The Best and Worst of 20009/2010
It’s over. Mercifully it’s over. A season of back and forthy. Up and down and as many other cliche sayings as you can muster has been put to bed. With the shambolic 4-0 beatdown on Fulham’s reserves, another silverwareless season in Arsenal history was brought to a close.
Thankfully.
No more debating whether we are in the race or not. No more wondering whether Denilson is going to start a match. No more aching and moaning about having the two worst goal keepers in the league. We can rest and turn our minds to other diversions. Like, who will we sign, what will we sign – hell WILL WE SIGN SOMEONE. We also can turn our mind to other happenings like that gathering in South Africa – the World Cup – or something like that.
Rather than sit here and disect the season (I’ll leave that to my faithful readers) I thought I would touch on some highs and lows of this season in the form of a best and worst list. This is my own opinion and I am half part kool-aid drinker and half part angered fan – which means I argue with myself alot. So take it all in stride.
BEST MATCH OF THE SEASON:
I would like to say it was the 3-0 thumping of Villa with the 25 minute Cesc Fabregas cameo. But no. It was the 3-0 drilling of our cross town rivals Spurs. I have made no secret of my disgust of all things that have to do with Harry Redknapp. More so now that he manages that lot from Tottenham. We clearly were class that day and played probably our best match of the season. From start to finish we were in control of the match. We were defensively sound and our attack was crisp. We were always a threat.
WORST MATCH OF THE SEASON:
Take your pick. There are just too many bad performances and each one them led to a loss. Though losing to any team managed by Sam Allardyce is really disconcerting. So my pick is the 2-1 loss to Blackburn in the next to last week of the season.
BEST GOAL OF THE SEASON:
Let us again turn our attention to the first game against Spurs. Can anyone sing – “your own personal Jesus” because that is what Cesc Fabregas is. Our own personal Jesus. Up 1-0 on an Robin Van Persie goal. Arsenal win the ball of the ensuing kickoff. Fabregas gets the ball and the Spurs defense opens up like the red sea and lets the spanish wizard wander in untouched for a beautiful scorcher of a goal. If I was a Spurs (thankfully I am not) I would have been embarrassed. It was sublime and a delightful to watch him with the ball move through the defense skillfully and just bury the ball.
WORST GOAL OF THE SEASON:
Tie – Diaby’s OG header to give Man U the win at Old Trafford and the Porto free kick goal that Fabiankski just didn’t want to pay attention to. In the OT match against United, Arsenal outplayed the title holders for most of the match. And even after the equalizer a draw at OT wouldn’t have been bad. But Abou Diaby forgetting which way the ball was supposed to go headed it in to give United the winner. The next one, well, we all saw it. We didn’t know what we had just seen (or at least had it register) but in the end Fabianski showed why he should be playing for Notts County when he showed a lack of focus and understanding of the situation when Porto were awarded a FK for the back pass. Flapianski didn’t delay as is often the case with GKs no he gave the ball back and meandered back to his goal as Porto quickly assembled and knocked the ball past him – laughing all the way to the win.
BEST PLAY OF THE SEASON:
Filling in in the central role for the injured Captain, Samir Nasri, displayed a skillful display as he scored a wonder goal against Porto in the home leg of the Champion’s League. With the ball on the outside of the box, Nasri took on three defenders spinning and juking his way into the box and from a difficult angle slotted home his legendary goal.
WORST PLAY OF THE SEASON:
Looks like every other year Arsenal are destined to have a player go off with a severe, possible career ending injury. This was that year. Going in for a 50/50 against Stoke’s Ryan “he’s not that kind of player” Shawcross, Aaron Ramsey suffered a horrific double fracture of the fibula and tibia. Luckily the break was high and those tend to heal better than the ones lower on the leg. The end result is losing a talented young player, who was finding his place rather quickly on the first team. Gooners all over hope that his recovery doesn’t wind up resulting in a loss of form like Eduardo seems to have coming back from his injury.
BEST IMPROVED PLAYER:
Alexander Song without a doubt has stepped up way beyond where I think anyone thought he would. Going into the season noone would be saying “if we don’t have Song in the lineup we’re screwed” Well come the second leg of the Champion’s League tie with Barca that was exactly what we were saying and it was true. Song for 90% of his games controlled the midfield and played very well against some of the best players in the game. He is strong on the ball and is excellent at providing defensive cover. He still makes some errant passes and every now and then gives the ball up but for the most part he is a vast improvement over last year.
WORST IMPROVED PLAYER:
Denilson’s foot and ankle were worth something – once in blue moon. But the kid just was giving the ball away too many times. He was indecisive at times and was hardly a suitable player for the MOST IMPROVED PLAYER ON THE TEAM.
BIGGEST TEAM CULT FIGURE:
Like this ihard. AHHHHHHHBOOOOOOOOEHHHHHHHH. Emmanuel Eboue has gone from goat to lovable figure in the span of one year. He is a prime example of taking the criticism that is thrown at you and improving your work rate to get “reacquainted” with the fans. He isn’t the best player and isn’t the best improved but he goes out works hard, has good speed and good defencive ability and is an outstanding player off the bench when you need a dynamic change on the pitch. Now if we could do something about his diving. But that is part of his charm.
BEST SIGNING OF THE SEASON:
Tie – Vermaelen and Campbell. When Thomas Vermaelen was signed for £10 million at the start of last summer’s transfer window a lot of us were like “WHO?” well a year on noone is asking who is Thomas Vermalen. He is a hard man to play against, learns from his mistakes and isn’t afriad to mix it up. I am convinced he is a closet striker as he has uncanny knaock for a CB of finding the back of the net. Sol Campbell has had a whirl wind of a year. Starting in League 2 Notts County and then spending 3 months just practicing. He was a low risk signing for Arsenal. Most likely signed to offer limited cover and provide an older leader on the squad, Sol came to play a substantial role in the final weeks of the season. He scored a marvelous header for the away goal against Porto. He was constantly solid and never looked out of place in the EPL. The simple fact that he ran down Gareth Bale shows he still has pace. What the man doesn’t have in speed he makes up for in situational awareness. Frankly, I am surprised that he didn’t make the England WC squad. I thought down the stretch he was one of the best CB’s in the league.
WORST SIGNING OF THE SEASON:
Does Mikel Silvestre still count?
And for the final awards:
WORST PLAYER OF THE SEASON:
Tie – our goal keeping tandem of Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Flapianski – cause more heart ache and pain than any Didier Drogba goal ever could. Simply put – they are the worst tandem in the league. The let more balls go in because of poor decision making or poor positional awareness then I can remember seeing any ‘keepers. The Wigan and Blackburn match were hopefully the nails in the coffin for Flapianski and Almunia has his second stint on the bench with a “mysterious” injury. They both are awful I can’t say it any other way and they cost us games that had they been even fair goal keepers we may have won. They both need to go and go now.
BEST PLAYER OF THE SEASON:
Cesc Fabregas. He is who he is. The heart and soul of this current Arsenal squad. If he were to leave now, I am not sure how the squad would cope. There isn’t anyone on the squad who is close to what he means. Even with the return of Robin Van Persie the squad lacked its artistic flair without Cesc. We will see him go someday, probably when Arsene leaves Arsenal. For right now he is the reason why Arsenal are so good (when they are so good).
HONORABLE MENTION AWARD:
The Garden Gnome. My personal choice to replace either Denilson or any one of Goal Tending idiots – the Garden Gnome is a legend and even when he is standing still makes better decisions than Denilson, Almunia or Flapianski.
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Very nice blog, I like to visit this blog often to have such article which help me a lot.
I read that Cesc has been in Spain since his injury. Ditto Robin van Persie relaxing in Holland. I find that an interesting approach. Can’t they be gamefully employed – cleaning boots or toilets or chewing gum from under the seats? Keep them busy and they don’t have time to muse with those in their home country on their next move. I mean seriously Cesc in Barcelona for a bit of R&R – that’s jolly clever.
Yeah, I have a feeling that the fact he got injured and spent the last month of the season at home in Barcelona is a major reason he doesnt even want to wait an extra year like most of us expected.
I can imagine if you are at home during the season, everybody will be constantly in your ear as there is a Barca game every week.
No sign of a denial from either Arsene or Cesc on all the rumours.
An ominous sign or everyone is on holiday?
Its hard to deny the truth … tho Wenger is a pro at that.
When Fabregas leaves, Wenger must leave too.
What? Barca signed Villa!
Don’t they know that this will kill Bojan, Pedro, Jeffren and all the other youngsters.
Maybe Arsene will trade Cesc for all of them. ;)
The funniest thing is that Bojan, Pedro and Jeffren are actually extremely talented and can plausibly become a “new messi” in the near future … yet Barca dont care about that nonsense. They buy Villa, because they want to WIN next season.
Because they know real talent always shine through and seize their spot on the team.
Plus the kids can always learn from a seasoned 28 year old, world class pro like Villa.
Messi did his tutorial and waited behind Giuly … Iniesta mentored under Deco, etc, etc.
But for utter planks like Denilson and co. Nope … lets not “kill” them.
Wenger actually started the 08/09 season with only THREE CMs, Fabregas, Denilson and Song. (Diaby was still out long term at that time).
Just because he didnt want to “kill” Denilson or Song.
It was at that point I knew Wenger had completely lost it.
And to top it all off, he played the one player he brought in that really could be an excellent CM (Nasri) out wide.
Where we are now at is a result of Wenger’s cummulative decisions.
He’s made some bad calls over players who should have been shouldering a large burden for the team. RvP and Rosicky have been wretched investments. Forget the sentiment, they’ve been woeful. When you get paid millions of pounds it’s not about sentiment or luck it’s all about on-field return. They should have been carrying this team – instead they spend season after season receiving expensive treatment doing NOTHING.
Eduardo’s case is different in that his injury was truly a case of bad luck on his part, and yet even bad luck has to be proactively managed – Wenger hasn’t managed the negative risk at all. He crossed his fingers and hoped for the best for 2 seasons in a row – hoping against the evidence that RvP, Rosicky and Eduardo would come good. His inaction was negligent.
You really sense we are at yet another crossroads. Wenger has one season on contract. Various iterations of his new strategy have failed badly. His captain and icon might go. Yet again he has to refashion a team from the remains. What is going through his mind?
Why did he forsake his winning formula? His winning sides had a core of strong durable uber-talented winners – the likes of Vieira, Henry, Adams, and Campbell. Then there were the intelligent sublimely talented playmakers like Bergkamp and Pires. They all fused together with pace in thought and action. These guys played game after game after game. Compare that to our current ‘stars’ (excluding Fabregas) who can’t play 90 min’s twice in a week – it’s pathetic. Since 2006 we have forsaken the very strenghts that set us apart. And replaced strength, durability, pace and drive for weak, fragile, slow and aimless. The difference couldn’t be more stark. Why so? I have never read any analysis or rationale on why we have made such an about-face and yet we watch the results year after year with growing disenchantment. Merson today has been quoted with candid criticism of where we are at. I hope Wenger listens.
‘Why did he forsake his winning formula?’
I wish I knew, man, I wish I knew. As I said above, that’s the one thing I really can’t figure out, as much as I’d like to. Seriously, what could convince him to do something like that? I wish I could talk to him or see inside his head to figure it out. Has he really lost it?
On the inside, does he realize this strategy is not a winning one, and continue to pursue it for other reasons- or does he really think it is possible to have sustained success using it? Furthermore, if he does know it is failed, then did he realize it right when he changed, but decided he wanted to do it anyways, or is it only after several failures and setbacks that he saw it?
I can’t possibly think that he knew it would be an unwinnable strategy before embarking on it (let’s be honest, few would have, b/c hindsight is 20/20). Which means he thought he could win using it. But that still goes back to the original question of why change a PROVEN winning strategy for one that is totally untried and untested?
I WANT TO SEE INSIDE THIS MAN’S HEAD! HE DRIVES ME CRAZY!
If Villa reject 20 Million for Milner…
what’s a Fabregas worth?
On a personal level how eager would Yaya Toure be to come to Arsenal FC? I doubt it. Wenger declined to sign him up early in his career when it would have been easy to do so given he had already signed his big brother Kolo. So there’s a sense in which Wenger has already said ‘no thanks’ to Yaya and those things stick in your mind. Add to that the manner in which Kolo left Arsenal less than a year ago. When Kolo chats to Yaya you can bet Kolo would express his deep displeasure at Wenger siding with Gallas over him. Then if those off-radar personal issues aren’t enough there’s the clincher – we’ve stopped being a serious team. Why would a winner like Yaya want to babysit Wenger’s bevy of crocks and under performers? Nah, he’ll want to go to a team whose actions demonstrate they want success now not in 5 or 6 years.
I think we’re moving into a new stage where we are starting to reap what our strategy has sowed. Like Mazza pointed out above, several of us expressed deep concern that ‘selling the future’ was not a sustainable strategy in professional sport. Existing players who bloom get itchy feet, and we become less attractive as a destination for new players. We will continue to attract the really young because we pay them MORE and because they’ll get playing time at a high level. Good for them, not the club.
So out goes Diarra, Flamini, Hleb, Toure, Adebayor, and perhaps Fabregas. I’m not interested in debating the moral aspects of their decisions – it’s the negative implications that ensure we stay in a state of eternal transition. What stars are staying? And why are they staying? RvP I hear some say, well muse on that a little, would the Boy Wonder be so keen on staying if he put together 2 good seasons on the field? I don’t think so. He stays, in part, because he is a certified crock and yet at Arsenal is assured a starting role. The big clubs with aspiration aren’t seriously chasing him because he’s a bad risk.
This mode of operandi has been a staple at Arsenal for some time.
RVP could have a good World Cup, and draw lots of attention and admirers. If Cesc goes before the World Cup, I wouldn’t be surprised if RVP and Arshavin ask to go after.
Without Cesc, unless we SERIOUSLY dip into the transfer market for players who have DONE SOMETHING, not 19 and full of future promise, then even the better players will question why they should stay.
The youngsters who are over-paid, and over-played, will stay, but we’ll fail to notch at Top 4 spot without Cesc… or multiple players coming in if he goes.
This will be the beginning of the end without direct response to plug the dam.
Once we stop selling out… and we are affected financially, the board will make a move…
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=788700&sec=england&cc=3436
What is it with Pique and all the gay pics.. Heh..
It appears that Barca has now signed David Villa. That may just be another catalyst for Cesc to move there as they are good friends.
To the rich fall the spoils.
This move almost certainly end Henry’s spell at Barca even if he still has 1 year remaining on his contract.
A forward lineup including Messi, Ibra, Villa and Pedro all of whom are easily capable of scoring 15+ goals per season will be hard to beat. Combine that with Cesc, Iniesta, Xavi and Keita as AM’s and the table has most definitely been set for any other team to match. It will be interesting to see Real Madrid’s reaction to this as they have been upstaged so far in the transfer market by their hated rivals.
If Barca were to get another first class CB, their team would certainly be the most talented on paper I have ever witnessed.
No idea how they’d make room for 4 WORLD CLASS forwards and 4 WORLD CLASS AM’s, but I’m sure they’ll find a way.
I think Ibra could be on his way out.
If they stay on 4-3-3, Iniesta moves out to left forward and ofcourse Villa is central.
But I suspect they will go for an ultra-attacking 4-4-2 with Sergio, Xaxi, Fabregas and Iniesta supporting Messi and Villa.
The incredible thing is ALL four of their mids will not just be Spanish but Catalan!
They would still be light on midfield numbers though so they will probably still need to buy one or two more backup mids … which they can easily do by selling Toure and Ibra.
They will allow Henry to leave on a free.
Toure and 40 Mill would be a decent deal, if a deal has to be made. We would have someone who could play both the DM and CB position effectively.
On the other hand, Arsene would never swallow his pride and bring in someone who he could have signed for free a few years ago.
Unless he is included as part of a trade deal Ibra will be there. He is their only hold up striker and would be needed when they play certain teams.
Fred, are you sure Iniesta is Catalan? He was born in Castile (the antithesis of all things Catalan), but that doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t Catalan I suppose.
So….I was gone and away from the computer for a long weekend (river trip) and I get back and read through YAMA to see what my mentors are saying….Not very positive, but that’s OK (and to be expected) and I’m thinking about how I might spin things with my Hippie (or Hopeless) Optimism….but then I see this upon waking up this morning: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/may/18/cesc-fabregas-barcelona-arsenal-transfer
WTF!!!
I’m left at a loss….with nowhere to turn to try and find solace. It’s as if the final piece of the (Doomer) puzzle has now been found and only needs to be put into place and (even) I will (finally) be able to see it all clearly….
If our Captain and best player leaves, there is no avoiding the conclusion that we are a selling club and what we are selling is a revolving door that says: The future….the future will be bright.
And it may be, and I’ll stick around, as my allegiance is more than skin deep, but right now, I’m down, way down….
LOL. this happens at Arsenal every other season.
If we don’t sell our best players, how the hell do you expect us to win the profit league!
Cesc leaving should not shock ANYONE.
This non-sense about there being “no chance” he’ll go this Summer was all a bunch of bravado.
Why should or would he stay, if Arsenal aren’t interested in winning trophies, or at least bringing in proper players to have a go at winning trophies?
Embrace what we are.
So we sell Gilberto and replace him with Denilson. Guess which one made Brazil’s 23-man roster.
Don’t worry, the future is always bright. Deni will make it in 2014 or 2018 or …
http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,25212,12038_6161368,00.html
This is an amazing stat – No French manager has ever won the CL !!!
All other top Euro countries have winners. Even Portugal has two, but France has ZERO.
No wonder Arsene is desperate to win it.
From the same link, not a single Inter Milan player has made it to the Italian WC squad.
Wow!
That is really surprising… until I checked their roster and saw they only have 3 Italians in the first-team (compared to 8 total Brazilians and Argentines).
But they have a ton of Italians out on loan, as it turns out. I’m not sure what their reserve/youth system is like, but it looks to me like it is based entirely on loaning those players out. They have 30, count ’em 30, players out on loan! That’s huge! THIRTY!
Short & nice read
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,13320_6162383,00.html
The key statement is –
“The question mark in this plan lies against the name of Arsene Wenger. If Barcelona pay something in the region of £40m, will the Frenchman spend that money on new players? I’ve long had a theory that Wenger believes that spending money to win silverware is cheating – but would he make an exception with money he has generated for the club himself by taking a 16-year-old Spanish kid and making him one of the best players in the world?”
Perhaps we can do as we did with Anelka, sell for a ton of money and build a better team with those funds. Given recent history, I’m not holding my breath.
we sold Ade and Toure for crazy money, and only brought in Vermaelen.
We could easily have used those funds for a keeper, and a DM at the start of last season, and who knows what might have happened? we might have actually won something.
If we sell Cesc for 40 Million, I would not expect Arsenal Football Club to spend anything close to that bringing in players to compensate for losing our best player.
We might spend 15 to 20, and the rest is PROFIT.
Half the money we got from Ade and Toure went into signing upgraded and long term contracts to a whole crew of players we can’t sell because they have no value on the open market.
Arsene having money does not mean new players unless he has finally woken up from his 5 year dream, which incidentally, was more of a nightmare than anything else.
There is one statement made by Arsene which tells us all you need to know about him –
“When we decided to build the stadium, I wanted to anticipate the possibility of financial restrictions, so I concentrated on youth. I felt the best way to get players integrated into our culture, with our beliefs, our values, was to get them as young as possible and to develop them together. I felt it would be an interesting experiment to see players grow together with these qualities and with a love for the club. It was an idealistic vision of the world of football.”
Clearly, Arsene wanted to forge a strong team spirit but he didn’t want to do it with English/British folks. He knew that signing 24+ year old foreigners is a risk, because they may leave or yearn to leave (like Vieira). So he thought that if he brings them in at 17/18 and pay them exorbitant salaries, they will remain faithful to him and Arsenal.
Sadly, this has not worked and the only ones who remain faithful are the ones who aren’t good and hence won’t get to play anywhere else. Anybody who is half good is moving out sooner or later.
Who exactly, besides himself, does the word “our” refer to? It should read, “integrated into my culture, with my beliefs, my values…”
Unfortunately, at this point in time, Arsene is pretty much Arsenal. He controls almost everything!
This myth that Wenger has been raiding the milk money jar to buy the groceries is ludicrous and a favourite ole chestnut for anyone wanting to absolve Wenger of responsibility for the state the squad is now in – and has been regressively becoming for 5 years.
No, sorry, it’s crap and a lazy argument. The ultimate rebuttal is the legal agreement that underpins our financing arrangement whereby Arsenal FC are obligated to retain funds for squad development. Whether or not and how Wenger uses them is his call. Does anyone seriously think that Peter Hillwood would dictate to Wenger that he must spend 15m on Walcott instead of a seasoned pro? Or that he couldn’t spend 10m on player X? Or that he must pay Walcott 60,000 pounds pw. Get real. This is Wengers domain and his calls and the squad reflects his preferences 100%.
The truth as to why we are where we are is much more nuanced. Arsene Wenger has never been a happy spender, never ever. Indeed, his transfer ventures using serious money have often ended in disappointment and yet that inconvenient fact cuts against the grain of conventional perception so it is ignored. People are simply in love with the notion that Wenger is a genius in the transfer market and so everything about his transfer dealings must be viewed through that lense – no matter how distorted an image it then presents. Sadly his record over the last 6 years has regressed even further. It just isn’t that good.
The whole squad acquisition approach is a bit of a mystifying mess really. You see it reflects Wenger’s current worldview and that in itself has become increasingly narrow and inflexible. Like Stag said its his way or no way. And that’s why it’s no way. There’s no room for the pragmatic Wenger of 1998-2004. There are no rational answers for why we must have a squad of crap keepers, and why we now have an aversion to defenders over 6 feet tall, and why we no longer have strong CM’s where once we had Vieira and Petit, nor why we persist with perenially crocked players like Rosicky and Eduardo and Diaby and the untouchable RvP, nor why we have morphed from being one of the fastest teams to one of the slowest. All these things are simply unexplanable and yet the believers want to gloss over these mindnumbing contradictions.
No, it’s not about money it’s about choices and where we now are is a direct consequence of his recruitment policy of the last 6 or 7 years. In my opinion he has been financially wholly able to take a more pragmatic approach to the players he procures and yet he simply doesn’t want to. Over the last 5 years he could have bought another 4, 5 or 6 experienced players in the 8-10m range either in addition to the ineffectual youth we’ve acquired in that time or instead of. But no, he has chosen to allow the young players to fill the void even when it was patently obvious they weren’t up to it and even when the squad was threadbare and the attack woeful. So stand up and take a bow Arsene this is your squad. And don’t forget we pre-pay them at a similar level to ManU’s and Chelsea’s squads – try rationalising that one.
AMEN.
Amen, I have been saying the same thing for the past 3 years.
This team is all about Wenger, both the good and the bad.
Now that Arsene.com is reporting transfer rumours, I wonder if they will report the Cesc to Barca story. ;)
The worst thing that can happen now if Arsene fights and keeps Cesc against his wishes. Not only do we keep a player who isn’t fully committed but at the same time we lose value on the player as well. Remember Vieira and Henry leaving for half their value a year or two later. The same thing may happen with Cesc.
Nip. not the same case. Vieira and Henry were OLDER.
On their downside of the hill.
Cesc is not even near his prime yet.
His value is not going to go DOWN.
Unless he gets seriously injured, he will get better.
Since he is the best player we have, and our success next year (in getting into the CL)… might rest on him being here, the LOSS missing out on the Top 4, is far more than lesser any amount we might get in selling Cesc a year later or two!
Do you think he’ll lose value at age 24?
Yes, any player who is unsettled and has one year less on his contract will lose value.
he has 4 YEARS LEFT on his contract!
Next year, he will have 3 years left and that in itself will reduce his value. It is simple maths.
Now, in all seriousness, without Cesc, Arsene’s failure will be fully exposed. We’ve seen how the attack struggled without him over the last month of the season. Now imagine it for all nine months. No defense, no attack. Forget one-nil to the Arsenal. It’s gonna be one-nil to whoever, off a FK/PK/corner. But don’t worry, we’ll have 99% possession. Arsene’s project has been an abject failure for two full seasons now (regardless of what some think I really believe we had a chance at the title in 07/08), but it has been in the works since 2005. But Arsene could always hide it; he won’t be able to if Cesc leaves.
And, to top it all off, Barca know that he WANTS to leave, thus Arsenal’s position is severely compromised: Barca know that they hold all the cards, and add in the fact that Arsenal have a history of selling their biggest names, and they know they can get away with such a massively undervalued fee. 30 million GBP. As much as City are offering for Milner. Jesus Christ.
Arsene reminds me of Jerry Krause. He built the Bulls into the team that won 6 titles in 8 years, and he’s also the one who destroyed the whole thing. That’s still the one thing that frustrates me more than anything else about Arsene: This failed strategy is not the best he can do. That would be forgivable. Rather, he had a strategy that was SO GOOD, it yielded two doubles and an unbeaten season. And the stadium debt argument is BS, b/c Arsene bought low and sold high before the move. I’m talking about the type of plyers, the style of football. He still buys low and sells high, but it’s a completely different type of football and footballer now. Why? Why do that when you had a system that was so successful?
CG.
Arsenal do not have to accept a fee of 30 Million GBP.
We hold the card… he has 4 years left on his contract.
So, we certainly don’t have to take what Barcelona offer.
Hell, if that were the case, why don’t they bid less, like 20 or 25?
Arsene and Arsenal can say NO. He is an Arsenal player under contract.
They can sit him down and say, NO, one more year and we will discuss your future next Summer… then go out and BUY some talent to put around him… to try and convince him to stay and win here for a year or two more.
The choice is Arsenal’s… I don’t believe Cesc would refuse to play football, or sit out the entire season (and not get paid). He doesn’t seem like that type of person, but… who knows.
Who cares if Cesc leaves? Take a look at our other 3 CM’s: Nasri, Denilson and Song. All were injured for a portion of the season, plus Song was out for the ACN. If the 3 of them can stay healthy for all of next season, it will be ‘like’ a new signing. Plus when one of them decides to leave after the 10/11 season, Ramsey will be all of 20 years old- so that will be like a new signing to replace whichever one leaves. We’re fine- aren’t we Arsene?
really worried..
it is gettin like atlas shrugged.
first it was hleb
now fabregas
i understand cesc’s point of view:
he gets to play the best football and that too closer home, so why would he want to ply his trade in a foreign land, where every weekend (even Christmas weekends) you run the risk of your career ending due to a tackle by some innocent guy, and a team with Almunia between sticks (for me the GK situation is the biggest reason that contrived to our downfall this season, except for against Barca where we were fucked in midfield too)
but, despite all this, i would love wenger to uncharactestically, plead and beg or spiritually confuse or hypnotize or do whatever and sell him the Arsenal dream for another season so well, so as to convince him to stay for one more year at least.
With previous sell-offs we sold players past their prime, bar Anelka(acceptable) and to an extent Hleb, but losing Cesc at his prime will be a blot on our aspirations for being a superclub.
More than that, as a fan of Cesc, I want him to lead Arsenal to a trophy, a desire, even he internally harbours, rather than being a side-show at Barca. He deserves it so much for his years of service and passion and respectful behaviour. I remember him doing so well in a quiz on Arsenal history, that’s when I started loving him.
I am in panic mode. As if someone very close just got very ill. I just hope that this turns out to be just a ploy by the Genius that is Cesc Fabregas, to force Wenger, the Scrooge, to show his hands, and make signings soon, to clarify his intentions.
( that is another matter, that at the quoted price 30 mn pounds, Fab looks like a super-bargain- someone that we could try for LBO if it were allowed to hold footballers as assets)
On Cesc, we still don’t know whether these rumours have real substance.
That said, I would rather Cesc goes than he stays under duress. We’ve seen several stars/captains stay under duress and it is a less than desirable outcome. We’ve been there – on every ocassion it has disappointed. If his head is really turned, and who could blame him, then extract the maximum return from Barca and let him go.
Why would Cesc not be vilified? Players acquire a persona, it’s not black and white there are a multitude of nuances. But simplistically Fabregas is perceived by the supporters as a good, young, clean living, hard working, loyal, appreciative and highly talented young man. He has given 7 years and there is a sense that we have always known some day he will return to his homeclub. That’s it. We like him, he hasn’t mouthed off or let the team down. He isn’t an awkward customer, he hasn’t played games with the club and this is his ‘first offence’ at the charge of fraternising despite being in the emerging star shop front for several years.
So, if he wants away, let him go. Sell high, maximum price, surely that’s around the 50m mark. At the same time let Arsene go too. Manage him out, whatever is pragmatic, upstairs, roving ambassador, whatever. Bring in a serious manager, a clean broom, and restore a winning culture.
Fair point. If Cesc wants to go, I agree, see ya later superstar.
No hard feelings.
We sell all our best players anyway.
We don’t HAVE to sell him of course. He is under contract for 4 more years… we can say, not this year, sorry… and perhaps surround him with a better cast of players?!
But no, I think we will cash him in, like usual.
Wenger going?
NOT A CHANCE IN HELL. You can want it, and you can wish it, and rationalize it in some way, but he has done EXACTLY what the club wants him to do… maintain the CL spot every year, and do so while making the club lots of profits, and reducing the debt super-fast.
What hasn’t he done? (that the clubs sees as essential?)
I don’t buy that he has had many many millions to spend over the past few years. I think he chooses to spend in a frugal manner, but he hasn’t had crazy cash to spend either.
Like the whole site said all year about Cesc, I’ll say it about Wenger.
HE’S GOING NOWHERE!
;)
We’ve been here Stag.
You’re assuming Wenger’s aspirations match the boards. I think they overlap in part but don’t match.
The board will want to see the team being winners. That’s optional for Wenger.
They coincide on the minimum’s – being CL qualification and a responsible budget.
I don’t think you have it correct.
Are you talking these boards? the fan blogs and website boards?
or are you talking the Arsenal Football Club “board”.
The AFC Board… want to MAKE MONEY. I don’t believe they are interested as much in being “winners” as they are in winning football AND making money at the same time.
The fan boards, want WINNING TROPHIES.
Wenger wants to WIN the League and CL Trophy, more than anything… but ONLY DOING IT HIS WAY. He will not change his philosophy or compromise his belief system to WIN.
Your a bit off Stag, an EPL club is not a money making venture, it’s an ego thing or a love thing, or a status thing, not a money thing.
for most owners, maybe, its a play toy…
for Arsenal Football Club PLC, Limited…
it is about MAKING MONEY.
I think the last 5 years show that…
over 4Million in profits EVERY YEAR from transfers alone.
MAYBE… we can get this dude…
INCA…
pretty damned amazing!
http://deadspin.com/5540865/paraguayan-soccer-player-rockets-in-45+yard-free-kick
So, if the Wonder Boy Cesc… (who most people said
was GOING NOWHERE THIS YEAR… that’d be virtually everybody
on this site!)… takes off for greener pastures in Barcelona,
Will he succeed there?
I mean, how many people on here said… WHERE WILL HE PLAY?
He doesn’t have a position in their team! The Spanish league sucks!
Pretty much every Arsenal player that Wenger has sold off… has not
been nearly as good as they were at Arsenal. In terms of their careers,
they probably would have been better off to STAY. Right?
I’d say except Ashley Cole… he went on to be even more successful
at Chelsea, made big money, won trophies and medals, made the WC team.
So, maybe Cesc will fall flat on his ass… become injury prone (if he already isn’t)… and never live up to the hype, as he’ll be playing
2nd fiddle over in Barcelona.
Wenger MADE HIM… just like he did Vieira, Henry, etc…
without Wenger, where would Cesc be in his career?!
Well… the only difference is… he’s very young, and not even
close to being in his prime…
IF he goes, and it certainly looks that way at the moment…
tell me why he isn’t a money grubbing, fame grubbing, fair-weather,
un-grateful footballer? Doesn’t he OWE Wenger?
Perhaps the board needs to play a little dirty with Wenger.
They could have one of those informal formal chats, and mention to Wenger that if this coming season doesn’t yield success Mourinho is being lined up as manager for 2011/12. That would shake Arsene out of his uber-comfort zone. Just imagine Mourinho coming in, sacking a few of Wenger’s never-performing babes, buying a few stars, and winning in his first season. YES!!!
The board has always been pulling the strings when it comes to money available to our manager.
You need to unpack your thinking on that a little more.
My educated guess is that if Wenger said to the Board I want to buy players X, Y & Z for 10m each they’d say “ok”. So…. the balls in Wenger’s court.
Educated guess on a blog site is just opinion, not substantiated by facts.
I can’t speak for you but in my case it’s an educated guess.
And opinions are opinions in any realm of life are they not?
As for facts, for those who have followed football, Arsenal, and Wenger for many years there are many many facts and experiences that when held together provide a wealth of information from which to draw considered opinions. Some prefer to simply believe as though Wenger is a type of faith to hold to.
“My educated guess is that if Wenger said to the Board I want to buy players X, Y & Z for 10m each they’d say “ok”. ”
If you were you in the board room then your statement would have merit. Otherwise its only unsubstantiated speculation.
Opinions in any realm of life don’t qualify as fact.
“As for facts, for those who have followed football, Arsenal, and Wenger for many years there are many many facts and experiences that when held together provide a wealth of information from which to draw considered opinions.” This answer is factually challenged, only speaks in generalities.
What makes you think Wenger wants to reshuffle anything?
He has a plan, and it involves internal replenishment. Not so?
He has Nasri, Denilson and Ramsey that he views as Fabregas replacements. That’s 3 for 1 in Wenger maths. He’ll even view Diaby and Rosicky as cover for the role.
Penny dropping?
Whatever action he takes, it will be criticized by his distractors.
There’s truth in that…. both ways ;-)
Kudos to you, you’re probably the only ‘stinky hippie’ still posting!! Funny how almost every other self proclaimed optimist has been silent all season long (aside from poking their heads in during a small window pre-Barca when things looked like they just might pick up yet then quickly slammed shut).
Its not a pleasant experience to FAIL and I’ve had my share.
Seeing others fall short of their goals, I’m sympathetic, so why gloat. I believe our manager is one of the hardest working – dedicated managers anywhere. If results don’t fall his way, its not because he didn’t make every effort, so why would I cast stones. At least for the past 13 years, I feel he bleeds Arsenal.
Most of us saw the frailties of the club (team) during the 2nd half of the 07/08 season. After the 08/09 season, you could add goal keeper to that list.
I just don’t believe there was money and the club was not going to take on debt, like Pool. Rather than complain to the media & fans, our manager showed maturity, avoiding to reveal our internal finances, or point the blame at the board. No he wore the black hat and took the heat. For me, this is the mark of someone with character, a lost trait in today’s world of sport.
Kiwi, I can’t speak for the absence of other ‘stinky hippie’ posters. Maybe I don’t fear rebuttal of my comments. I believe the climate of this sight can get emotional, passion for your team is part of football.
The wonderful thing about this sport is the continual germination of new talent. I believe next year we will see Arsenal rise to the challenge and play to another higher level.
With Cesc’s likely departure, we certainly will have much to debate and speculate over the next 10 weeks.
I read Wenger gets paid 6 million pounds per year and is the highest paid manager in the EPL. I’m not sure if this is wholly accurate but let’s accept it’s close to the mark.
In view of this I would expect that he works hard (like many people do who get paid a fraction of that princely sum).
The more relevant issue, setting aside sentiment, is whether he is performing to the required level. I don’t think he is.
What does Rafa get paid and where is Pool? $350 mil pds in debt and 7th place.
Look in the football community and at the profession of manager. Longevity is an anomaly.
Every owner/ Board evaluates their manager on performance. Not singularly for the teams final league position but for: community image of players – manager-club, community service, harmony or disharmony internally, staff cohesiveness, how the academy is run, transfer results financially, and many other issues, but MOST IMPORTANT IS STAYING WITHIN A BUDGET.
Have you ever owned a business? Were you ever in upper management with a company? Then you can realize that Arsenal is a business.
Your resentful perspective of Arsene’s salary is shallow and reflects a lack of understanding for football today at what owners or boards at top clubs expect to pay to keep their business afloat and solvent.
“whether he is performing to the required level” – certainly your criteria which is opinion, because the board appears very content on how Arsene is steering the club.
What goals do you think we fell short of?
We have HAMMERED RIGHT ON THE NAIL… every goal we have.
We have continued to be in the Top 4 every year.
We have continued to make the most profit in the league, and reduce the debt at a fantastic rate.
Don’t take these success stories lightly, they are 100% part of the PLAN and Arsenal’s GOALS.
Wenger has done exactly what they ask him to do, and done it extremely well.
Well it appears Cesc’s decision has been made and now Arsenal must move on. Now our manager must roll up his sleeves and reshuffle the deck.
There certainly won’t be a shortage of funds. I only hope there are NO player exchanges with Barca. We don’t need any of their fringe players.
Take the money and invest it in quality players.
Time for a new post & the start of a new era for Arsenal.
We’ve held on to Wenger too long.
Even now people say he should have one more year. For what?
If Fabregas goes the whole situation becomes farcical. But who can blame him? Watching his childhood team in a glory period whilst he is entering his prime in a team aspiring to 3rd that throws the domestic cups. Wenger’s strategy is a joke. Of course Fabregas should go, so would you.
Exactly.
If Ferguson goes TWO years without ANY sort of silverware whatsoever he would be asked to leave … that is despite everything he has done.
Yeah, Mourinho called it out several years ago. We didn’t like it then, because the glow of our great era was still gleaming….. now we see what the seeds of no-expectation produce.
The only trophy we won –
http://redlondon.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/gazidis-collects-arsenals-only-trophy-of-200910-at-wembley/
If Cesc leaves for Barca, Ibra will join Arsenal.
You heard it here first. ;)
yeah, ibra would be PERFECT for arsenal.
his mental strength fits right in.
Barcelona make an official approach.
Cesc, the guy who signed an 8 year contract in 2006,
has NOT come out and said… its rubbish, I’m staying…
He says I will only leave for Barca… you see the players succeeding there… I want my situation sorted out before the World Cup.
WHAT SITUATION?
If he has an 4 years remaining on his contract, why hasn’t
Arsenal said >>> HE IS NOT FOR SALE??
Cesc… gonna be at Barca next season.
I said it before the season started, during the season, and
most folks here said it was IMPOSSIBLE. He is going nowhere.
Arsenal will again, cash its biggest and best asset in.
Because as we have shown time and time and time again, we are
a selling club.
WWAD?
What Will Arsene Do?
While we will certainly make a lot of money from the sale, and
that is good for the club, and the profits, and reducing the debt,
there will have to be more than one player coming in this Summer,
if we are going to have ANY chance of making the Top 4 next season.
It will prove to be a very very interesting Summer …
and it could well determine the clubs direction and future.
Yep, and what the doomers all said would happen. Wenger’s stubborness in the transfer market would lead to Fabregas getting impatient, and we would be back to square one.
Arsenal. A team in perpetual transition.
“Yep, and what the doomers all said would happen. Wenger’s stubborness in the transfer market would lead to Fabregas getting impatient, and we would be back to square one.”
I tried to make the same point to him above, but even stagg MK III doesn’t have an answer for this one.
what point Vibe, I missed it.
an answer for what one? selling off Cesc?
We’ll make CRAZY money on this deal, and that’s what we do best… we’ve sold our best player repeatedly.
so, you accept that its going to happen, and hope that we bring in a young replacement for the outgoing Captain.
We’ve done it before.
We’re shooting for 4th, NOT winning the league, so we still have a shot at our goals, with or without Cesc.
by the way, he has 4 YEARS left on his contract, and a few months ago, he LOVED THE CLUB, and WANTED TO STAY.
Changed his tune pretty damned quick …
Judas?
Not up to the challenge?
Money hungry?
Fair weather?
LOL!
;)
(or perhaps doing what is best for HIS career?)
So does this squad make 4th w/o Cesc?
How do we make our limited goals without our best player?
How attractive is Arsenal to other World Class players when we.
a. Don’t splash out as much cash?
b. Have clearly estasblished NO INTEREST IN WINNING (TM, stagg)
How’s the Master Plan look with this oncoming train barreling down the tracks?
Whoops.
I’ve only touched on it in the past but this is my major problem with Nasri’s football. He holds the ball too long without doing anything constructive with it. If Bergkamp, Hleb, or Cesc took five or 6 touches, you could see it was because they were allowing a play to develop. Hleb, Pires, or Henry taking so many touches were dribbling by people or allowing a play to develop. Samir takes 5 or 6 touches simply to try and look pretty with the ball at his feet. When we do have a descent move, he slows it down trying to look pretty. How can Arsenal win trophies with “Pretty Ricky” on the field?
Here’s food for thought. At the start of the season, with Nasri unavailable, Arsenal were on course to score well over 100 goals. Even after losing van Persie, we created plenty of chances. Once Samir came back into the team, Arsenal began to struggle to create chances. Is that a coincidence? The year before Nasri came, Adebayor scored goals by the boat but as soon as he relied on Samir instead of Hleb for service, his goals dried up. Is that a coincidence too? People blame Adebayor for lack of effort that season but do you know how frustrating it is to make runs only for someone to hold the ball too long so that they can audition for Dancing with the Stars in the middle of the game? It get’s old real quick.
I challenge any of you to Nasri play and prove me wrong. He may release the ball quickly once in a game but if you’re going to be effective at CM, you must have the desire and ability to move the ball quickly. I’m not saying he has no hope but he’s got to change his approach if he wants to be anything like Pires.
Basically, what I said(and maybe you as well) two years ago when Hleb left, has rung true. The football has become dull, we no longer get opposition keepers like Reina saying we’re one of the best teams he’s ever seen”, and our bluff is getting called more often.
Fabregas stayed a bit longer to play with Arshavin by all accounts(not the only reason of course) but he’s realised he’s not worth staying for. He’s not a player he can link up over the course of the ninety. Too stationary and uninterested.
Rosicky and Nasri not up to it either. Although I do prefer Nasri to Diaby.
The degradation in play comes 99% from the unbalanced CENTER of midfield.
Balancing the CM equation is FAR more important than any thing else for a team. In my 20 or so years of watching the game, I have never seen a winning team with an unbalanced center midfield. I have however seen VARIOUS winning teams that didnt have good striker, playmaker, defense or keeper. And some of them played very good football too.
The Hleb/Nasri type of player is an unnecessary luxury. Like a treat with 70% fat. Delicious only as a one-off.
Balance Fabregas with two strong, robust and intelligent CMs and have two Arshavin style players on both wings and you would have very aggressive, attractive and expansive football.
I agree our central midfeld is average but i don’t get the ‘unbalanced’ bit. Unbalanced defensively maybe in terms of work rate and tracking back and all that, but I’m talking about on the ball. We’re nowhere near as good on the ball.
Hleb is far superior to Nasri. That’s what you still don’t get. Just because they are similar type players it doesn’t mean they are like robots doing the exact same thing as eachother. There is a huge difference in what they brought/bring to the team.
Flamini is and was an average waste of space, and that’s the only difference between now and 07/08. Remember, we played shit football last season as well.
If your main designated dribbler has as much influence as your ‘steady’ midfielder, Denilson, then you’re fucked. Your dribbler has to up the tempo, create disturbance, literally shape the team’s play by constantly moving around the pitch and making angles etc. Things become ‘unbalanced’ when you have too many safe sideways passers and not enough direct forward dribblers and passers.
I agree overall that we need a top class robust midfielders, but replace Nasri with Hleb last season and voila, we start playing 07/08 type football again, at least away from home.
Our CM is not average, our CM is abysmal.
If the CM is physically robust, has a high work rate and is intelligent, then the ENTIRE team would be great on the ball. So your first paragraph is a bit meaningless.
Hleb is ofcourse superior to Nasri, skills-wise and in my view he is superior to Iniesta too. He is even more physically robust.
Yet observe the difference between the two. Iniesta DECIDES key moments and turning points and masters the pitch when on song.
Hleb farts and ponces around.
When the going gets tough your man becomes a sideways passer too.
All in all, the Hleb/Nasri type of players are intrinsically useless when assembling a winning team … thats why the Invincibles didnt have one of those, nor any other top team.
Again I repeat, put two bulldogs to balance Fabregas in midfield and place two Arshavins on the wings to sandwich a proper striker, thats ALL thats needed.
Yep, but when I made my call two years ago it was under the assumption of Wenger not going what he SHOULD do, or what was needed to change our style in order to prepare for Hleb’s loss. He needed to drop the Barca imitation then, and revert back to power. Instead, he tried to carry on with the tippy-tappy, which was never going to work without a tippay-tappy specialist, which Hleb was.
I knew he wasn’t going to buy central midfielders, I knew NASRI was not going to replace Hleb effectivley. Something many, including yourself, refuted constantly. I also knew Arshavin was flawed and although a scorer of great goals, not a top class playmaker. So overall, our passing game is shoddy and pretentious.
That was all correct. You have a point about central midfielders, but it’s not really relevant to what I was arguing two years ago, on planet earth, where Wenger frustrates us all.
Josh, don’t you see Cesc & Berg as anomalies?
I don’t think Berg and Hleb played at the club at 21/22 yrs of age. Maybe you watched them at their earlier ages, but my assumption is that few (here) have. Fred might be only one to see the early Berg.
Every player evolves at a different rate. Skill, vision, movement can be learned early in your career, but maturity of your decision making develops over time.
In your comment about team starting out scoring without Nasri, then upon his return YOU INSINUATE that the team struggled to create chances, you must remember that upon his return in mid-November, we had recently lost Bendtner and RvP was making trips to the gypsy for treatment of the wart hog placenta. Arsenal was not able to replace these two target players effectively. For me, the loss of both led to our goal production dropping – certainly not Nasri.
IMO, Ade had a lucky year in 07/08. Arsenal had the best midfield engine anywhere, until injuries hit the team from February on. 6 of his 30 goals were v relegated Derby. It wasn’t only the play of Hleb, but great chemistry throughout the team, as Flamini’s effectiveness gave Cesc and others more time to push forward.
By the way, in the 07/08 season, how old was Hleb? abt 27, certainly not 22.
Fans and manager gave up on Ade for 1 reason, his attitude, he is his own worst enemy. Sorry, but training for this sport (field players understand), you make ten runs knowing you might receive the pass only once.
I remember the criticism about Diaby and Song two or three seasons back. With time, they have grown comfortable for their roles and now we can see their involvement as a positive for the team.
Yes, Nasri can improve his play, but he is a talent that is evolving. As a professional manager, you don’t buy a 20 yr old and expect him to step in and play at the level of more experienced players like Berg or Hleb.
Imo, Nasri was brought to Arsenal as an investment for our future success.
Hleb was most likely useless at 22, but Bergkamp in 1992 was a “god”. The equivalent of Messi in those days – withdrawn striker topping the scoring and assists charts at a time when the Dutch league was stronger than the English one and at par with the Spanish. The only mistake he made was moving to calamity Inter instead of joining the old-Ajax axis of Van Basten/ Gullit/ Rijkaard at Milan. Ah well.
That said, not everybody is a Bergkamp, however it can be projected how a player would turn up. For example you dont need to be a genius to figure out that someone like Denilson will NEVER be an adequate player – even at age 28. Diaby and Nasri on the other hand CAN be quite good but never top-class.
They both have the physique and skill set, but certainly not the mentality. (Denilson doesnt have ANY of the three). You dont teach mentality … I believe its either innate or forged into you at a young age. Nasri and Diaby and the rest of them are already too old to get it now.
And generally I think this rule works … so far I havent been surprised about how any player (who I have watched over 10 times before they turned 20) has panned out.
The only exceptions: Kiki Musampa and Kanu.
I thought he would be an absolute beast and much better than Overmars … last I heard of him he was in trying out in S. Korea … and he is just in his early 30s.
As for Kanu, I remember his first training session (our set of apartment block had balconies facing the old training ground off De Meer). The guy looked like a fresh of the boat African refugee, tall, thinner than a stick and ridiculous “warlord” haircut lol. He had some nice skills but always stayed down much, much longer after every tackle. Thought he didnt have a chance.
A year later he had changed completely and had proven himself.
He proved his stripes by age 21. It helped he was around solid, seasoned pros in an environment that not only encouraged playing good footie but also WINNING.
Nasri will be 23 soon.
thanks for your insight…….
and totally agree with you about player mentality …but I can see Arsene making an effort to correct this team MIDFIELD flaw with the addition of Wilshere and Ramsey.
Hleb was probably at his peak aged 22/23. That’s when he was the known assist master in the Bundasliga.
I don’t think he’s reached those heights since.
Nonsense. His peak was in the 07/08 season. For half the season.
He beat 10 assists ONCE as a 25 year old in 2005 and he half of them were from corners.
“known assist maker” he most definitely was NOT.
I see he has FAILED again at Stuttgart. Scoring ZERO league goals ALL season. Thats ZERO goals for two years running now. He even has fewer assists than Eboue. Thats how pathetic he is.
LOL Fred is getting all angry!
Hleb’s best season was 2003/04. He was actually stagnating the season before he joined us, and said one of the reasons he came to us was because of that.
In 2003/2004 he was 22 years old.
I win.
Sorry, best seasons were 2003/04, and statistically, 2004/05, when aged 21-23.
Wikipedia
“In 2002–03, Stuttgart finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga and enjoyed a Champions League victory over Manchester United and Hleb had become established as the team’s playmaker. However, after team manager Felix Magath left to join Bayern Munich in the summer of 2004, Stuttgart were not as successful under new coach Matthias Sammer, having finished the 2004–05 season in fifth place.[5] Nevertheless, Hleb was on top of the assist chart in his last season in the Bundesliga.
The first sentence is STILL not correct.
Try again.
Unlike you, I lived in Germany in the early part of the decade and I am a big Bundesliga follower. Hleb was of little significance – top “assist-maker” he most certainly was not.
Magath declined to take him with him to Bayern because he is a small-time player.
His record speaks for itself lol.
It is correct.
Hleb peaked AT ARSENAL in 07/08, but he was at his swash-buckling best back in formative years at Stuttgart. Far away from “useless”.
When Hleb left, many said good riddens and pointed out his shooting haplessness. Yes, he certainly flailed at many shots.
However, his work ethic in midfield, along with his strength on the ball, winning the 50/50 balls, mobility, and dribbling ability (change direction and speed) INSTANTLY, electrified our midfield – all these ‘other’ attributes were taken for granted by his critics.
Since his departure Arsenal have NOT reproduced the ball movement through midfield that we had in the 07/08 season.
We have replaced Flamini with Song, but not Hleb’s influence – maybe Arsene sees Ramsey in this role.
Drinking from the Mazza history-re-writing well I see.
Notice how NO top team uses someone like Hleb? Notice how none of them wanted Hleb? Barca immediately discovered their blunder.
Stag, most of what we’re talking about Nasri has nothing to do with his football. It’s about him running his mouth. How do his comments help Arsenal or France? What was his real intent? Don’t get it twisted; those comments were all about Samir Nasri and no one else.
oh, don’t tell the truth about Gallas…
his real intent, was to say FECK OFF WILLY, because he knows Gallas is NOT COMING BACK.
Again, Gallas, Mr.Wonderful to a few folks here, is purposely asking for a contract from Arsenal, that he KNOWS ARSENAL DON’T GIVE OUT…
Good riddance.
I agree with DAG… I think folks have it wrong, Vermaelen probably made Gallas look a lot better, not the other way around.
I don’t understand all this vitriol regarding Nasri. He’s been at Arsenal two years. Does he cause dissension on the pitch and in the locker room? Do we find him continually making troubling comments in the media, like Ade and Arshavin?
He plays wherever our manager pencils him in for the match, gives effort, and with no whining. In his short career, he’s produced some memorable moments, so he does have talent and good attitude.
At 22, what were many of you like ? Oops, what will you be like?
Are we expecting him to act like a mature adult? LIKE GALLAS?
The fact that he didn’t get selected to France’s National Team is only a
reflection on their manager & National organization, but it will be Arsenal’s
advantage for the start of next season.
Those that play in the WC will feel the effects of the short recovery time.
Having Vermaelen, Djourou, Campbell, Gibbs, Nasri, Rosicky, Arshavin, Theo, and others will give us a core of fresh field players to start next season.
pretty simple… folks love to have a whipping boy, a scapegoat … and they are just trying to select next years now, so they’ll have something to do in the Summer.
Nasri is young, talented, one of our better players this year.
He told the truth about Gallas being a bitch. Oh well.
seeya Billy… have fun wherever you go, I’m sure you’ll put in a good half-season there too.
nasri mouthed shit and fans are speaking their opinion …. he is not a whipping boy … he is just catching flak for his comments.
use ur brain a bit.
his comments have very little to do with his ability, and how he played this year.
but the flak is usually referencing his on field action.
Still trying how to Nasri “mouthed shit” – by all accounts what he has said is true – there are players on the squad that have a difficult time with Gallas. It happened before, why should now be different. But Nasri goes on to further say – we all don’t have to get along – just play together on the pitch.
Some of the context is always left out so people can score points. I should know I do it too.
Look I find the support for Gallas touching but when he threw his tantrum at Brum 2 years ago he was crucified and I would bet some who are defending him were blasting him for his inability last season. He improved this season because he had a solid partner. Someone who if you look covered him well. Gallas is still making the mistakes he has made in the past but Vermaelen is heads over Toure and supports Willie G better. And converesely Willie G supports Tommy V.
If it were Tommy V who had gone out earlier and Gallas remained to be the bedrock, we may have had different outcomes because Gallas while tough as he is, gets caught out of position too many times.
All that being said, I don’t want to lose him for continuity sakes. Get rid of the real dregs from the bottom of the barrell.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=788102&sec=europe&cc=4716
Poor Hleb.
I rate sooccernet only a little more highly than the Sun, but Chelski making a record offer for Torres seems credible.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=787982&sec=transfers&cc=5901
makes great sense to me… he would make their strike force AMAZING.
Drogba, Anelka and Torres? Oh my.
they have the cash, and he’s a great striker.
will only make it more difficult for them to be beaten next season, and throw down the gauntlet to United…
whatcha gonna do now Sir Alex!
http://wrighty7.blogspot.com/2010/05/why.html
Wrighty7 feels the Nasri is way out of line.
I agree.
I think MOT are firmly in control now. This summer the talk should have been about players coming into Arsenal. Yet, after PWH’s comments, the agenda has shifted to Gallas. One of Gallas or Sol (or both) were going to leave anyway, so if that was the case, then the club should have let things run their course. But the club is covering its bases by showing that they had no choice in this matter. Gallas has been exposed to be greedy and worse…gasp…he does not talk to some players. Oh no. The club certainly cannot keep anyone that hurts Nasri’s feelings. So the club is justified in not being held hostage to any player’s wage demands or to keep an unwanted player around.
The club could have made things easier if they had bought another experienced CB in thereby weakening Gallas’ bargaining position or whatever else is going now. Now he will leave and the club would not have brought anyone to replace him. Even if the club wants to buy someone after Gallas leaves, then they will be forced to pay more money as others might sense Arsenal’s desperation. Arsenal’s potential targets might be priced out and the club won’t want to spend because they have to control their drug habit..errr i meant spending habit. So instead Arsenal will depend on the chosen one — Johan Djourou. And come August if Wenger still has not signed another CB, then he may not get anyone preferring to use Song when Djourou gets injured or go for another panic buy like Silvestre.
It is interesting every year unwanted greedy players seem to crop up in Arsenal. For some the grass is greener on the other side but the club has principles and certainly knows when to get rid of players who have run their course. Yet, the leaving players are not replaced properly. If the club brought in competent replacements before they left, then maybe things would be different.
on another note…
the CL final will give two domestic double winning teams a chance for a treble. In a way, the CL final will feature champions not 3rd or 4th place aspiring teams. I really can’t wait for UEFA to get rid of the 3rd and 4th place CL spots. Also, Inter got rid of another domestic double winning team in Chelsea and knocked off the Spanish champions along the way.
Yeah, the Nasri comments really annoy me, because they are extremely cynical … especially coming from a nothing player. Reminds me of the comments Almunia was making about Lehmann just 3 days before the CL final.
Once Gallas and Arshavin leave the team would all be zombie, yes-men.
And the Nasri, Clichy, Denilson, Eboue clique would rule the roost….
shudders
you can always support Spurs!
and you can always fukc Nasri, staggy boy.
oh, ruffled your feathers, did I.
piss off.
you can dish it, but you don’t like to take it.
like a true keyboard bully!
ruffled feathers? actually i LOVE these sort of arguments.
hope i didnt offend u tho … i know u are a gentle soul and all ;-)
no bullying, just love :-)
I remember those classics we had a couple of years ago.
I piss myself laughing just thinking about it :)
If Fabregas leaves, that would prove what I was saying back in the 05 season … why not build the team around LOCAL kids. I was quickly accused of xenophobia, even though am not even English, and convinced that passports dont mean a thing. So I got with the flow.
If you are going to be trying to “grow” a team why not do so with kids who grew up supporting the club as FANS. And if not those then some English types that wont easily be pulled by foreign clubs anyway.
If any of our players have a really stand out season you can bet your bottom dollar they would BOLT immediately.
So we are kinda wasting our time completely with this alleged “youth” project. First they are not that good to start with, next they are not winning anything, third they are learning on the clubs dime, fourth if they do break thru they will bolt. In other words we are in a vicious circle. The players look at the club as a transit point. Except you are someone like Denilson and you are just happy to playing for a first division club at all.
IF Fabregas leaves this summer, why not go for Joe Cole on a free transfer, then try to get Joe Hart, Scott Parker and get Upson back?
None of these players are “technically” inferior to our current ones.
Instead of replacing Fabregas with Nasri, why not with Wilshere and Ramsey? (if he comes back OK)
PS: And no, we are not going to buy a replacement for Fab if we sell him.
Fab leave this Summer?
That’s not possible according to this lot, including you!
Until 2 days ago I thought Fab leaving was impossible. Now, I don’t know.
Rumors about Arteta and YaYa are making too much sense, especially since Arsene will see Ramsey as “like a new signing” and figure the kid can do a mans job even though he is still a kid, is coming off an injury a la Eduardo, and come out with 25 mill to boot.
My confidence in my transfer predictions are wavering (lol).
If any of us are hoping that Wenger will keep Gallas and show Nasri the door, then we don’t know Arsene at all. :)
His mantra is quite simple – show experienced but older players the door, but reward youngsters with talent and potential but hardly any achievement.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Arsh followed Gallas out. But there is absolutely no chance of Arsene getting rid of any of his golden babies. Maybe Dudu, but he is hardly Arsene’s baby.
You know what would be proper? A Nasri + cash deal to Bordeaux for Gorcuff. That way, if Cesc decides to leave next summer (can’t leave this summer), we’ve got a player already in the team who can play his role. I absolutely love this kid and he is a very good team player; unlike Samir. At least he was good enough to make the France squad, unlike another player. The only reason Gorcuff didn’t play at Milan is because Kaka and Seedorf were there. What twenty year old is going to play ahead of them?
I second that. After showing his Ministry of Truth stripes I just want him gone.
Funny how the MoT list includes the worst of our players: Almunia, Eboue, Denilson, Clichy … ah well, not holding my breath.
I never liked players that go public about team interaction.
Basic rule of life and the clubhouse. What happens within, stays within. No one would like his brother in law telling the press about fights in the home.
I used to like Nasri, but he needs to keep his mouth shut and improve his game. If not, ship his ass off to Mongolia.
Totally agree with your comments.
However, I attribute his poor judgement (Gallas remarks) to his age. With time he’ll choose his words more carefully.
Damn, Fred. I agree with you again. WTF? Well, except the Hleb bit. I liked Hleb. He just had no confidence in his shooting ability.
In late 2005, I’d just come back from Iraq and a lot of Marseille came on. Nasri got to play every now and then but never impressed me as being a solid player. He would have moments like the Porto goal and is the perfect example of a guy that would look good on youtube. However, if you watched him every week like I did, you wouldn’t be fooled.
The truth with Samir is simple; he only plays for himself. Try and imagine his style of football playing in the Invincible’s side. Unthinkable. Imagine this young whipper-snapper bucking up to senior players like Makelele, Vieira, Henry, and Gallas. These are guys who were there in France ’98, Euro 2000, and the Germany ’06 World Cup Final. These guys have won silverware domestically in England, Italy, France, and Spain. These older heads have been to the moutain top and are all about winning MORE silverware for France, not a vendetta against Samir Nasri. Who the fuck is Samir Nasri? What the fuck has he won? The only thing young Samir should have been thinking about saying to Vieira is “yes-sir, yes-sir, three bags full”. Then he should have shut the fuck up and moved the fuck out.
I’d much rather have Gallas in the team than Samir Nasri. Wenger will have a much tougher time replacing Gallas’ ability, leadership, and winning attitude. Wilshire, Rosicky, Walcott, and Eboue can do what Nasri does and at least they’re playing for the team, not themselves. And they won’t run to the media telling the team’s locker room business. Sure, Gallas talked to the media too but atleast his intent was to try and win silverware. Why did Nasri go to the media? I’m willing to bet that the same guys that don’t talk to Gallas are the same guys that he told behind closed doors that they aren’t pulling their weight. Gallas will be much touger to replace than Samir Nasri.
You can nit pick any player but at a young age inexperience will always leave its mark. I don’t see Nasri as self-centered. If a teammate is open, he distributes the ball – but when others are not making runs into space, what are his options?
Nasri starts his 2nd season with broken leg & when he returns gone are RvP and Bendtner, two of our most intelligent (without the ball) players. Left are Eduardo – not 100%, Vela who took the year off, and then Eboue and Theo (no need for comment). Then there is Mr. Arshavin, who has yet to show anyone he can push himself for 10 minutes.
If you want to complain about selfishness, shine the spotlight on this player. All this criticism about Nasri misses the mark for Arsenal problems.
Unfortunately, we ended the season losing too many critical players to injuries and the reserves just weren’t strong enough to carry the water.
When Toure left, everyone was cautious and anxious about this unknown player from Ajax and how did that work out?
As I said earlier, I see us signing 4 players and their additions will raise our play to another level.
I agree that Arshavin is a very selfish player. I have put him on blast more than a few times here. The difference is Arshavin has proved that he can win us a few games. He’s a seasoned campaigner. He knows his role. Lastly, I can’t imagine a young Arshavin breaking bad against the likes of Alexandre Mostovoi Valeri Karpin.
You’ve got to work your way up the food chain. You can’t just walk in the door as a youngster and start running your yap to a team full of experienced champions.
Understand, I’m not saying that Nasri’s a bad player. He’s brilliant, technically. His problem is he’s not as good as he thinks he is.
He’s got a lot to learn, tactically and needs to humble himself a bit. He certainly has not earned the right to disrespect senior players who have lockers full of silverware. Likewise, I’m not a fan of him putting the club’s personal business in the streets. How about concentrating on what you could have done to get yourself into the world cup or help Arsenal win a trophy.
WHO EXACTLY is as “good as he thinks he is”?
When has Nasri come out and said, “I’m a wonderful footballer”?
How can you blame Nasri for Arsenal NOT having won a trophy??
That credit belongs SOLELY to ARSENE WENGER, not Nasri.
You are way off base, no reason to criticize Nasri at all… he said Gallas doesn’t speak to more than a few players. Its FACT.
FUCK GALLAS.
He’s asking for a contract that he knows Arsenal do not offer.
That’s like asking your boss for 8 weeks vacation, when you know they only give 3.
Gallas is married, I doubt he would want to fuck you Stag.
Josh,
I agree with your perspective about Arshavin – he can delivery in crunch.
Look at the play of Diaby last year. He played on the wings, lost the ball 99% of the time. Couldn’t make his passes connect. Everyone was down on him.
This year, he has shown all of us glimpses of his talent in the center of the pitch. Ditto for Song. Ramsey really was impressing me b4 his injury. These are youngsters and most when given time and encouragement they will deliver.
I believe Nasri has a great future.
Nasri is a true Ministry of Truth loyalist.
He came out with those ridiculous statements a few weeks ago about how the team is “young, growing” and shouldnt be put under too much fan pressure LOOOL.
Now he is mouthing off about Gallas.
Other than a short purple patch around that Porto game, Nasri’s influence on games have been quite minimal. His M.O. is simple … he receives the ball, takes about 5 to 6 touches while roaming around then makes a short pass out wide. His goals return and number of assists are pathetic!
The guy is significantly WORSE than Hleb and I HATED Hleb. He is a pussy like Hleb, he doesnt take responsibility just like Hleb doesnt … but his goals/assists are even worse than the Hlebinator … and ofcourse he hardly creates jack-shit.
He is such a perfect fit for the current Arsenal. A weak-willed, overpaid, circular playing guy. No wonder he didnt make the French World cup squad. (Then again Diaby made it, so thats neither here nor there).
He should contemplate his playing style and career and IMPROVE himself. But thats not the kind of thing Arsenal players do.
Nice one Fred.
Nasri was one of our better players this year, and when Cesc wasn’t playing, he slotted in nicely.
Slotted in nicely??? We collapsed when he took over from Fabregas.
Pompey MISS a penalty in the 2nd half, and 3 minutes later Chelsea
score… that should be the dagger.
Too bad. Would have been a good story.
In Arsenal world.
So, Nasri says… HE and 4 other PLAYERS… DO NOT SPEAK
TO BILLY GALLAS.
We already know Toure said he left because of Gallas.
So, that means… Gallas is an ass-hole, plain and simple.
Asshole, broke-down mentally at Birmingham as captain, not a leader,
wants a 2-year deal at age 32, wants a raise at 32, never plays a full
season.
I’d say there is NO CHANCE he’s back next year, and the club
will be better off without him. Someone else can take on his tired act.
Good player on the pitch, but the “whole package” he brings, means
he isn’t worth the trouble at age 32.
We can surely find a suitable replacement, younger… for less.
Hangeland?
or someone else Wenger has tracked for a while?
Just get it done.
Could he be the only one care about winning? That doesn’t seem to bode well with the club’s value where profit is first priority. Maybe most of the players are buying “the future is bright” line but not Billy?
Stag, you are watching two clubs with no regard to financial stability fight over a worthless trophy ???
I though you had accepted the Arsenal way of things. ;)
I just wanted POMPEY, who have abstolutely FANTASTIC SUPPORT, to go down with a trophy, and keep Chelsea from winning the Domestic Double.
I’m American, we usually support an underdog.
How exactly is Gallas an asshole because he doesnt chat with a bunch of underaged, overpaid LOSERS???
You do realize Bergkamp and Tony Adams never really got along at all right? The same dynamic exists in EVERY single club and at every workplace.
Gallas didnt get on with Toure because he told Wenger that they were the same type of CBs and therefore do not match. Last time I checked telling the truth doesnt make you an arsehole.
The reason he doesnt chat with Nasri is because he felt Nasri didnt listen to instructions from senior members while playing for France. Who the hell is Nasri not to listen to his seniors?? He probably thinks he has arrived.
Gallas is a WINNER, who cries when he doesnt win … I very much prefer that to the pussies we have in our team. Our team has very few players DESPERATE to win and you want to get rid of Gallas?
Why is a 2 year contract too much for a 32 year old centerback???
Lastly, not speaking to 5 Arsenal players out of 30 is NO BIG DEAL!
Am sure the list is Nasri, Clichy, Eboue, Denilson and Almunia.
If I were an Arsenal player I wouldnt chat with that lot either. Would probably add Fabianski, Diaby and Walcott to that list as well.
I have a feeling Vermaelen, Fabregas, Arshavin, Van Persie dont have a problem with Billy at all. Winners respect winners. Enough said.
Toure left because he didn’t like playing alongside Gallas. Gallas has proven himself a poor leader and horrid communicator. Are you really sold on the same type of CB’s as the issue? You’re right, telling the truth doesn’t make you an asshole, people confirm that label by their actions on and off the pitch.
Not sure I agree with your Berg/Adams comparison. From my experience, CB’s need to have chemistry to effectively organize the back line. Why would Berg/Adams need chemistry when their roles are in different third’s of the pitch.
Session, let’s say your point about chemistry is true. How would you rate the chemistry of Gallas and Vermaelen? However, their relationship was about more than chemistry. It was about balance. It was also about leadership. When Gallas was no longer available, Vermaelen got exposed quite a few times. If Wenger doesn’t get this right, mark my words, TV5 will get exposed a lot more next season. Gallas has got a boat-load of experience at the highest level for both club and country. You’ve got to respect that.
Amen Joshuad.
Well said. Gallas is one of our few players with a winning mentality and just one of the few true Arsenal world class players who were flogged into the ground because we lack quality depth.
Arshavin played though pain all season until he finally broke down, and Song, Cesc, Gallas and Vermaelen all were ground into the dirt and suffered season ending NON-Contact injuries.
We are now going to officially track players by GPS so we can analyze their training and game health as per Gaddy. High tech perhaps, but why not supplement that with a group of top Sport Physicians to analyze the players and create specialized fitness/food regimes.
I do believe Gallas had fighting spirit, but his personality brought no leadership to the squad. I have my own definition of world class and not sure I would ever use that phrase to describe Gallas. He is a good player.
re: Arshavin
CK what was his excuse last year when he joined the team. Still not in shape by April ! Consistently whining about being played out of position. Again for a senior ‘age’ player, his commentary every week filled the blog sights and media, but did little to instill respect. This is the manager’s issue to correct.
At the beginning of this season, before his foot complaints, he showed little interest in helping out in defense, his touch (linking) was atrocious, and shooting was on par with Eboue and Bendtner.
By the way, I admire this player’s ability, when he’s focused. Laziness has settled into his way of play.
I agree with many about our team trainers (sports physicians). Something dramatic must be incorporated into our players training.
I. Vermaelen is more a true CB than either Toure or Gallas.
2. Then lets not forget that Toure had been with Arsenal on some successful teams (with solid performances), and much longer longevity at Arsenal than Gallas. Arsene made a blunder in judgment by assigning Gallas Captain. Maybe Toure’s ego was bruised.
Vermaelen, as a new to the team, and a youngster in experience (on paper) to Gallas, would not rock the boat OR impose his will on a senior player AND understudy!
So when Gallas was injured, who partnered with Vermaelen. Certainly a less experienced player at that position, so if the table were turned and Vermaelen were injured, wouldn’t Gallas be exposed to the same partnership weakness?
When Gallas is gone, his replacement’s play will cause all of us forget his name, just as Flamini !
I never state that Gallas doesn’t have experience, but at his age, and injured ‘every end of season’, he is not our future.
Session,
Nope. Toure has said several times that the reason they fell out was because Gallas told Wenger the two of them were not compatible at centerback. Toure has said this SEVERAL times. But it was the TRUTH, no doubt about it. He speaks his mind.
I am pretty certain Vermaelen doesnt consider him a poor communicator or leader.
What you have is a bunch of overpaid wussies at Arsenal like Eboue, Clichy, Almunia, Nasri who DONT want to listen to an experienced player because they think they have MADE it.
F%ck that!
I would rather those four players that dont listen to Gallas to LEAVE than for Gallas.
Hopefully Wenger does care if Gallas is not liked or respected by some of his teammates.
I don’t think we need an overpaid, older BITCH… who wants as 2 year contract and a raise, when he KNOWS we do NOT GIVE THAT TO PLAYERS OVER 30!
It is quite obviously, his way of LEAVING. SHOOTING HIS WAY OUT OF ARSENAL.
He knows what we do as a club, he’s asking for something we won’t give him.
GOOD RIDDANCE.
Go play for someone else for a few months and get injured.
Fred, I always respected Toure for his servitude to the club. Leaving it on the pitch and rarely making waves in or outside the locker room.
Compatible can take on many interpretations.
I can’t allow myself to get emotional on how much these athletes get paid. Check out the NBA and NFL – so many overpaid players, who can’t make free throws, poor shooting touch, and don’t give 100%. Its found in all sports.
If Arsenal players don’t give the expected 100% then that’s the fault of the manager for allowing them to be on the pitch.
Sit them down for a few matches, then see how they respond.
I do believe our club has talent. For the 55+ matches we just never played on all cylinders.
Most that post here are pragmatic. Missing Cesc, Song, Gallas, Vermaelen, and Arshavin, what kind of team can we field ?
Maybe many of you who followed the earlier Arsenal teams, never saw those teams filled with so much inexperience. (I don’t know)
From working with kids and young adults, for many years, you must have patience and not get caught up with what the Joneses are doing.
well, I’m only caught up with the Jones’ winning trophies.
Arsenal FC is interested in staying in the Top 4, and filling the stadium.
That’s been accomplished on a limited budget, so a good job was done to maintain that goal being acheived.
I just hope by like 2013, we will adjust and have goals of winning trophies as the main priority again. That would be fun.
“Arsenal FC is interested in staying in the Top 4, and filling the stadium.”
And all you need for that is a bunch of players grateful to be a big club, but don’t really care much about winning. Once we lose Cesc, the roster should be set up nicely.
Come on Pompey!
;)
Fun stats:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2010/may/13/kevin-davies-bolton-england
Who can fail to be intrigued, for example, by the rankings for chance creation? The fact that Arsenal’s Cesc Fábregas generated opportunities more frequently than any other player (every 23.1 minutes, apparently) will shock no one, but who is that at No7 in the overall list – behind Ryan Giggs, Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou and Antonio Valencia? Why it’s the celebrated Wolves schemer Chris Iwelumo!
So here’s one on-field attribute that an Arsenal player topped over Man Utd and Chelsea :)
But Kevin Davies, take a bow:
For the sixth time in seven seasons the Bolton striker has committed more fouls than anyone in the Premier League
It takes skill to consistently fouls so much. Or maybe it takes none at all.
As for tackles:
though the most prolific tackler remains his [Lucas Leiva] team-mate, Javier Mascherano (178, of which he won 144), ahead of Mohamed Diamé of Wigan (176, won 125) and Fabrice Muamba of Bolton (152, won 102).
Hmm Muamba seems to fit nicely with Bolton’s numbers but could he have brought anything to Arsenal?
There are four Liverpool players in the top 30 most frequent tacklers – more than any other team. Arsenal have only one – Alexandre Song is 23rd, having attempted 88 tackles, one fewer than Birmingham’s James McFadden.
And finally some numbers to back up what is apparent about Arsenal’s set-piece weaknesses, year after year.
Arsenal’s organisational problems at the back, exacerbated by the lack of a commanding goalkeeper, were reflected in the number of goals they conceded from set-pieces, 23 – only the three relegated sides and Wigan let in more.
And Arsenal’s crossing is poor or non-existent and accordingly they take their position at the bottom of that stat:
But Stoke finished well clear of trouble because what they do, they do well: they were, for example, the most accurate crossers in the league (26.76% completion rate when corners are included, just ahead of Chelsea and Aston Villa and way in front of the league’s least accurate crossers – Arsenal, on 17.49%).
But who cares for set-pieces and crosses, when possession is all that matters. But unfortunately, Chelsea narrowly pipped Arsenal to that top spot:
You might deduce that this is because Arsenal did not need to tackle as much since they tended to have the ball a lot – and it is true that only Chelsea averaged more possession in matches (59.8% to Arsenal’s 59.3%). But Liverpool averaged 59.1%.
Well Arsenal didn’t top the fair play table. They came in 4th behind Fulham, Man City and Man Utd. I guess 4th place and Arsenal go together.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/fairplay?league=eng.1&year=2009&seasontype=1&cc=5901
Spurs and Blackburn (??) are the 2 teams behind Arsenal. Bolton didn’t finish last as Sunderland gathered more cards than them. I think if Bolton sign Turner and Cana from Sunderland, they would be a shoe-in to be the baddest team every year. And to be on the safe side, they should bring back Big Sam.
And not surprizingly, Arsenal’s attendance was 2nd behind Man Utd.
yes, so Cesc wants his “future sorted out” before the World Cup.
DaAdmin thinks its just more “hot air” from a Spanish newspaper.
Ummm, yeah.
IF Cesc said he wants his future sorted out… and we all KNOW
he is UNDER CONTRACT at the club, then there is NOTHING TO SORT.
Add to this the club giving him a 3 Million GBP payment and a huge
pay raise… in PANIC MODE…
and
we have here, a problem…
Can we get that 3million back from him, because… as I have said
before, and have been told … NO WAY… this guy is close to
being GONE.
I think he’d love to be at Barcelona, back in Spain, NOW.
If we are lucky, he’s here one more year.
But if anybody out there would be surprised if he were sold
before the World Cup, you are insane.
This could prove to be a very interesting Summer, in which a LOT of
change takes place at the club…
but if Cesc goes, we will have no player close to his caliber left
in the team.
At that point, the “followers” will cue up the “he wasn’t worth the money we sold him for” and “he can be replaced”, and “he was injured often”…
but it would set us back a few years in terms of the team’s success.
Gallas.
No problem.
See you Billy. You aren’t as good as you think you are, or worth
as much as you think you are… and we KNOW you can’t play a full season. My lasting image of him will always be … sitting down on
the pitch, hands over his face… he’s good, but he’s not a leader.
bye bye.
I’m sure Cesc just wants a look at the financials and assurances that the Club will spend prudently this Summer.
Once Le Boss assures him the profit picture is looking good, and AFC will remain competitive for 3rd/4th, and better than 98% of the clubs in England, Cesc’ll fall right back into line.
No reason for anything but optimism!
while the BOARD will be THRILLED that we will remain competitive for 3rd/4th… better than 98% of the clubs in England, and with a great profit picture… (and believe me, they DO care)…
Cesc, meh… not so much. I am sure he is about done with this bunch… he wants to go to Barcelona where winning is a priority. Winning is not just everything there, its the ONLY thing that matters.
What number will he be?
At Arsenal, afterwards, he’ll be about #40,000,000!!!
With this reality right in front of us, the blind spot of the party line is well and truly exposed. This is plan is going to have bottom line consequences that resonate to the financial sooner rather than later.
You like teaching moments, so follow this simple math:
Does AFC finish Top Four this season without Cesc?
No commitment to winning > No world class player > End of Top Four run = FAIL.
The likes of ManU and Barca became among the biggest brands in the world because of their commitment to WINNING. They get the best players in the world because of their commitment to WINNING. And United’s poor profit picture doesn’t seem to harm its value as franchise, in any respect.
A commitment to being a proverbial also ran will take AFC down.
I hope the proverbial penny drops before Arsenal does.
Anyway, where were we? Oh yeah, best and worst. ;)
Best goal – Nasri against Porto.
Most improved player – Aaron Ramsay.
Worst player – Abou Diaby.
It’s interesting noting Dixon’s criticisms and Kiwi’s accurate take on the apathy of even the most pro-Wenger supporters. We’re in the abyss. There is no discernable direction to anything Wenger is doing, no more points of reference for the ‘hippies’ to take solace from. We’ve set sail and our radar is playing up. So we drift along, trying to seek out crumbs of comfort. Identify areas of the squad that give promise to exponential improvement in order to the bridge the gap. However it seems the well of youth has run dry, and a large bulk of our boyish squad are not improving at all. Next season will be more of the same rather than another step up that linear ladder of improvement. That cliche has long been put to rest. It’s a realisation that most seem to have taken on aboard, and expectations have been adjusted accordingly. Champions league football is indeed ‘silverware, and the crescendo of Wenger’s master-plan. Now it’s a task of trying to maintain the status quo and not fall behind those around us, rather than the more lofty ambition of actually winning something, which Wenger promised us was only a matter of time. Soon they will have to dispense with the corner flag in order to accomodate our new set of goal posts.
Still, third place is not a bad achievement and Dixon at first glance appears a little harsh in his damning appraisal. But it’s more than that isn’t it? It’s the manner of our eventual surrender. Failing to build on a string of fortuitous if hard fought victories against the riff raff of the league by playing football befitting that of a championship winning side, either in quality or intensity, in our remaining games down the stretch. That is the most gauling indictment. We played ugly and unconvincingly because we are ugly and unconvincing, not because circumstances and the stakes involved. Even Wenger’s spin can’t disguise that.
I’m sorry Gallas is a good player and it will be sad to see him go but let’s be honest the last two seasons he has finished from March to May on the trainer’s table. We have not had him in for the run.
Additionally, his season last year wasn’t all that great and before that he was mediocre and I remember a lot of AA folks calling his head. I’m sorry Gallas is not someone I see as irreplaceable.
He isn’t going to get the deal he wants from the EPL. He is going to have to get it from the likes of Roma or a French side.
What Arsenal starter has been fit for every game this season? Injuries happen. It’s part of the game. In fairness to Gallas, he should have only been out for three weeks at the end of this campaign. It’s management’s fault he’s missed the entire run-in this season. Before that, he played just about every game.
I’ll agree that Gallas is not irreplaceable. The question is can Wenger replace him this summer and at what cost. As a seasoned international, Gallas should be on 80k-a-week wages, but not for two years. This has probably been his best year in an Arsenal shirt. If you search high and low, you’ll be lucky to find ten central defenders that can match both Gallas’ experience and technical ability. If you find them, do you think they’ll be for sale? We’ll talk about it next summer.
No player is fit all teh time, but Gallas has missed 2-3 months every year he has been at Arsenal and that isn’t going to get better with age.
Funny, I read Dixon’s analysis as well and he said the biggest mistake Arsene made was to not sign a striker in January. I agreed with that as soon as the window had closed and I saw that Wenger hadn’t signed a striker of any kind. He didn’t even bring Jay Simpson back from loan.
Personally, I think we could have signed Pavlyuchenko on loan. He was deeper down the pecking order for Spurs than Vela was for Arsenal. At the time, I don’t think any Spurs fan would have minded losing him, even to Arsenal. He did prove more valuable to Spurs soon after the window closed but I’ve been singing his praises for years. Oh well, that milk is spilled.
Looks as if Gallas is a goner. Just as strongly as I felt we needed to sign a striker in January, I felt we needed to extend Gallas’ contract. If Billy proves his fitness, I’ll expect him to go to the World Cup and perform like he did in the Liverpool game a few months ago. He’ll, certainly, be auditioning for a deal better than what Arsenal have offered him. Wenger’s jamming this up. When he sold Diarra, he should have released Flamini. Now this year, he sold Toure when he should have sold Gallas. I don’t really feel that way; merely noting a coincidence.
You think it is a coincidence that Wenger is making the same mistake again and again? ;)
According to reports, Cesc has come out and said that he wants his future sorted soon. What does that mean? He does have a contract, right? What’s there to sort? This is, perhaps, indicitave that Cesc is ready to leave. If these reports are false then I’ll expect Cesc to come out and deny them by tomorrow. However, I think there’s an element of truth to them.
If Cesc does leave this summer, that might confirm rumors linking Arteta with a move to Arsenal. Like Hill-Wood told Gallas the other day, “good luck”. Everton would not welcome the idea of selling their best player. Awesome if we can pull it off. Arsenal may not be willing to match Everton’s asking price for a 28 year old. What might prove a more likey scenario is bringing Chamakh’s teammate, Gourcuff with him to Arsenal. I’ve watched a lot of him since his Milan loan move and, in my opinion, he’s nearly as good as Fabregas, but with descent pace and a very descent shot. We’ll see.
It won’t be surprising if Cesc saw this season end’s capitulation by Arsenal and decided that he had had enough.
After all, the shitty performances came right after he was injured in the Barca game.
The Cesc story has originated in another of those fun Spanish papers. So I am sure there is a little truth but not much.
One of things that Cesc says is he likes being here and he is happy being here and that “when he does move” it will only be for Barca.
I think the “Sorted out” is a statement of saying that he doesn’t want any dilly dallying around if there is a legitimate offer for him. So if Barca are going to offer £50 million for him and Arsenal do want cash in – he doesn’t want something long and protracted that will effect his WC play. If Barca aren’t serious he would rather not be mentioned by the Presidential candidates in their promisory speeches. He just wants to play unhindered football.
Just my take.
I think Cesc’s departure will come after Arsene defines when he is leaving and leaves or within 2 years
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2557/news/2010/05/13/1923211/arsene-wenger-must-take-the-blame-for-arsenals-recent
Lee Dixon is critical of Arsene and feels that he must sign 4 first team starters. What does that say of the current team?
Further, Lee actually believes that Arsene will sign 4 players. :)
I often like Dixon’s analysis. It’s a bit unusual for him to be openly outspoken against on Wenger…
Interesting that NO ONE on ANY site can be arsed dissecting the season. That to me speaks volumes. People roughly fall in 2 camps, (1) the disenchanted, and (2) the wannabe-hopeful-yet-increasingly-apathetic. The upbeat group is non-existant with very few occupants because there is almost NO EVIDENCE.
Before the Wigan game that Nipuna referred to there was a glimmer of hope that we could finish strongly and improve on prior seasons. That didn’t happen, in fact the opposite did, we collapsed just when Wenger was touting the ‘improvement’. The team made him look foolish (not for the first time in recent years). You can only talky-uppy for so long, if the results don’t back you up you lose your credibility. Wenger is looking a right goose. His fallback position is to blame injuries, yet he alone picks the squad and has stuck with his serial injury cases for 3 or 4 years. He can’t see the wood for the trees – his ego blinds him. Why else would you kid yourself a line-up of RvP, Eduardo, and Rosicky will carry you to glory?
yeah I just had more fun adding up goal scoring numbers and ratios than thinking about this past season.
a list of goal-scorers by season..
hadn’t realized shearer was so good for so long.
a question to those of you who watched epl last decade – was he as good as Henry in his prime?
Coz how much we miss the consistency of Thierry is so clearly visible.
92-93
Sheringham (Spurs and Forest)
27
93-94
Cole (Newcastle)
34
94-95 Shearer (Blackburn)
34
95-96 Shearer (Blackburn) 31
96-97 Shearer (Blackburn) 25
97-98 Dublin (Coventry), Owen (Liverpool), Sutton (Blackburn)
18
98-99 Hasselbaink (Leeds), Owen (Liverpool), Yorke (Man U) 18
99-00 Phillips (Sunderland)
30
00-01 Hasselbaink (Chelsea)
23
01-02 Henry (Arsenal)
24
02-03 van Nistelrooy (Man U)
25
03-04 Henry (Arsenal) 30
04-05 Henry (Arsenal) 25
05-06 Henry (Arsenal) 27
06-07 Drogba (Chelsea)
20
07-08 Ronaldo (Man U)
31
08-09 Anelka (Chelsea)
19
09-10 Drogba (Chelsea)
29
I started watching in 98-99 and I can say for sure that Henry was the epitome of consistency.
The first thing I remember of Shearer was his elbowing tactics, a la Kevin Davies, except a little more subtler. I never liked him.
the 94-95 season was the last time there were 42 games. Shearer still managed to break 30 mark the following season with 4 potential less games. or one could say that with those 4 less games made a difference in a dip in his total.
I remember seeing Shearer even in his Southampton days when him and Le Tissier combined well. Shearer was certainly consistent at racking up goals no matter where he went. But my memory is getting a bit hazy now. I remember more of Shearer’s goals, be it a header, long distance strike or a penalty, than anything else he did prior to making contact with the ball. But with Henry, I remember more than just his goals — his passes, his burst of pace, his cutting inside and the time he lovingly spent on the ball. Maybe my memory is more fresh regarding Henry but to me Henry was more than just a goal scoring machine.
Shearer’s 96-97 season was at Newcastle. Didn’t think about it but he never got the high totals at Newcastle that he did at Blackburn but then again that might be attributed to the number of games he played.
In 96-97, he got 25 goals from 31 games. So a ratio of 0.8065 goals per game. In 94-95 he got 34 goals from 42 games for a ratio of 0.8095 goals per game. That is identical if I just round off to 2 decimal places.
Although in the 95-96 season, Shearer’s ratio was even better. 31 goals from 35 games for 0.8857
Henry’s ratio from the 03-04 season where he got 30 goals in 37 games was 0.8108
If one compares the overall games played vs goals scored, then Shearer’s overall ratio for Blackburn was 0.8116 — 112 goals in 138 games. Shearer’s Newcastle total was 148 goals in 303 games for a ratio of 0.4884
Henry got 174 goals in 254 games for Arsenal for 0.685. If you average Shearer’s two ratios from Blackburn and Newcastle, then that number is 0.65, just slightly below Henry’s Arsenal total. What is interesting is that Henry’s Barcelona ratio is coming out to 0.4487, almost similar to the numbers Shearer got when he moved to Newcastle. That makes sense as a player gets older then their tally is bound to drop. I am sure Wenger would back this up and point to his selling strategy for midfielders and attackers when they get past a certain age.
But Henry did a lot for more Arsenal than just score goals.
And wasn’t Blackburn’s team built on Jack Walker’s millions? So that means if we include a moral value factor to this comparison, then Henry wins :)
errr..got carried away with these numbers. But it was more fun thinking about this than this past season.
Worst goal: Flapianski bouncing the ball off Titus Brambles’ head into the net.
Best goal: Cesc vs. Spurs.
Worst Goal:
FABIANSKI againt Porto. Worst goalkeeping play of the season.
He sucks.
;)
Best goal, I also like Arshavin’s strike against Liverpool…
Best player has to be Cesc Fabregas, 15 goals, 13 assists.
Worst Player… for me, its the keepers.
Is that the biggest Cult figure for Eboue, or C*nt figure.
His diving and antics make him my least favorite player at the club.
Best game – 6-1 at Everton. That game was how we should play and win. Scoring all kids of goals – long range, headers, passing. Also includes the customary conceding of a stupid goal when we are in total control.
Worst game – 2-3 at Wigan. It should how spineless this team can be. Literally, the straw that broke the camel’s back and turned me over to the dark side.
Best goal – many contenders, Cesc vs Spurs, Arsh vs Pool away, the team goal against Wolves, etc.
Worst goal – has to be Diaby against ManU, the idiot !!
Best player – Cesc all the way.
Worst player – Mooney and Fab suck, but this award has got to go to Super Syl. PS: Does Arsene count? As this really is his team.