that Arsenal have a forward who can actually head the ball, who will provide him with crosses? Sagna? The Eboue experiment? Although as Mazza has noted before that Eboue’s quota is 1-2 good crosses per season. Or will Chamakh be dropping deep to pick the ball up only to find no one else making the runs and seeing everyone else hiding and looking busy?
Chamakh is very good in the air… and he has looked sharp in pre-season…
if we can get him the ball, and the opportunities… he has the chance to make a positive impact quickly.
he’ll have to score a lot, because unless a miracle happens and the CB and Keeper come in shortly, we’ll be a defense outside the Top 6 or 7 in the league, and you can’t win without good defense.
cesc slowing the pace of the game was the first thing we noticed when vieira left. the only time paddy took more than two seconds on the ball was when he was flicking the ball over someone’s head or nutmegging them. even then, he looked to release the ball quickly. we need that midfielder who can release the ball quickly and fab has never been that guy.
bergkamp would hold the ball but only to allow someone to finish a run. when dennis had the ball, defenses would nearly crap themselves trying to figure out what dennis saw that they clearly didn’t. fabregas game is similar to bergkmaps more so than vieira’s.
the thing that impressed me about nasri tonight is he looked super fit was everywhere; left, right, deep, forward, and all the etceteras. it would be a waste to restrict nasri to the flank with the form he’s shown throughout the pre-season. while cesc is the better player, samir is more dynamic. will wenger try and push cesc a little further forward to allow samir the freedom to move and dribble people? will he grant samir the opportunity to play a role similar to alex hleb’s? will he keep nasri out on the flank? it will be interesting to see.
Fabregas would release the ball much faster if he were playing in the 2002 to 2004 team. Those guys made RUNS!
There is no point releasing the ball early when the planks infront are not making intelligent runs sharply enough.
Plus with our desolate midfield and defense, it is a big gamble giving the ball away especially as we are horrid without the ball.
Personally, I think Nasri should start WITH Fabregas in a tandem right in front of Song.
Surely there is NOTHING Diaby or Denilson bring that Nasri cant in a 3 man midfield.
I’ve said all along that Nasri is one of Wenger’s fawn-boys. When Fabregas goes Nasri will be the next object of affection as van Persie was after Henry left and Fabregas was after Vieira left.
Setting aside the ever-present defensive worries for a minute, the question as we start this season is whether the side will have more dynamic play or whether we’ll revert to the horrid pedestrian possession game that has seen us become highly containable by even the more limited teams in the EPL.
I have hugely mixed feelings about Cesc. On the one hand I praise him as one of the worlds best midfielders (with no qualification needed whatsoever). However, I do worry that in our team there is a strong nexus between his play and our move to a pedestrian game.
In the old winning Wenger team we had the laser-sharp mind and sublime skills of Bergkamp playing a unique forward playmaker role, he was ably supported by Pires in a wider role who whilst not fast of foot was fast of thought and in tune with the team approach, we had Vieira a marauding figure in midfield gaining and releasing the ball with lethal intent, and Henry with lightening pace to create havoc with wrong footed defences.
Now we have Fabregas seemingly committed to a pedestrian game. There is no clear sense of how this new team wants to play and intends to break down the opposition. Where Vieira/Pires/Ljungberg/Bergkamp/Henry had a killer recipe what has Song/Fabregas/Arshavin/??? got? Some might throw in the names of RvP and Rosicky yet that’s largely academic and meaningless. They can’t stay fit. And even if they did – where’s the game plan?
Yup, as soon as Cesc leaves, Nasri will be the next captain. And then suddenly Nasri will develop a longing to finish off his career in OM. So he won’t be around too long either. Then after Nasri, Denilson/Diaby will be the next captains. No other team would want either player, so they will be permanent captains. And they will look magnificent because they will be surrounded by 16 year old players, thereby making the average age of the future Arsenal a mere 17.82 years. And Arsenal will be the most profitable 4th place team in Europe. Although by then UEFA would have taken away the 4th place spot for CL so Arsenal will be making their home in Europa. Nothing like seeing 16 year olds slog it out in Eastern snowy fields.
oh and if the last comment sounds nasty, it was not meant to be. That honor will surely go to a Spurs who will do their best to thrash Young Boys or come from behind against Young Boys of Switzerland
I’m here in Afghanistan with the Frenchies for a few weeks so I watched the France/Norway match. France dominated the match but still lost 2-1. In fairness, most of their top players weren’t available after the nonsense at the World Cup.
The thing that pissed me off is Samir Nasri played 79 minutes. The likes of Diarra and Ben Arfa only played 45. Even Benzema only played 30 minutes. With all of our injury problems, we don’t need one of our only starters being flogged in a meaningless friendly.
Samir Nasri was brilliant tonight. He seems to be finding that proper balance between when to keep the ball and when to release it. More importantly, when he keeps the ball, he’s dribbling people instead of dancing with the ball and doing nothing. Ben Arfa and Benzema looked good too.
Ole Lass was horrible tonight. He gave the ball away way too frequently for a DM. He lost the ball that led to Norway’s game winner and almost gave them a third goal. With that form, he can’t possibly whine about not getting into Real Madrid’s side. It’s amazing that he got in the squad and Flamini didn’t.
Well, all the footie I’ve seen has been that game.
Guys, check out the video on DannyT’s blog
http://arsenaltruth.squarespace.com/arsenal-truth/2010/8/11/4-days-away-from-another-almuniaflapianski-gate.html#comments
The one on 0:31 is by far the “greatest” goalkeeping gaffe I have ever witnessed. Enjoy.
If it weren’t for his hairdresser, Manny would have no highlights at all.
you would think if Wenger seems so irritated, he would do something to save everyone the agony. But maybe he is unhappy with the ref. The video also showcases some comical defending or lack of it.
Good news at least for US fans of HD footy. ESPN knows how to close a deal, before the season starts…
http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2010/08/espn-licenses-multimedia-rights-to-select-barclays-premier-league-matches-in-the-u-s-from-fox-sports-international-for-three-seasons-through-2012-13/
Can the guys at ESPN be hired at Arsenal? Ofcourse, it probably won’t make a difference unless Le Boss actually wants someone.
so, I keep checking BBC, Soccernet, Skysports…
when I wake up, middle of the day… late night…
because… of course, I fully expect to hear about the
Arsenal transfers that are going to happen!
I mean, they have to happen… we are NOT going into a season
with 3 CBs, and only one with any meaningful EPL experience, and
a tandem of keepers that absolutely have no business playing at
a Top 4 club.
I keep looking… surely… its happening… they’re just
working out the details.
I now believe he’s waiting to see how Sunday goes. Win or draw, everything is clearly fine, and we can proceed with the squad we have.
And if that doesn’t work, there’s always January to bolster our run for 4th.
You take naps in the middle of the day? How old ARE you? ;-)
I’m 9.
naps are good for you.
LOL
and I just checked the internet sites, BBC, Skysports, Soccernet…
and…
we haven’t signed anyone yet today!
;)
I love the excuse some of the Wenger-ites use, that “transfers take time, its not like buying a sandwich”…
seems to be a bit easier for everyone else!
Keeper and a CB.
Keeper and a CB.
Keeper and a CB.
(clicking my heels together 3 times as I say it)
———
and
another mistake by the refs on the goal-line…
Hungary’s goal, was NOT a goal… replays show, we
really don’t need goal-line technology, do we… because if we had it
we would be able to actually get goal calls CORRECT.
What fun would that be?
And this is disaffected, apathetic Stag disillusioned with Arsenal.
Wonder what you were like in 2004 ;)
absolute over-the-top… Arsenal Kool-Aid swilling… Wenger and Arsenal could do no wronger…
Once Vieira went… things changed some. Once Pires & Henry were sold…
well, the reality of what we do, was evident…
A funny but all-too-true story:
ARSENAL TO SET NEW INJURY RECORD?
Posted 10/08/10 08:23
Arsenal are facing up to an injury crisis remarkable even by their standards with two 18-year-olds set to make their Premier League debut for the club in the centre of midfield at Liverpool on Sunday.
Having begun last season with six players ruled out with injury, the Gunners are set to register what might well be a new record by kicking off the 2010/11 campaign with between seven and nine first-team regulars deemed unavailable.
A full injury bulletin will only be provided on Friday, but it is increasingly likely that both Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong will both start against Liverpool. In addition to long-term injury casualty Aaron Ramsey, Arsene Wenger is expected to be deprived of four other central midfielders in Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby, Alex Song and Denilson.
Wenger confirmed on Monday that he expects Fabregas, as well as Robin van Persie, to be ‘short’ for the trip to Anfield, while Song, Denilson and Diaby failed to appear for a single minute of Arsenal’s final three pre-season fixtures.
Nicklas Bendtner will be out of action until October after undergoing groin surgery, while there are also fitness doubts against Johan Djourou and Andrei Arshavin. Neither player featured in the 6-5 win over Legia Warsaw, with Wenger confirming afterwards that “We played 100 per cent of what was available”.
Wenger does at least have no injury concerns over any of his goalkeepers, with Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny all in contention to start in goal. Following Fabianski’s latest horror show in Warsaw, there has been growing speculation that the 20-year-old Szczesny will be selected at Anfield, although with two teenage debutants in midfield Wenger might look more favourably on the experience of Almunia.
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6303778,00.html
CG,
If you would care to glance a little above in this article, the above story is already reported. :)
Sorry, I was away for 3 days, and I thought I had read all the posts made in that time but I guess I missed a few.
Mourinho knows the value of a good experienced CB. Arsene doesn’t.
Senderos ruptured his achilles in training – out 8-9 months.
Is there some awful post Arsenal inury curse? I know Senderos had recent injuries but this reminds me of when Edu left, he suffered a long term injury. Didn’t Petit and Overmars face injury issues a year after they left? Can’t remember if Pires was out for a long period with the yellow submarine?
Ofcourse, in the last few years that injury curse has mostly inflicted players currently playing for Arsenal.
Ricardo Carvalho has been a valuable player – a real pro.
Mourinho likes him, had him at Porto then Chelsea and now Madrid.
He’s had a few more injuries in recent seasons yet his value to Mourinho surpasses just his onfield contribution. Mourinho needs allies in the ego-filled Madrid dressing room. Carvalho will be one of those.
I think Chelsea will miss him, anyone would.
they obviously didn’t value him much, he went for 8 Million Euros.
who didn’t value him?
Chelsea. That’s not much in todays footballing world.
They don’t believe he’s a key ingredient to their team, if they let him go for that much.
Could we have used him?
Nah.
We have 3 CB’s…!
:)
I guess Chelsea weighed it up and decided to let him go.
They have Terry who, whatever we may think of his character, is an enormous player for them and the player that commands the defence. Terry is 29, pretty robust and normally plays almost every game.
That said, I still think he’s a big loss to them.
Yes we could have used him ;-)
If we’d signed him it would have been a massive statement of intent to sort out the back. He’s a pro, he’s clever – a guy that knows what has to be done.
I somehow doubt that Chelsea would have sold him to Arsenal. Too close a competitor. Yes, I know they swapped Gallas for Cole, but I would say they came out ahead on that one.
I honestly doubt Carvalho would have ever contemplated signing for us.
He is used to playing in winning teams and he himself is a true winner.
For all Wenger’s talk of ‘winners’ – our team is stocked with coasters. Carvalho is too street smart to sign up for that. Gallas was(is?) a winner too, yet look what he got to enjoy. I dare say it drove him absolutely nuts playing in a team that pounced about.
We have a few guys that could do well in the right environment – yet currently AFC is not a battle hardened environment. It’s a love-in for Wenger’s babes.
I’d say Gallas played for a winner in Chelsea… he didn’t exactly inspire his team mates while here…
rumor has TOTTENHAM very interested in Willy.
In the Cole for Gallas swap, obviously Chelsea got the better player… one of the best LB in the world…
We keep getting drawn back into this circle jerk non-debate over finance. Is there any YAMA who doesn’t respect the basic premise that Arsenal FC tries to live within its means?
Pause….
No, I didn’t think so. We all affirm the need to act responsibly.
On Manchester United, give us a break. Manchester under Ferguson have become a commercial monster. Quoting their ‘debt’ is terribly mischievious, or perhaps just plain ignorant. They did not incur their debt as a consequence of accumulated outrageous transfer dealings, they got it by being the victims of a cynical takeover . It shouldn’t have happened and if it proves anything at all it shows (again) the fragility of the unregulated free market structure and the need for a degree of control to curb excess or unwanted practises.
Whinge all you like about Spanish clubs – they play by their own rules, Barcelona and Real Madrid are more than sport clubs, they’re iconic to Spanish culture. If the citizens agree to periodically bail out their excesses then that’s their call. I dare say the people of Spain are just loving the success of their national team ditto the people of Barcelona with their recent success.
There’s this irrational behaviour when it comes to sport. Sport is about competition and success. Winning masks a lot of a teams(clubs) flaws whether those flaws are on the field or off it. If you don’t win those flaws and weakspots will be dissected, if you win they’ll be happily overlooked. So, for Barcelona if they win and bring glory, they’ll let the leadership sort out the financial mess.
Do you think this irrational behaviour applies to Arsenal and its supporters? You bet. Wenger’s ‘ways’ have always been hard to explain. When he was a winner the things we couldn’t quite figure out were accepted and romanced as mysterious. The issue recently (last 5-6 years) is that the winning has stopped and the questions have increased.
Ricardo Carvalho off to Madrid fee was 8m.
For those of you hanging on every word by Xavi and his “competitive” comments – that little cuss seems to have a selective memory.
He remember that the current squad took about 5 years to get to where they are. Oh my god, sounds kind of familiar. For 5 years they won nothing while they retooled their squad and let their youngsters -like the gell coiffed mouth himself – get their experience.
But why believe me – the lads over at 7AM Kickoff do a nice job of it:
http://www.7amkickoff.com/2010/could-someone-junk-shot-xavis-gaping-maw/
The talk of finances is such a joke. I doubt finances are discussed on the Pompei board as much as they here.
We support one of the biggest football clubs in the world and all we have to talk about is financial issues we really know nothing about, because the football we actually do know something about is so uninspiring.
What a shame.
unfortunately, what goes on with the Arsenal finances, definitely affects what goes on with the Arsenal team on the pitch… in just about every single way.
we are about making money FIRST, and winning trophies is NOT IMPORTANT.
Yes, both a joke and a shame.
Wenger and the board should be financially responsible for the future of the club, not to use it as something to poke fun at other clubs. If Wenger and the board were so proud of their financial dealings, they should be proud in private. Yet, they proudly booast about it and use it to put down other clubs. That seems like a plea for recognition because no trophy is forthcoming through the football, as you point out.
Do other clubs care? No, especially when those other clubs beat Arsenal on the field. Now, if Arsenal never lost a game to a club less rich than themselves, they maybe Wenger could have complained. Yet, this Arsenal team is more than capable of losing to anyone, even to a team with 1/10th of Arsenal’s financial might. So this talk of financial balancing looks arrogant and hollow. It is a convenient cover to hide behind the team’s obvious shortcomings.
There is also a painful pill to swallow for Wenger. Even if Man Utd were a trillion dollars in debt, the club would never go bankrupt. Too big to fail. And even if Arsenal were debt free and Wenger poked fun of Man Utd’s debt, Ferguson would simply field a team to beat Arsenal on the field. Would Man Utd fans care if their team could (and do) beat Arsenal at will?
There is a lot of pain with the current Arsenal but one that I will always feel annoyed about is that under Wenger, Arsenal never put Man Utd to the sword. Arsenal were never able to demolish Man Utd and yes I am not counting that 4-0 Carling Cup win. I can’t stand Arsenal getting humiliated time and time again, especially at home. Seeing 6-1 away was bad but equally embarrasing were a few of the recent home losses. Instead of working towards having a team looking to avenge few recent losses to Man Utd, Wenger is building a squad that is more likely to roll over Man Utd. And then there are 18 other teams to worry about, none of them have any reason to fear Arsenal. As Edu said in his interview, there was a time when Arsenal won the game before they stepped onto the field. From what I remember, that team was not built by breaking the bank.
The Invincibles team, and those around that period of a few years… always walked onto the pitch BELIEVING they would win.
MOST opponents believed it too.
But, that goes south when you have poor keeper, and you aren’t built to be able to defend when it counts.
Wenger regularly ignores defense, and today… 5 days from kick-off, we have pathetic keepers, 3 CB’s, and only one with real EPL experience, and our only legit DM, Song, could miss the opener… is he playing every match?
we’re going to let in a lot of goals without some quick signings… I hope Chamakh is the next coming of Henry…
Yeah. And if that team went a goal down, you knew they would come back. If they dropped points, then you could be sure they would turn things around (with the exception of Nov 2004).
“There is a lot of pain with the current Arsenal but one that I will always feel annoyed about is that under Wenger, Arsenal never put Man Utd to the sword.”
So true. The most exciting victory over United recently was the one a few years back when we scored twice in the last 10 minutes, to pull out a 2-1 victory. And that was 80 minutes of miserable tension, before the thrilling conclusion.
Yeah it was painful watching that game but I suppose that made the victory even more exciting. Although as thrilling as that victory was, it also meant that Van Persie injured himself in the post goal celebration. Now, I know it does not take much for him to get injured but I still feel even that great bloody win had a price tag that Arsenal had to pay. Or maybe that RVP injury meant he started his long path of injury hell. Once he went to Arsenal’s medical staff, it was curtains.
Man Utd lost to Arsenal twice that season but still won the title so it did them no harm. Ofcourse, that Henry winner was his 2nd last goal for the club and the last time he scored a winner.
The question of finances & “financial doping” comes up time and time again and for some reason the stats about transfers (in & out) are cited AS IF THEY ARE THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. (And maybe if you play Championship Manager, etc. that IS all that matters….)
Back in the real world, however, there are other important things, like real estate holdings and debt and player salaries. Unfortunately the statistics and tables and details on these matters are not well publicized, although the intrepid blogger (with an axe to grind) can usually find the numbers to support whichever case he or she wishes to make.
In my opinion, Arsenal ARE attempting to take a sustainable financial approach featuring an emphasis on buying or developing (and handsomely compensating) young players, combined with a foray into big-time real estate (new stadium/Highbury apartments). It should be noted that the real estate market took a massive turn for the worse, inhibiting what might have been some substantial (if not wind-fall) profits. I believe the rhetoric that the reason we’re doing this is to find long term and sustainable success on the pitch. I am, I realize, a naive idiot….
Still, relative to teams that have been bought and then saddled by debt to finance the takeover (Liverpool & United) it seems a good strategy…
Other clubs operate under different philosophies/realities. Man City seems to have an owner who relates to money in an imperial and impervious manner and they are obviously going hog wild with transfers & salaries. Chelsea seems to be scaling back in the transfer market (Shevshenko actually means “burned” in Ukranian…) but still has the deep pocket owner who can back up management for players or bumped up contracts, if need be. The Spanish giants (Real & Barca) almost seem like giant state run organizations that are taking on debt with an assumption that the banks or the citizens or something will bail them out. Given that Spain is one of the PIIGS (countries that may face being dropped from the European Union, currency/finance wise, at least) it’s somewhat understandable that its top football teams behave likewise.
The bottom line is that nobody really knows how all this will play out over the next decade or two. Will the top European clubs eventually form a league following an American example with profit sharing and equity measures? Will debts be forgiven or will financial doping chickens (see for example Portsmouth) come home to roost. It’s all fascinating stuff (esp. compared to the boredom of US sports leagues) and it will be very interesting to see what happens. (My vision is a bit brighter than CK’s above….and I hope to get some joy from Arsenal in my dotage.) Day to day it’s tough to endure the pain of the austerity measures Arsenal seems to have imposed upon itself (otherwise called “stubborness”, “stupidity”, or what have you) but I’ve always liked a challenge…
are you really concerned about the next “decade or two”?
At this point, I couldn’t give a shit about next decade, in regard to a sports team.
and… what US sports leagues are boring, besides MLS?
I think they’re all pretty damned exciting… for the most part.
I think he is refering to the way the leagues are run, not the product on the field/court/pitch.
ummm. I assume you mean in regard to the next decade or two comment.
what would be boring about how American leagues are run?
It seems to me that he was just referring to the way clubs are spending money and their deals in general. US sports leagues are very button down and have more rules to follow in terms of trades (at least in football and basketball). You also don’t see teams in US leagues get docked points and relegated for money issues ala Portsmouth or drop into oblivion like Leeds or Nottingham Forest in US leagues.
there aren’t many “trades” in Soccer… extremely rare…
but it happens all the time in baseball, hockey, sometimes in basketball, and US Football… but usually a player for draft picks (in US Football).
while I think relegation would be interesting in US Sports, and love it in European football, it would never happen in the US… the Minor league teams are all affiliated with Major League teams… who infuse them with money to groom their young talent.
The system works here, so it doesn’t need changing… and it works in European football as well…
You are missing my point – and I believe Steve’s point as well. No one is advocating for a change in systems here or there. Steve simply finds the way things are run in Europe more interesting than the way it is done in the US. At least that’s what it sounds like to me when I read his comments.
Agree with Stag, Man City will become a force in the league, probably by the 11/12 season. Because of all the new signings over the past 3 years – THERE IS TREMENDOUS ANXIETY (at City) IF YOU ARE A PLAYER. Will you be the next to be sold OR given away to create roster room?
Which other teams (Pool, Villa, Fulham, Everton, Sunderland, Birmingham, etc) will take advantage of the discarded players?
I see the league even more wide open than in the past. Any away match will be a struggle.
I’m still hoping our manager will find a solution at GK. Someone that can come in and give us the solid performance at keeper that Sol gave us at CB. Lack of depth at CB is the other concern.
I can foresee improvement from many of our youngsters: Wilshere, Ramsey, (fingers crossed), Gibbs, Frimpong, and continued development from Nasri, Diaby, Djourou, Vela, Bendtner, Eboue, Denilson, and yes, and even Theo.
Core players: RvP, Cesc, Arshavin, Rosicky, Sagna, Clichy, Vermaelen, and Song.
There is so much at Arsenal to be excited about.
all the things to be excited about, are irrelevant, if you don’t have a keeper that can play at this level of football. we currently do not.
the transfer window is still open……
For those of you banging the drum about teams
SPENDING OUTSIDE THEIR MEANS… and buying titles and
all that bullshit…
Fox Soccer had a table from 2006-2010 of AVERAGE SPENDING…
(buying – selling)
frankly it was an eye opener in some cases,
it went something like:
MAN CITY – 65 Million per year
ASTON VILLA – 16.5
TOTTENHAM – 16.5
CHELSEA – 2.5
MAN U – .6
ARSENAL – MADE 6 MILLION PER YEAR
So City are spending wildly to become an elite team, and it
WILL HAPPEN, make no mistake about it.
But Chelsea and United, over the last 5 years, have pretty much
balanced their books with BUYING PLAYERS and SELLING PLAYERS.
Arsenal, in a league of their own, actually MAKING MONEY EVERY YEAR,
selling off players at a profitable rate.
“My point is that Xavi is right, we’re no longer competitive where it counts – on the field challenging for honours. We can be as fiscally sound as we like, that won’t have the supporters singing nor keep the players happy.”
Xavi’s recent comment was made while Xavi was standing in the player queue waiting for June paychecks.
Maybe we weren’t competitive last season with Barca, ManU, and Chelsea. Certainly we lacked experience depth in our roster, which (for me) contributed to weaker line ups in most of our return matches with these 3 clubs.
Yet for these 3 clubs, they have debt that exceeds US$2.25 billion dollars. Obviously the debt at Barca, is beyond comprehension from the single digit IQ of many of their players.
Most Arsenal fans are sensible to understand the phrase: ‘living within your means’.
Arsesession.
Nobody gives a shit about winning the Profit League… besides me, Arsene Wenger, and the Board.
It’s not exciting. It means nothing to most, that’s why they don’t show the standings in papers.
Chelsea, United and Barcelona ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. Their “financial issues” are only issues to FANS OF OTHER TEAMS looking for hope and reasons why their team doesn’t win.
We are not discussing a profit league, that is your own fabricated term…….to fit your argument.
If Arsenal had structured their club as these key competitors, we would be competitive, BUT IRRESPONSIBLE TO THE CLUB and consequently IRRESPONSIBLE TO THEIR OWN FANS.
Ask Portsmouth fans how they relish their FA Cup win, under the prudent spending of H’rry.
THEY LOVE THE FACT THAT THEY WON THE FA CUP.
Apparently you don’t know or understand that!
Do you know any Portsmouth Supporters? I do…
They are a MINNOW winning a major trophy. Their supporters are fantastic, among the best in England, and the appreciated the attempt to actually WIN SOMETHING, not just trying to make money.
Why wouldn’t a club with so much dire news be THRILLED to win a Cup? It makes more sense to me than a big club who has somehow decided they are too good to even really try.
And what football club do the Portsmouth fans have?
Manchester United is the most valuable team in professional sports. A winning brand.
http://www.cbssports.com/soccer/story/13659624/forbes-manchester-united-most-valuable-franchise-in-sports
Fans hate the owners, but I don’t see any one knocking down the doors to buy the team….do you. Must not be a good investment.
That said, Arsenal are very close in value ( ManU) with a much more liquid financial statement.
“Fans hate the owners.”
Who cares? They love a winner.
No one’s knocking down the doors to buy them = not a good investment?
Ha. That’s illogical on so many levels. Not to mention your wild speculation.
“That said, Arsenal are very close in value ( ManU) with a much more liquid financial statement.”
Love to see your link on that. All I know for sure is we are most definitely in their shadow in terms of winning. And that’s how they’ve built THE most valuable brand.
I believe this is the full list…….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes'_list_of_the_most_valuable_football_clubs
Arsenal good for third. That would seem appropriate.
I gave you a specific list. Why do you change discussion?
“No one’s knocking down the doors to buy them = not a good investment?
Ha.
That’s illogical on so many levels. Not to mention your wild speculation.”
Besides ManU, Pool, Portsmouth, Everton, Villa, Hull, Stoke, West Ham (just in Premier League),
There are many football clubs looking for an investor/sugar daddy to bail them out of their debts – like City.
Look over the past few years, since the real estate markets imploded and financial markets were rocked with derivatives – very few super wealthy want any part of this ego game of ownership.
“Look over the past few years, since the real estate markets imploded and financial markets were rocked with derivatives – very few super wealthy want any part of this ego game of ownership.”
Right. Which is why your point about no one knocking down the door to buy Man U, specifically, is no point at all.
It is the very point.
Arsenal to break the unofficial injury record.
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6303778,00.html
Two 18-year olds to start at Anfield. May become three if Arsene decides Szczesny is his best GK.
The English League, more than the others… is a battle of attrition. Cold difficult Winter, no break, brutal schedule…
that means you need DEPTH. Lots of it.
Chelsea have depth, and it is/was often the difference with them winning…
I’ll say it again, for those who are haters… Man City have MASSIVE DEPTH in their squad. In the long season, that’s a major positive…
They WILL be Top 4 this year, and could make a run at a Cup or Title.
Depth rules in the EPL… because injuries are certain.
Our lack of depth, is regularly why we fade… just look at the CB situation, Vermaelen goes down? then what?
That’s where a Sol Campbell, is beyond valuable to a team like Arsenal.
“We’ve given up on the idea of him arriving now, but maybe he’ll come in January when Arsenal are out of the Premier League title race,” said Xavi. “Their team are just not competitive.”
______________________________
There’s a bit of bad blood a-happening here. Obviously Barcelona are annoyed at Arsenal for digging their toes in. There is rationale on all sides. Where reason departs is in the amount Barcelona offered for one of the worlds greatest midfielders entering his prime years.
There are two possibilities. The first being they knew Arsenal would likely reject the low offer and they were ok with this and went ahead anyway just to destabilise Cesc in preparation for an eventual transfer in the next 12 months. Or, they thought the transfer had a real chance of happening at a lower amount on the basis that Arsenal would feel compelled to sell with Fabregas perhaps pressing harder for the sale.
It seems to me, either way, Barcelona have acted in a clever if Machiavellian manner. I’ve said before, they don’t need him immediately, yet in the next year or two a prime-Fabregas may be just the infusion they need as the current midfield wanes a bit. They can’t lose. Fabregas loves them, the only thing that could positively delay Fabregas returning is a successful Arsenal team NOW with a bright future ahead. Xavi’s right in saying “Their team are just not competitive”, that’s just the painful truth and that’s exactly why Fabregas supported Barcelona’s push for a transfer. And why in January if we are out of the title race it will happen again, and if not then it will happen next off-season.
I think Barcelona did balk at our asking price, and did think we’d eventually sell for “their price”… because Cesc wanted to leave.
It’s a BAD situation for Arsenal. Yes, if we are not in the title race in January, the talk will start up again, though Cesc will have played in the CL… so he won’t help them in that campaign.
—
I disagree on the “competitive” commentary.
We ARE competitive. Every single season. That’s why Wenger is allowed to do, just about anything he wants.
His record for remaining competitive is OUTSTANDING.
He’s never failed to make the Top 4, even with his stubborn frugal ways.
We are not TITLE challengers, but we are Top 4 every year.
and we got played off the pitch at the Emirates against vaunted Barcleona, and it ended 2-2!
Then we SCORED FIRST at Barcelona, and actually LED THE CL tie!
(before the Messi show)…
so, even there, Wenger can’t point to it and say, we were competitive.
You’ve succumbed to Wengerism. You’re confusing sustaining our financial viability with being competitive in a sporting sense.
Competitive to Xavi and Fabregas is competing for honours (titles and cups) not for a top 4 finish. In this context we are not competitive and haven’t been since 2004.
Wenger is playing mind games with supporters.
Arsenal FC does not exist to balance its books, repay the stadium debt and make up the numbers. The stadium only exists to house a great winning Arsenal TEAM. That’s it.
Wenger switches it around, he reverses the order, he tells you that financial viability is the master when it’s only the servant.
Where’s the great team Wenger? Not the team that will get us 3rd or 4th, but the team that will go head to head all season long and be crowned champions?
No, Kiwi, I do not believe its “Wengerism” alone.
Do you really believe the Arsenal Football Club, the board… are UN-happy with the profits and the financial success of the last 5 years? the lowering of the debt?
They LOVE IT. Wenger is simply carrying out “the PLAN”… perfectly.
If we were to win a title or trophy, all the better… but as long as we can maintain a competitive team, sell out the stadium, and make lots of money, ARSENAL are happy.
The stadium … is a big immaculate pristine sanitized piece of architecture. They want no singing there, no standing at the matches, no REAL fans. They want 60,000 new faces every week.
Its 100% CORPORATE.
So, the team, trying to maintain a Top 4 spot, while making lots of money, perfectly represents the stadium and outlook of the club. It is by design.
We aren’t the Arsenal @ Highbury… where the North Bank and Clock End seranade each other all match… and stand all match… in a quirky, unique stadium, springing up in a neighborhood…
the romance is gone, and so is “that Arsenal”.
I agree with much of what you say Stag.
My point is that Xavi is right, we’re no longer competitive where it counts – on the field challenging for honours. We can be as fiscally sound as we like, that won’t have the supporters singing nor keep the players happy.
Team Kiwi here. The cracks in The Plan are splitting further open.
Wenger complains, almost incomprehensibly, that he wouldn’t look so stubborn if we had won something in the last 5 years. He really won’t like what people say if we finish outside the Top Four. We can’t fall as far as ‘pool?
Mike Tyson used to say everyone has a Plan, until they get hit. As we already don’t win anything, the only way further down is if AFC finishes outside the CL. My fear is people aren’t going to accept the magnitude of Wenger’s hubris until Arsenal is on the (competitive) mat.
first of all, while I understand what Arsenal FC are doing / trying to do… obviously, I don’t like it either…
but where do you see “cracks” in the PLAN? As long as we are Top 4, it can go on for a LONG TIME.
Love the Tyson quote, but we haven’t been hit.
The “HIT” would be finishing outside the Top 4, because that’s the financial hit that would be seen as “failure” by the board, it would cost the club money, and things might change.
Having said all that, I still fully expect a new keeper and CB before the window closes.
We’ll have our best player for one more season. As of this writing, we still have no defense. Last season, ‘pool showed that Top Four for Big Four is not a birthright. The trends all point downward.
“The “HIT” would be finishing outside the Top 4, because that’s the financial hit that would be seen as “failure” by the board, it would cost the club money, and things might change.”
Which is exactly what my post says. For years, we have feared that Arsenal would win nothing under Wenger’s recent strategy. That has now been firmly established. My next fear is that we will have to finish outside the Top Four before we consider turning this ship around.
Sustaining averageness speaks a lack of ambition that will perpetuate itself. More reason to expect things will get worse than they’ll magically get better
Cesc leaving for is the next glaring evidence of the spread. How long before the Arsenal brand is that of ‘also-ran’?
Our difference is that I’ve thought this Plan is as benign as you do.
(Site quirk split this into two posts, when I intended one.)
(sigh) NEVER thought this Plan is as benign as you do.
Wenger seems to want a stop-gap keeper. I’m guessing he thinks “if I can’t get a stop-gap for a cheap price I’ll run with Almunia again”.
This perfectly personifies our problem.
Wenger won’t budge.
We have a clear issue at GK. His answer, try and sign a veteran on the cheap. If the selling club won’t meet his tight terms he will stick with an inadequate player. He can’t focus on the present because his mind is on the future with Szczesny.
When this season’s campaign subsides, and the media questions him on his lack of action pre-season, he’ll dismiss their accussations. He’ll make reference to the fact that he did try and sign players. Yet the truth is he wasn’t trying to address the weakness he was simply trying to tide the team over until the nominated youngling (Szczesny) could fill the role. And the solution was only ever going to come if the selling club acceded to his tight terms. In every sense it’s his way or no way.
I do think Arsene is under immense pressure to bring in another CB and GK, not only from fans but also based on our recent performances and I’m sure Gazidis and the board may have quietly whispered into his ear.
Will he? Yes, he might. But in his obstinacy, may just pluck some cheap pieces of shite to placate the masses.
Sometimes, it is said one can’t see the forest for the trees, or is it see the trees for the forest? :) Whichever!!! Arsene’s biggest problem has always been his obstinacy and his inability to change on the fly, whether it’s tactics during a game or longer term, squad reassessment during a season or during pre-season.
Arsene lives in a world which I constantly dream about, but in which I have been constantly reminded that it’s only a dream. Therefore, although I still keep my dream in order to maintain my sanity, I realize I live in a world which is far different and therefore, have learned to “play the game”. Arsene has not yet learned how to play the game.
In his rose tinted world, Cesc will stay with us forever because of loyalty, Clichey will regain his form of 3 seasons past, RVP will not get injured for the first time ever, Walcott will miraculously gain football intelligence, Diaby and Denilson will suddenly emerge from the dark shadows and be world class, Cooch will be another 25 year old Sol Campbell, Vela will not get injured playing a friendly for Mexico, Rosicky will once again become the “maestro”, and Mooney and Flappianski will suddenly become the greatest GK tandem in EPL history.
When this fails to materialize, he will grudgingly admit they are too young and next year will be great because they have one more years’ experience. When our team has become the oldest in the EPL some 10 years from now he will still be using the same argument to rationalize our failures. However, he will still maintain his legacy as having coached the greatest club ever, not to have won a trophy (outside of the Emirate’s cup) in 15 years.
At that time, my grandson (not yet born) will still be cheering “for the Arsenal”, my son will be getting divorced (even though he is not married yet) and I wont give a shit, because just waking up alive each morning is a blessing and the fact that AFC is now a League 1 team will also be a blessing.
Okay for a moment of levity comes this headline from ESPNSoccernet:
Young Boys Wankdork Erection Relief
I kid you not.
Nothing wrong with “ERECTION RELIEF”, it’s the very foundation upon which this world has been built ;)
:) Along with rum.
So according to 5Live today one of the reasons for O’Neill’s resignation was a decision being made by Villa to sell Brad Friedel to Fulham as their replacement for Mark Schwarzer.
Do not have an idea whether or not its true – just reporting what I heard.
Also, getting information from the French Arsenal Supporters group that Spahic was not in the lineup for Montpellier’s win over Bordeaux. And in his last time playing for them was doing a stadium walk around to in essence say goodbye.
Again just reporting.
I like it!
Spahic to Arsenal, and Schwarzer to Arsenal…
(I think we’d ALL prefer Friedel)
I’d love to have Friedel and hey if Villa were willing to sell him to Fulham maybe they’d sell him to us instead.
I suspect he’ll cost double what Schwarzer does…
as Schwarzer only has 1 to 2 years left…
and Wenger seems convinced that Mannone and CZ are the future!
If we were to buy Given, that’d be it.. he’d be our No.1 for the next 5 years.
Ashley Young, whom we all think is a good young player, is a target of Tottenham.
That, would suck.
Given has given an interview where he says if he does not start this weekend he wants to sit down with Mancini and discuss a move.
He says at 34 years old he can not be playing on a weekly basis.
Also and more interesting news –
Martin O’Neill has resigned as manager of Aston Villa with immediate effect.
pretty simple really… City have Given AND Hart.
Both are better than our keepers.
Both are not going to play regularly. One will play most games, the other plays sparingly.
So, Wenger asked about Hart, was rebuffed, so he asked about Given.
Makes sense to me… Not sure who City prefer.
O’Neill quits = Villa are going to sell Milner against his wishes, and NOT spend the money coming in to strengthen, and there is talk that Ashley Young might be sold as well.
Hard to maintain a top spot in the league, when you sell your best players… that’s why Arsene is KING at the AFC. He sells his best players, makes the club money, AND remains a top 4 team.
Arsene’s Magic Hat!
;)
“O’Neill quits = Villa are going to sell Milner against his wishes, and NOT spend the money coming in to strengthen, and there is talk that Ashley Young might be sold as well.”
I agree.
With O’Neill departing, Arsene should place a bid for Friedal.
that’s just what i was about to say!
Me too :)
I liked Ashley Young even at Watford and thought Villa made a very smart move to sign that kid. Walcott for Ashley Young, anybody?
I would take Young over Walcott any day. Been singing his praises the past 3 seasons.
Out and out winger with pace, excellent crosser of the ball, two footed, competitive, decent in the air, excellent defender and free kick taker.
Whats there not to like. For all the talk about SWP, Lennon and Walcott, I’m surprised he didn’t go to SA for the WC.
Ashley Young is an excellent young player… different type player to Walcott, but I’d rather have Young as well.
Villa don’t want Walcott, or his wages!
but I don’t see Arsene getting him, or trying to, because he’ll cost a fair price. I think Liverpool is linked with him.
I could see us getting SWP, for a short price of 5 or 6 million.
But I’d LOVE Ashley Young and Friedel for 15 to 20 Mill?
What would that duo cost?
@What would that duo cost?
Pride, more than anything else?
lol
Thank you vibe :) I needed a smile. As Al Pacino said in The Devils Advocate “Vanity is my favourite sin.”
O’Neill quitting is a bombshell. What is it with BPL teams that have American owners? Why would you purge your team of it’s best players and a top manager when they’re so close?
No way Man City allow Arsenal to have Given or Hart; certainly not on loan. They will need two good keepers for the season. Given and Hart will be on City’s 25 man roster.
I touched on it before but the difference between City and Chelsea is that Chelsea was already a good team before the money came in. They finished in the top four the season before Abramovich bought the club. He just injected ridiculous funds into an already good team that allowed them to improve. City were never that good a team so they’ve tried to build a team from scratch. Right now, they’re a team of good players but not a good team. That will take time.
I’m not believing that Wenger is looking to bring in a top CB. Arsenal paid a lot of money for Kosceilny. When was the last time Arsenal paid that type of money for a guy to sit on the bench? It will be Kosceilny and Vermaelen. I hope Arsene knows what he’s doing because if they play like I think they will, it doesn’t matter if we had Iker Casillas in goal.
Hart and Given will be on the 25 man roster because they are “homegrown”.
Add M.Johnson, Barry, Lescott,(Milner when he arrives and any 2 from Ireland, Bridge, Richards, Bellamy, Onuoha, SWP, A. johnson, and they meet their quota.
the problem is, many of those players aren’t going to be too happy NOT playing much… and they’ll have to release, loan out, or sell someone!
(or have them paid to sit in the stands until January)
and I still think Wenger WILL bring in a CB… before the window closes,
as well as a keeper…
I don’t think he is oblivious to the issues… no way.
He is stubborn and wants things done his way, and in a frugal manner…
but we are bringing in 2 players… CB and Keeper.
One day we are linked to Pepe Reina and the next day it is Given on loan.
Typical Arsenal, isn’t it?
typical “silly season”… not really an Arsenal issue.
Given on loan is far more believable than Arsenal spending 23 Mill. on a keeper!
The reality is… either one would be an upgrade on what we have…
Arseblog asks an excellent question – Why would City give us Given?
why not?
they’re allegedly about to sign Milner and Balotelli, and they already need to sell or loan out 9 players!
If they sign those 2, it will mean they need 11 to go in the next few weeks.
Anything is possible.
I think we WILL get a keeper in…
be it Shay Given, or Schwarzer… or someone else.
I do believe it will happen.
Before the start of the season? Not sure. But before the window closes.
If we can get a Center Back as well, with a bit of EXPERIENCE, then
I think we could be pretty good. 3rd place.
We could have a good season, and maybe if we get lucky with injuries
this season, we might be able to be in the fight until the end, just like last season.
Seriously,
if you believe Wenger is going anywhere… you are a dreamer.
He just said he’d like to extend his contract… the club LOVES this manager… success being Top 4, he has been perfect… and the profit and debt reduction has been MAGICAL.
There is absolutely ZERO reason or chance that he’d get fired, unless
we dropped out of the Top 4…
It could happen if we don’t address the CB and Keeper… but I am
pretty sure we will address BOTH before the window closes.
Shay Given would be an improvement, I’d take him… be it on loan or whatever… and we’ll get a CB as well.
I think last season was a rare opportunity to nick a title – an opportunity which is unlikely to immediately repeat.
I won’t argue the toss on the squad because I’ll be repeating what I have already said. What I will say is this, the difference between winning and ‘coming close’ is more than a matter of the points that separate you. You can shadow the winner and yet be light years away from being good enough to emulate them.
It’s about who really has the fire in the belly to dig in when the tanks empty. And for all the nonsense I here about how strong this attack is – just wait for the summer to pass. Wait until Robin is needing to be ‘rested’ or is out with another injury, who is of the quality to create and execute chances against teams who know how to frustrate us? Remember last year, it was Fabregas who carried a load of our goalscoring burden not the wonderful attacking contingent – Arshavin (flogged), Bendtner (inj), Walcott (inj), Rosicky (inj), Vela (awol), Eduardo (inj/declining), Eboue (lol).
When the positivity of summer’s hopes and dreams passes we’ll be left looking at the same old same old. Just as you say Mike, almost nothing (good) has happened.
Chelsea: I still dislike the new-rich, yet that’s because I’m a follower of a club that is a traditional power. But I’m big enough to admit that they have stood the early test of time. They didn’t fall over post-Mourinho. They took disappointment on the chin with ManU coming back at them and then responded. Credit to them. They’re a serious club with a serious manager. They don’t flash the cash the way they first did when they needed to create quick momentum. Now they simply retain their best and freshen up the squad a bit. Their salary bill isn’t even that much higher than ours – try explaining that!!!
ManU: For me the team has been declining for several years and yet they were good enough to win it. I haven’t been impressed by their midfield – it looks a little utilitarian. With each passing year you get the impression that Scholes and Giggs are papering the cracks. With Ronaldo going, Rooney is the main-man yet Berbetov has struggled. That said, Ferguson’s teams mirror his determination and they always play a broader game than we do. They’re dynamic and they understand the English competition.
ManC: Juries out. The squad is big and imposing, yet I can’t immediately see a core. Chelsea had an English core and Mourinho cleverly built around this. That core remains even today. Not so sure with ManC. That said, they’re more than capable of top-4. If they get a head of steam up, they might challenge, if they struggle early, the manager will come under incredible pressure.
The really sad thing is that if Wenger had the nous (humility?) to make 2 major signings he could increase our chances expotentially. Chances to win something and chances to keep Cesc.
By the way the move for Given is supposedly a Loan deal.
I’m sorry but what exactly has changed this season?
1. Silvestre left – he didn’t bring anything to begin with.
2. Senderos left- see above
3. Gallas still in limbo – but really he could never be counted on down the stretch as he usually spent March through May nursing a back, calf or other injury
4. Sol left – this probably the worst loss in the back because of his leadership but there is no proof that he can sustain the level he did across a whole season including cup runs.
5. Eduardo gone – loved the dude but he needed to be gone.
6. Chamakh in – a serious upgrade over Eduardo and Nicky B who is taking his annual rest earlier this season.
7. Koosh in – I am still out on this guy he shows some ability but he also makes some bad decisions.
8. Our keepers are the same set that kept us in it for up to the last 2 1/2 weeks of the season with all the injuries we had.
9. Noone except Nicky B has a serious long-term injury except Ramsey. We went into the start of last season with Nasri out, Djourou out, Clichy injured, Arshavin had a hurt foot, Cesc missed the first few weeks. All of those players are here. Cesc is not available because of lack of training.
Look I am not blind to the fact that we need a solid keeper to keep the seat warm for Szczensy and we need another CB.
I think you will see an announcement on a CB within the next few days. And yes, I have something to base that on.
I think a Goal Keeper will be coming in but it likely won’t be until the last moment.
When you look at the other teams around noone except City has added significant players. Chelsea and United are given their status because of what they have achieved in the last 5 years – fair game. But at the same having watched most of their pre-season I am telling you that they should not be considered run away favourites as they are the last few years.
Tottenham have done nothing – zilch and they look set to off load Crouch back to Liverpool.
The title is going to be wide open this year. Our chances are hampered if we don’t fix the glaring deficiencies, but I am siding with the pundits and saying Arsenal will contend.
if nobody improved except City, and there are many here who think despite the players they brought in, they aren’t better…(not me, I know they are)…
then everyone are still far behind United and Chelsea.
Tell me how teams are closer if nobody improved, and everything is much the same.
?
I had a bad feeling back in April that Wenger won’t get a new keeper. And I thought back then, like I do now, that if Wenger is unable to get a decent keeper before this season starts, he should hand in his resignation. I would feel the same even if Wenger had signed 3-4 new experienced players in various positions this summer.
While there are multiple problem areas in the squad, for me the keeper issue is the most important. Even if Arsenal had 10 world class outfield players, then a bad keeper would still have cost them games, especially if you have keepers that can score an own goal from a harmless back pass. Also, if the keeper is so nervy and error prone, then there is a very good chance defenders will go for balls that should be the keepers, resulting in bizarre own goals. Having a bad keeper also undermines the hard work that the rest of the players might put in, especially against stuck’em opponents who kick Arsenal for 90 minutes. If Arsenal work hard to get a 1-0 lead against Big Sam like teams, then it is pretty pathetic that Arsenal give up a late soft goal just because the keeper has a phobia about holding onto the ball.
But ofcourse, there have been some reports put in the media about Arsenal trying to get a keeper. This gives the appearance that Wenger tried. That may be good enough for some, but that is not good enough for the players, one of whom played on with a broken leg last season. Sure there are plenty of players in the team who don’t feel motivated to play when the big games come around and some like Diaby are capable of scoring own goals under no pressure but there are atleast 3-4 players who do care about winning (TV, AA, Cesc, RVP). But if no keeper is brought in, then eventually no one will care anymore. AA will never pass the ball to anyone, RVP will try more long distance shots into Row infinity, TV’s face will have the panic expression that Senderos had on Drogba sightings and Cesc will be busy trying to stay injury free to prepare for his dream move to Barca next summer.
And all Wenger will do is plead with his team to believe in his vision and ask everyone to stay together. On game days, he will have his head in his hands and then blame the refs and other teams of bad tactics. A decade ago, Wenger was the only manager who stood up to Ferguson and responded with witty comments. But that wit is long gone now. Wenger’s press conferences are embarrassing to watch. The whole situation is quite sad really. It would have been nice to see Arsenal win more titles under Wenger but Wenger got side tracked in lowering the debt and holding onto his principles. Although no principle can explain having the two worst keepers in the team. And no principle can justify getting rid of Jens for Almunia.
Almunia for Jens was a bad call – but Jens was past his prime and needed to go.
yes it was a bad call. If Jens was past his prime, then he should not have been replaced with a keeper who will never find his prime. Or not replaced by a keeper who peaks in 1-2 games per season and then gets reset back to pathetic for the next season.
Wilshere positively sparkles in comparison to ‘Wally’, but I don’t think he is anywhere near ready to stake a claim (although we could do with a ‘finished product’ version of him). Someone who can play technical football but also has the spikeyness that so many of our docile midfielders lack.
We may as well throw him in though and see if he can spark something. If we go to Liverpool and set-up how I think we will, we’ll get hammered by giving away cheap concessions – and Liverpool will take advantage of the resultant set-piece buffoonry at the back.
How many times do we have to roll out the spilt milk line – “it’s history now, let’s just move on”? Wenger assured supporters that he both saw and would address the defensive issues within the team. Well, whatever, he’s cleaned out the experienced CB’s and brought in a Kos (the new Cygan?). Cygan for those who don’t know was a player from a no-name French team who had won an accolade and played well for about 6 games. After that his form and confidence declined much aided by Wenger continually playing him at left back. Now, Cygan didn’t turn quick, so you can imagine the carnage.
As for the GK situation – it’s hilarious.
Call it for what it is. Wenger’s talked a little bit of nonsense for the press and supporters to feast upon, yet he had no intention to change his MO one iota.
I really enjoy the writing of Amy Lawrence yet she has a tendency toward the sentimental, and being sucked in by the seemingly urbane talk of Wenger. Yet at the end of the day, with the season beckoning, he’s relying on the same contingent of players to organically improve.
I read Fabregas quotes that Nip(?) posted the link to. It’s clear that he doesn’t believe in Wenger’s team. He WANTS to win. I’ve said it all along. WINNING is where it’s at for these players. Wenger’s out of touch. He’s trying to re-write the thing that makes sport sport. We’ve got Fabregas ‘on loan’ for maybe a year out of courtesy, and instead of Wenger taking compelling action to try and do the one thing that may make Cesc want to stay on he does the opposite.
Yep – I noticed that. “Wenger thinks we have a really good chance”, not “I believe”, like previous years.
Wenger is verging on lunacy. It’s getting to the stage where Frimpong and Wilshere putting in mediocre performances in meaningless games actually is enough for him to abandon thoughts of acquiring a new central midfielder.
Fabregas will be committed at the start, of that there is little doubt. But as soon as one of the rest of the clowns Wenger has assembled makes mistake after mistake, his head will drop and his resentment towards Wenger will grow.
Financial remuneration issues aside, Fabregas is pissing yet another year of his career down the drain here, and things could get very ugly if events on the pitch turn out as expected with such an errant collective dynamic.
It’s so transparent that Fabregas wants to go. He hasn’t once said that he wants to stay and play another season for Arsenal – it’s all couched in the terms that he respects Arsenal’s decision….or quoting Wenger’s belief in the squad – not his own!!!
That’s what makes this so farcical. The club captain wants to be elsewhere and doesn’t believe in the teams ability to compete. But we’re asked to celebrate this situation as if its a ‘victory’. Then again, we’re asked to celebrate 3rd or 4th place like a victory too.
For the last 5 years Wenger’s been trying to reinvent the rules to suit his own extreme views.
‘We have to make that final hurdle, and that’s linked with belief and experience and maturity,’ he said.
‘I think we can make the difference because the team is growing and this year will not be the same animal as last year. They will go into the big games and say, “Come on, let’s show who we are now.”‘
—————————————————–
Another load of drivel spouted by Wenger. If we win big games, how are we different from the 2008/09 team?
He seems to think the problem is soley a mental one when it’s only one part of the problem. The realisation that some of these players are nowhere near good enough seems to continually evade his thought-process.
Only the eternal optimist will think that this squad can sustain a title challenge. If we we haven’t fallen well behind in the warm weather, we’ll splutter and choke in the cold. There is nothing to suggest we have the physical and mental toughness to outlast the battle hardened squads.
In cups we’ll either throw them or we’ll get found out in the head-to-head encounters by a serious team that can frustrate us and kill us off.
The thought of watching us flump again is almost too much.
Is there anthing to be upbeat about? Wilshere excites me, yet I fear he’ll follow the path of Vela and Merida. Hopefully being English will FORCE Wenger to play him. Maybe a little bit of Wilshere’s footballing smarts will rub off on the staggeringly awful 60,000 pound per week Theodore Walcott. Maybe Wilshere is savvy enough to get something out of Walcott? If not, we should sell him to Aston Villa or anyone who will take him.
Henri Lansbury called up to the England U21 squad. That now makes 4 Arsenal starlets playing England in some capacity. So a team that gets chastised for not having English talent suddenly looks like a factory for the English team.
Also, keep checking you Arsenal news outlets – lookslike there is a signing eminent. CB.
Here’s the hot one for you tonight:
Arsenal have approached Man City about the availability of one Shay Given.
According to my source, Given thought he was coming to Arsenal before City.
We need to sell Fabianski quickly. I’m sure he’s got good technical qualities but he seems to have two other significant problems.
1. He reads and anticipates the game wrong way too often.
2. He’s mentally weak.
I have never fancied Fabianski and called him out ever since people were declaring we should drop Almunia for him. I’ve always believed him to be weak and he will never make it as a top keeper, regardless of how talented he might be in training.
As it’s too close to the start of the season to find a good keeper available, Wenger needs to go back to Manny. We can play Woji bear in the Carling Cup games this year. If Manny starts screwing up too frequently or seeing ghosts again, the opportunity for Woji to play a few league games is there. He would have been in and around the first team enough to not be too over-awed by the moment. If he plays well he can keep his position.
With that, I think it’s a poor decision to start Woji against Liverpool this Sunday. Wenger has given Fabianski several chances to take the number one jersey and he continually screws it up. Tough break. It’s Woji’s turn. Make Vito number 3 and put Fabianski to the curb on Thursday morning.
We all know what should have happened but Wenger reacted too slowly to Fulham’s circumstances and we’re stuck with what we’re stuck with. That milk is spilt. No sense in dwelling on that.
Bang on.
just 9 players in our Fantasy League?
really people?
its FREE!
What’s the deadline to join?….I’m planning on it (had a little trouble getting my password straight, etc…) but I haven’t figured out my team name yet….
No deadline – you just wind up at a disadvantage if you join after the league starts.
Pretty entertaining Community Shield (2nd half at least) match this morning….3-1 to United, with Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) looking tiny but very good (and using his head to hilarious effect for his goal), although it was Berbatov looking like our own Mexican (Vela) with the match winning chip in injury time.
Hilario would slot right into our pack of keepers, but a Van Der Saar would be a nice (older) player/coach for us to pick up on deadline day. (LOL!) VDS looked great, in fact, even with Chris Smalling (very poor) playing in front of him….
Although both teams looked a little short for fitness and, as such, the match was pretty wide open, I fear that Arsenal are a big step down in class from either….
right on the money…
I need to interject that I just watched the Community Shield and for most of the match was thoroughly bored –
Things I noted:
1. Rooney is still crap
2. You want to beat Chelsea attack that defence- they looked completely uninspired. JT didn’t even try to stop the cross that set up the first goal.
3. Cole must be Madrid dreaming because he was pressed all over the place.
4. If Chelsea have to open with Gomes in goal and that back four – they could have some issues.
But it is preseason and I don’t read too much into it.
really DAG?
Rooney is in the Top 3 strikers in the league, many consider him #1.
Chelsea are Double Champions, and everybody can attack them all they want… I don’t think they’ll mind.
Ash is still one of the best full-backs in the WORLD.
Chelsea have ONE issue, can they get more points than UNITED.
Its a TWO TEAM RACE.
These are the top 2… by far.
Don’t read too much into it, that’s good… because these teams are loaded with talent and have won the last 6 league titles.
Doubt that’s changing.
I am not going to get into why I think this – I think its pretty clear.
But I’ll ask you – outside of what Rooney has done during the EPL what has done to deserve being claimed as the top 3 or top striker in the world?
He doesn’t perform outside of the EPL in anyway shape or form – or maybe its better to say he doesn’t perform with any consistency.
Look at Cesc – regardless of the competition – he performs and 9 times out of 10 delivers – regardless of the stage.
Rooney is a member of the same hype squad that hyped up Walcott being the next big English star.
Don’t get me wrong – Rooney is talented but I do not think he is in the top 3 for strikers top 5 or 10 maybe.
As for Cashley – I don’t doubt his stature as the best LB in the game. I simply said today he looked like he already was looking like he wanted to leave for Real Madrid. He was woeful today and got victimized more than once. Valencia drilled him off the ball a number of times.
Chelsea have multiple issues and the biggest is their back four. Mark my words they will have issues there this year and most of it will come at the expense of John Terry. Every Premier League manager should look at what squads did against England and how they attacked Terry and turned him around – when that was done – he and England were toast. The first goal by Rooney today was allowed because Terry couldn’t be bothered to try and stop Rooney’s low pass.
It is no longer a two team race. Neither Chelsea and United did anything significant so far to improve their clubs. There is still time and they may but they haven’t. They’ve gotten a year older.
This is a 5 or 6 team race this season. Hell there are even pundits out there thinking United could finish out of the top 4. I won’t go that far but it shows you the aura of United has been diminished significantly.
It will be a fun season that is for sure.
Other than ManCity… exactly WHO has improved in order to CATCH United and Chelsea?
I think Benayoun in and Ballack out, with Essien back, makes Chelsea BETTER.
I think United’s young players are going to get better…
Rooney.
I can’t even argue with you on this, because he is just a really great player. He is excellent for Manchester United… has been for years, and will get better…
I don’t give a shit what he does for England…
6 team race for first? based on what?
Only City have attempted to improve with incoming players that could have a major impact on the team…
we are worse.
I think United & Chelsea could be slightly better or the same. Nobody else in the CHASING group made any significant offseason improvements.
And to show you I am not completely insane about Cashley and JT:
Read this from the Sun:
“And Terry was found wanting again when Berbatov – who is hardly renowned for lightning pace – slipped between the Blues’ defence before nonchalantly lifting the ball over keeper Hilario.
They were defensive slips you could see coming, as throughout the game JT was pulled all over the place by the United attack.
Wily Alex Ferguson – who started Michael Carrick just two days after insisting the midfielder was out for two weeks – had clearly identified the area between Terry and left-back Ashley Cole as Chelsea’s main weakness.
All of United’s best moves went through that channel and provided the source for the opening goal.
Terry’s failure to get closer to Rooney in the chase for Paul Scholes’ punt allowed his England pal to turn the ball through JT’s legs for Antonio Valencia to score.
It is not the first time the space between Terry’s legs have caused him problems in recent months. ”
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3086711/John-Terry-is-in-last-chance-saloon.html#ixzz0w47sEBLo
United didn’t beat them in a real game last year.
nor did we. nor did Liverpool. 6 and 0 versus the alleged big 4.
gave up 1 GOAL in the 6 games.
Somehow, with Essien back… and he’s excellent defensively shielding
the back 4, I think they’ll manage!
It’s a scrimmage game, that has no bearing on the title race.
Chelsea have LOTS of cash to spend, if they falter somewhere, its very likely they’ll bring someone in to remedy the cause.
Good piece as always DAG….And I think you’ve touched on most of the essential “qualities” of our four keepers. The only thing I would add is that I might cut Mooney a bit of extra slack in that he had a serious family tragedy last season (mother-in-law’s sudden death in a car accident) added to all the pressure he was already under. Also, I would note that Sneezy, young and raw as he might be, seems to be a strong communicator and unafraid to talk/yell at his older/more experienced teammates playing in front of him (at least that’s how it seemed to me watching a crap stream yesterday). This element, I think, has been sorely lacking in our defense and one of the reasons we’ve been so extremely poor at set pieces and at holding leads in recent seasons. And he can hit the cross bar with a free kick given a single chance in front of an audience! http://younggunsblog.co.uk/2010/08/video-szczesnys-cross-bar-challenge-no-keeper-signing/ Maybe Sneezy is the sort who actually responds positively under pressure….
It does seem unbelievably inexcusable that we have not made the necessary moves in the transfer market and we are looking at sending out a defense at Anfield that would strain even my own sense of “hope” or optimism. Maybe I’m missing something, but it seems that (in addition to whatever shaky keeper we start) 2 out of 3 of Koscielny/Djourou/Frimpong will be alongside TV5 in the center of our defense. CA-RAZY!!
So, now that this Polish exhibition match is behind us, if I were AW, I’d probably play Mooney at Liverpool with Sneezy as #2 and prepared to be our “cup” keeper for the season, though I bet throwing Sneezy directly into the cauldron would work just as well….Fabianski needs to go out on loan (with an option to buy), ideally to somewhere without internet, so his new supporters can’t watch his “low-light” reel…And Mannone can remain as #3 until we bring somebody in on Aug 31….(Yeah, Right….)
Given that our matches between now and the close of the transfer window are Liverpool (away), Blackpool (home) and Blackburn (away) I’d take 5 points any way I could get them with (hopefully) no soul-crushing defeats by multiple goals.
Thank God I was not the only one who saw CZ yapping his face off to Vermaelen and company.
This lad may lack experience but shows so much more maturity, leadership and on pitch authority than the rest of our motley crew.
Almunia, although he probably will be our starter at Anfield, does not inspire any confidence and he puts too much stress on our defense.
Please Arsene, give CZ or Mannone a chance next Sunday.
CZ has been yapping at the defence all pre-season long.
Grudgingly I am accepting that Manny may start in Goal on Sunday with CZ as his back up.
Fabianski if he is even still in London come Wednesday sealed his own fate.