Things I Think I Know – A Preview. . . of Sorts
A Star On The Rise
The Summer of Cesc
Well, it is the second month of the the Cesc to Barca saga and frankly, I am tired of it. Each day another report of a Barca player extolling the Arsenal Captain’s Barca DNA irrates me further. This past Friday the lads over at talkSport claimed we Arsenal were holding Cesc hostage. Frankly, this all needs to stop and but it can only stop one way – the player coming out and saying, he is playing at Arsenal this season. Without that even Barca saying they will move on, won’t stop it. The press are looking for a story and the biggest news would be Cesc to Barca.
No, I am not saying there is some big ol’ press consipiracy agains the club – though it is clearly evident where that perception comes from. I am just saying with a summer devoid of any big news the Cesc saga gets people to read to the papers and their Web sites.
Anyway, in the beginning of the summer, I was of the mind the club should keep him. He is under contract fopr 5 years, he is our captain, and he is central to our plans. However, as every day goes by, I am not sure I want him here. Not because he has done the club some sort of ill – but frankly I don’t think this is going to end well for anyone. For Arsenal they WILL eventually one day lose their star (better to cash in on him now). For Cesc, he likely will be derided by Arsenal fans this season (much like Ade the year before he left). For the EPL its another star player going back to the continent (are they really the best league in the world). For Barca they were the antithesis to Real Madrid. They played classy football and their players and organization you could like. Now they are being perceived as pushy and arrogant.
However, Arsenal stil hold the cards. If they value him at £50 million than Barca should pay up or piss off.
Jack the Lad
I’ve managed to watch the majority of the pre-season – even watching extensive portions of the Emirates Cup. There are quite a few players this pre-season I am surprised by. One of them isn’t Jack Wilshire. I am quite excited by the lad actually. He was the star of last year’s Emirates cup and while he wasn’t necessarily the star he was a feature as he was in all our pre-season activities. He shows great movement with and without the ball. He had a few errant passes but his distribution and touch of the ball looked especially deft and finally, he plays with an edge. Sometimes it seems a little wreckless and that could be youth but he is solid and he could offer us some well needed grit.
He likely will not go on loan. I see him staying and getting a good run out, especially with Ramsey out until at least November. Ramsey and Wilshire are the midfield tandem of the future (provided Ramsey returns and doesn’t pull and Eduardo). The could be a better foundation for the team Fabregas is. I am going to look forward to Jack’s emergence as a star and the return of Aaron Ramsey.
By the way – I like Wilshire over Joe Cole. Yeah, I am a minority in that. Wilshire is younger and more durable.
Koosh and the Makh attack.
I am still holding out on passing judgement on our newest defencive signing Laurent Koscielny. He hasn’t looked horrible in the pre-season and has actually shown some good skill in the back. However, he hasn’t done anything to make me think we’ve found the next Thomas Vermaelen. Maybe the pre-season isn’t the place to do that. We hadn’t really locked into what a talent Vermaelen was until we were 5 or 6 games into the season. The preview looks promising but, I still think we need someone in the back a little more solid and a little more experienced.
As for Marouane Chamakh, I think this lad is going to delight. He is what we missed without Adebyour in the mix – except he doesn’t go off sides all the time. He is strong on the ball, deft in the air and actually distributes the ball very well. He should do very nicely.
The Defence.
Not sure how a team that has so many coaches that were defenders can still be defencively weak. The book 4 all look good at points but there are still issues and lapses that are occuring. Sure, it could be just chalked up to the pre-season and they could sort it out. I know I am in the minority when I say that Sagna is one of the top 5 best RB in the league. Clichy while not a favourite of mine is good at times, though I would prefer Gibbs to get the start and Clichy to be sold for a a player. Vermaelen is our rock solid addition. The other CB position is a question mark and why I believe it when I hear that Arsenal are still looking for at least one or two players to fill the void left by the departures of Gallas, Sol, Senderos and Silvestre (was this a void that really needed replacing).
The two players I hear of most are Per Mertesecker from Werder Bremen and Phil Jagielka. Jagielka may not be happening as he was recently injured in the pre-season. I am watching the German (Bremen) press and there seems to be steam picking up there. Per is likely considered to be slower than say Vermaelen but he is big and he is strong and with Didier Drogba coming down the middle big and strong is what we need. Plus I argue the CB, doesn’t need to be running every where. They need good game and situation awareness and must be perfectly playing the positional game to be effective. One of the reasons, Sol was so effective at his age was ability to play the positional game. He made up for his lack of speed with his ability to get into the right position 9 times out of 10. If Mertesecker plays that way and based on the World Cup matches I saw he does – then he would be a good signing.
The Goal Keeper Situation.
Can you say adios Manny? The look on his face yesterday holding the Emirates cup said all you need to know. He knows he is no longer the favourite. By all indications, the talks between Arsenal and Spanish club Ossasuna are advanced. The Emirates cup and the Captains armband may have been a final gift to (the first was his making the squad as our number 1) to the wonky Spanish keeper. I will absolutely weep if Almunia and Fabianski are on our starting lineup. I would rather we start the season with Szczesny and Mannone ( doesn’t matter who starts to me). But the wonder twins of the bad kind simply are not the answer in goal. Almunia let nearly 50% of all shots he faced in and Flapianski while stopping more shots than Manny, has such poor positioning and thinking that the goals he does let in are howlers that demoralise a team and a fan base.
We need a keeper – nuff said.
The Gaffer.
Arsene Wenger. Legend. But is it time? I dunno. I think he has been more aggressive in the transfer market but he is still not taking all the necessary steps. He is being frugal to point of annoyance. However, such is a fan’s right. We want big money signings but the gaffer wants practical, cost-efficient signings. Never shall the two meet. Arsene’s biggest gaffe is letting the defence linger while the attack is where all the attention goes. You could argue that by being on the constant attack then defence is part of the offence. However, as we showed last season we could get killed on the counter and get sliced apart. So he has to focus in on defence or the lack of trophies will continue.
Players I am Looking Forward to Seeing.
Frimpong
Eastmond
Players I Want to See Step Up
Nasri
Walcott
Rosicky
Arshavin
Gibbs
Van Persie
Nicky B (when he’s healthy)
Where Do I Expect Us to Finish.
Let me caveate this by saying if we stay healthy and a CB and ‘keeper come in – than we could challenge. If not I think the squad as it is built could finish from 2-4. I also expect to see a greater emphasis on the FA Cup from the team and suspect we could challenge for one of the domestic cups this season.
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superb post.Never knew this, appreciate it for letting me know.
http://www.goodplaya.com/blog/the-really-enlightening-fabregas-quotes/
I agree with this. If Arsenal were challenging and winning stuff, I bet Cesc wouldn’t be missing his home so much.
It is not too late to salvage the season. But any viable solution involves replacing Wenger and having a fire sale of his beloved players. This would give a new manager a few weeks to make some purchases. The new manager won’t have to pull a Felix Magath and bring in a whole bunch of players while sending even more packing.
But ofcourse, nothing will change.
This line is pure horror:
However, he reassured Gunners fans that he has “no desire” to go anywhere else.
That is not the kind of reassurance I need at the moment. Although this line is just a tease:
If I go for a different challenge – I have been offered many challenges you know – it has to be now.
Now, please.
There you have it: Wilshere and Gibbs called up by Capello. It really says something about the state of the England team if the manager is calling up a player who has never made a start in the Premiership.
CG, it is not the first time. This happened 4 years ago with another Arsenal player. Remember? :)
Rightly or wrongly on the call-ups.
3 of the callups are from Arsenal – a team always castigated for its inability to develop English talent.
http://redlondon.wordpress.com/2010/08/07/picture-of-the-day-wenger-shows-delight-with-fabianski/
I think that is meant for the fans. He knew the camera would focus on him right after another mistake from his star goalie, so Wenger is letting fans know what he thinks. Because at the end of the day, fans can complain as much as they want, nothing will change.
In fact, Fabianski will probably start against Liverpool, make a few mistakes and still retain his spot for the next game, after when Almunia will be back. By then, some fans will welcome Almunia playing into Wenger’s hands. He has no intention of buying a keeper but he wants everyone to see how bad Fabianski is so that they can welcome the avergeness of Almunia. Anything to save money.
While glancing through that wiki link above I came across an interesting blast from the past … do you guys remember Amaury Bischoff ??!!!
Those two words embody the sheer arrogance and head-firmly-in-sand complex Wenger has developed in the last half decade.
Before joining us he had played zero first team football. In the two years after he has left, he has cameo-ed in 8 games … in the Portueguese SECOND division.
Amaury Bischoff is just an extreme version of the likes of Almunia, Fabianski, Denilson, Diaby ….. players who belong in the lower leagues of latin countries.
I went through the wiki page for Bischoff and this hilarious comment clearly shows why Wenger bought the guy:
Reports claims that he was really good att Microsoft Excel, helping the staff when needed.
I am sure this comment will be removed soon from the wiki page but I am willing to believe it. Wenger is more concerned with balancing the debt than managing the team, so if there is a player whose real talents lie manipulating a spreadsheet, then clearly he is a star in Wenger’s eyes.
Yep.
It was a few weeks after Wenger said “trust me in the market, you will not be disappointed”.
Then he rolls out Amaury Bischoff………..
*facepalm*
If Gallas doesn’t sign for anyone in the next month, his most likely destination is Real Madrid. They’re one of the few teams who can afford him and Mourinho rates him. He’s certainly an upgrade to Raul Albiol so that move seems very possible.
What’s unlikely is Gallas re-signing for Arsenal. If the season starts like we’re all afraid it will, the opportunity for him to gloat and make it painfully obvious that Arsenal miss him is too much for any player to pass on.
For me, Gallas’ biggest problem is he’s a sore loser. Losing is the root of every problem he’s had at Arsenal. I’d much rather have a sore loser than a graceful loser who sucks. Unfortunately for Gallas, his intense desire to win is often mis-understood.
Our goal-keeping situation is desperate. It’s more so with Fabinaski seeming to have won Wenger’s favor. As bad as Almunia is, he’s nowhere near as bad as the Polish sensation. While Almunia is likely to give up a poor goal here and there, Fabianski looks very likely to have an absolute meltdown and concede goals in bunches. Arsenal simply don’t defend well enough as a team to have him in goal. I never thought I’d say this before but I hope Almunia is our starting keeper.
If Real were interested in him, wouldn’t they have gone and signed him already?
Willy is probably still sticking out for his 100k … he’ll get around soon enough.
Woot Woot!
6-5 WIN TODAY.
What a comeback…
Things are looking fantastic going forward.
2 goals from Eboue, and a rampant 2nd half for Arsenal.
———-
PSG opened the season with a 3-1 win!
QPR opened their season with a 4-0 win!
and Charlton were 1-0 winners.
How about starting YAMPSG, YAMQPR, and YAMCAFC?
;)
Woot Woot.
I’ve always liked Charlton too, I hope they do well this year.
I liked van Persie’s volleyed goal against Charlton. I also liked Henry’s back-heel goal with a defender on his back. I even remember Justin Hoyte scoring a nice goal a few seasons ago; absolute beauty of a build-up orchestrated by Cesc, Hleb, and Henry.
Ah, Justin Hoyte … that incredibly mediocre of players … he used to stick out like an incredibly sore thumb back in the day. Now he would fit right in with our current crop.
I believe that was his only goal for Arsenal. It was a nice goal. It was more the build up to the goal than the goal.
I referred to Justin Hoyte a few days ago, talking about the list of defenders that were Wenger protege’s. They all failed.
What’s the best site/resource for player and team statistics from last previous seasons?
I need it for my next piece.
Soccernet?
Wikipedia has articles for each of Arsenal’s seasons going back to 02/03. Each one has player stats like appearances, goals, and cards for each of the 4 competitions. Obviously, accuracy could be a problem, but it looks like all of the stats are attributed to external sources like newspapers or sports websites, so it seems legit.
Here’s the one for last season:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009-10_Arsenal_F.C._season
DAG,
These two sites are good for stats. Players’ goal, assist, etc. The football-lineups.com displays results by match day including the ref.
http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics
http://www.football-lineups.com/tourn/FA_Premier_League_2009-2010/
Has anyone else noticed that of our five Center Midfield starters of last season: Fabregas, Song, Diaby, Denilson and Ramsey, NONE of them have played ONE minute of a pre-season game this summer!
As well as going with a craven GK, an incredibly weak CB we are also going into the season with a BRAND NEW midfield of Frimpong, Nasri, Wilshere or Rosicky.
When you look at all of this you can understand why even a carcass like Campbell bails out fast. Imagine being fourth choice centerback in a setup this ridiculous!
Oh it will even be worse after Wilshere gets injured playing for England in mid-week. Also, the earth’s rotational cycle seems to indicate that another Rosicky injury, this time over his shoe-laces, is in the cards, so he will be out come Anfield time.
Arshavin’s muscular problems will continue to bother him while Song and Diaby still need more rest because of the trauma they suffered in the WC. So they are probably going to be rested until November or so, by when they would have found the mental strength to step onto a pitch.
I said it at the end of last season. Give Gallas whatever the f&ck he wants. I knew if he left there is NO WAY we would adequately come close to replacing him.
I believe Gallas is still on the market. Hopefully both sides can swallow their prides and agree for an extension on the same terms. Gallas was on 80kpw before. Lets offer him the same on a 2 year deal. He will be forced to accept it because no other “major” club in the CL will pay him that anyway.
You guys do NOT want to see Koscielny face one of the big, burly EPL forwards.
The ONLY CBs (with a body as slight as Kooch) who survive in top flight football are those who are VERY experienced and are technically and tactically excellent (ie. Cannavaro). Even then they need a strong midfield and GK around them.
Koscielny has ZERO experience and is not technically excellent. Though he is probably intelligent in the Denilson sort of way.
If you are Wigan, Birmingham or Sunderland manager right now, you would be looking to shake Koscielny up very early. Get one of your bigger lads to slyly step on his toes and body slam him a bit. Shake him up in the first 5 minutes.
Vermaelen being an inexperienced center back will be alarmed at this so he will rush to cover his partner! End result, a GAPING 20 yard hole between the right sided CB and the rabbit-in-a-headlight Clichy.
The runners from midfield would be face ZERO opposition as they take pot shots at the Great Flap! Who is going to stop them? Frimpong?
Gallas is so good that all the teams are lining up to sign him.
That’s what we need.
Even SOL signed!
Keep holding out for that massive contract Willy!
I am sure Arsenal will be just fine.
ARSENE KNOWS!!!!
How Gallas ends up without Arsenal is completely irrelevant.
How Arsenal ends up without a proper center back pairing is my main concern.
If we don’t get a real GK we might as well start CZ. Almunia is a good shot stopper but that’s all he has to his game. Ball distribution is terrible and takes away from our possession game. Weak in penalty box, not vocal in defense, gets beaten nearside constantly and stays rooted on his line and therefore puts pressure on our “midget” defense.
Cooch is not the answer to play alonside Vermaelen,in fact, he is a poor mans Vermaelen. We need someone like Per M who is absolutely dominant in the air.
I don’t think there is more than 1 person in a million who would not agree that we need a top flight GK and aerially dominant CB. Apparently, Arsene is that one in a million. With 40m to 60M available for expenditure on new players why the f**k cant we spend 20m and get what we need. He could look on it like he is saving 40M by not spending all of his kitty, but no, his &&*&^^^^ obstinacy is going to see us out of the top 4 unless someone slaps him silly and wakes him from his rose tinted coma.
I was harping on in disbelief when we signed Koscielny. He is just NOT what we need at the club.
We need aerial dominance and strength … it is not in his DNA to provide that. The Kooch hasnt even played against any brutish EPL forwards yet! When that happens we’ll have to call 911 to stop the ensuing beat down he suffers.
Vermalaen will SUFFER big time this season.
The Belgian will be completely lost. His CB partner will be destroyed to his right. Clichy will be in full retard mode on his left. The clown behind him CAN flap the ball in his own net at ANY single moment.
Vermaelen will be a big bag of nerves this season and it will affect his game.
Good work Wenger!
This could be a good omen.
The last time we were involved in a goal fest like this was the 5-4 win at WHL in 2004 and we went to finish second. ;)
6-5… a poor performance. I Suppose Mazza will be trying to organise a party :-(
I wrote the “script” along time ago. I tried to warn you a long time ago Arthur. Wenger has lost it.
You could call today the Warsaw Premiere.
Next week the movie moves to Liverpool….
LOL! Mazza you do make me laugh :-D .
You wrote the script, I can believe that, Doom being the outcome and the perfect end to a Monger fairytale ;-)
Final score 6-5 ???
So this is the club we signed Flap from. Clearly they too don’t have a proper keeper tradition. Their keeper is no better than ours. :)
Remember that season where Arsene suddenly dropped Jens and played Mooney for 6-8 games before realizing his mistake?
I fear the same for the new season. Seems like Arsene has made Flap his #1 and will take 8-10 games to realize his mistake.
It is pathetic.
Nip?
either one is a disaster. without a NEW Number One coming in, it simply doesn’t matter.
Agree, simply a case of choosing the lesser of the two evils.
LW – AFC score reminds me of my indoor soccer league …
I thought Arsenal would miss Gallas but they looked like a legitimate circus defending today. I hoped I was wrong but Vermaelen is going to have a sophmore jinx.
Almunia is our best keeper but he didn’t make the trip to Poland. I hope Wenger hasn’t decided to go with Fabianski. That kid is far worse than Taylor. Almunia is far better than Fabianski. If he’s our starter he’s likely to have a few games where he gives up six goals. Almunia has never had a game like that.
Chamakh scored a goal that no one else at Arsenal could have. He’s a sound acquisition. Not happy that Arsenal have accepted bids for Jay Simpson. We should keep him atleast until Bendtner comes back.
LW 3 – 1 AFC
Chamakh with a header
Defense looks like shite
somebody might have mentioned this … I didn’t see it
on YAMA…
but Arsenal released Kerrea Gilbert, age 23.
so, we don’t want to travel to the US, as the 6 hour flight is
just so rough on the team in first class…
but, we can go to Austria and Poland… Poland? a week before the season.
makes so much sense.
Arsenal at some Polish team in a friendly.
Frankly, I don’t give a damn.
French League opens today… I like PSG, the classic underacheivers!
Championship… I’ve always liked QPR, love their stadium…
Division One… I usually stay in the Charlton area, and remember the team rising from the dead, to get all the way back to the Prem… and remember seeing Lee Bowyer as a young lad, and thinking, HE IS GOOD!
so, I’ll support them.
With the internet, you can watch most games in most countries and divisions.
—————-
ARSENAL SPENDING 23 MILLIN GBP on Pepe Reina.
While I would LOVE to see Arsene and Arsenal making such
a bold move and statement, I just don’t see it happening.
Would I like to see it. HELL YES.
Woohoo! PL is a week away, but the English football season is officially underway with the kick-off of the Championship! I may take in Derby-Leeds later today if I’m feeling up to it.
Bundesliga starts a week later than the EPL, but the super cup is tonight.
Bayern vs Schalke!
Legia Warsaw -vs- Arsenal live on ATVO.
Flap starts …
yawn.
Pretty much …
Flap tried to catch the ball from corner kick, but he tripped resulting in goal.
Arsenal 0 – 2 down.
Nothing new. Yawn indeed.
hilarious defending from Arsenal … 3 down. Luckily, Chamakh pulled one back.
Wrighty7 thinks RvP is the new Mr Arsenal.
http://wrighty7.blogspot.com/2010/08/he-is-new-mr-arsenal.html
The guy who barely plays half of Arsenal’s games. Hilarious!!!
I am trying to figure out what my next post is going to be but in the meantime, I’ve been trying to keep Rumours updated. The hot one today is that Arsenal have lodged a bid for Pepe Reina in the area of £23 million.
According to Rory Miller of the Telegraph, he has confirmed that one, possibly two bids have been lodged and rejected.
Arsene spending 23M on any player, let alone a keeper, is unheard of.
Probably having too much money and panic buy?
Spain don’t really need to play Cesc but they will, for the full 90 minutes. Plus, that friendly will be one final ditch effort from the Spanish contingent to assure Cesc that he is indeed the future of Barcelona, the future of Spain. And another Barca shirt will be donned on Cesc, albeit in secret.
Yes Cesc made a statement. Great. Everything is fine now. Yet to me, this saga feels worse than the PV, Henry or Reyes situation. In previous cases, there were just a few PR personnel involved in the media, but this time the Barca PR machine recruited whoever they could find. Also, it is the age factor because if Cesc was 28/29, then it would have been different (Reyes was younger though). Now, it was always understood that Cesc would one day return to Barca, yet I always felt that time would be atleast post-25 years or when Wenger left. Yes, Cesc is not entirely at fault. If this Arsenal team was winning trophies and packed with the invincibles, then it would have been different. But the team is packed with incompetent players who have no shame throwing away a 4-2 lead against Spurs in the 90th minute that they go out and throw a 2-0 lead away to Wigan. Plus, the many other shameful performances littered over the years. I guess if the manager or the board don’t care, then why should the players? 4th spot and money is all that matters, so the players are proud to strut their stuff, which is incompetence. Ofcourse, the players can always blame their injuries. Because the players are always returning from an injury that they need some time to find their sharpness but just as it looks like their 4-5 week post-injury period is completed, they pick up another injury.
It is quite pathetic to think a team like Arsenal can’t have a decent goal-keeper or under the leadership of Wenger, does not want to get one. Sure a 37 year old was scouted, but seriously, is that the extent of Arsene’s efforts? If that is the case, then sell Cesc and save him the fate of picking up a horrific career threatening injury in late April 2011 when Arsenal will be making their annual push for a Champions League spot, after having been dumped out of all competitions. If it won’t be Cesc, then another Arsenal player will get injured by a nice chap, who would not be fast enough to avoid breaking the bones of a young Arsenal talent. Even if Cesc does get injured, Barca will be back next summer with an offer of around 13-16 million, which Arsenal will accept proudly, as they would believe they stood their ground in the summer of 2010.
Arsenal will always be building for the future. The future will never arrive. Ofcourse, Wenger has been cheating really. How can it be a true youth project when the goal-keeper is not a 19 year old? If an inexperienced unproven 19 year old can be expected to be a DM in a physical league, then why wasn’t a 19 year old goalie used 2 seasons ago? It is better that Wenger accept that his half hearted youth experiment mixed with heavy dosages of stubbornness and self taught principles is just not cutting it.
Yet..incredibly, friends tell me I am over-reacting. These good friends, who are Liverpool or Man Utd fans keep telling me that Arsenal are just 1-2 players away from being a title contender. 1 or 2. Always a few players away. It truly feels like the Achilles and the Tortoise paradox in the sense that Arsenal always appear to be so close (you know, a few more competent players and no injuries) but if things were allowed to go in the current manner for infinity, Arsenal would never take 1st place.
very negative.
;)
we’ll play some good football. we’ll be in or near the Top 4 all year long.
we’ll flirt with breaking thru, and be close enough to keep many interested.
we’ll sell out the stadium, fill the seats, kiss the babies, and sell lots of merchandise.
you can guarantee we’ll be in the Top 4 race ’til the end, and make some serious profit, and reduce that debt again.
Wenger is a genius when it comes to hitting those goals, and the AFC loves him for it. The board is happy, the club is happy… until the PLAN to keep that going ends, it could continue for many years to come.
The goals need to change from being in the Top 4 and making a profit, to WINNING.
When we get back to TRYING TO WIN THE LEAGUE or FA CUP, even if it means we don’t make quite as much profit, the club can advance to a level that might excite the fans again.
The Sun interview is a little more than what was in the statement:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/Fab_Column/3085484/Cesc-Fabregas-on-his-summer-of-turmoil.html
Cesc is basically saying – I want to leave, but Arsene is not letting go, so I stay and try to do my best.
I’d say that’s very accurate. Hard to debate it, innit?
Will Fernando Torres be in Mexico for the friendly as well? That would be a plus.
No, Torres was excluded.
Torres is injured and will not be ready for the first match of the season.
Cesc and Vela will definitely be out for the Liverpool game as they travel to Mexico City for a Spain/Mexico friendly and wont be back until Saturday morning at the earliest. Being this is Hurricane season in the Caribbean and a few storms are brewing, who knows, they may not be back for weeks :)
RVP wont start, but would be available from the bench if needed. Song is still doubtful but could be forced into action if Frimprong doesn’t strut his stuff this weekend. Both Diaby and Denilson will be game time decisions, but, I hope Denilson injures his hammy again and does a Rosicky for the season.
At this point, starting lineup looks like:
Almunia (God forbid, he was declared #1 at fan appreciation day and will probably be our captain for the opener)
Sagna, Cooch, TV, Calamity Clichey
Frimpong, Nasri, Rosicky
Walcott, Chamakh, Arshavin
This team reeks of defensive malaise, so hopefully we can outscore Joe Cole and his newly found friends.
Fabregas statement is 100% poo.
Did you note that he never once states that he wants to be at Arsenal.
This is the worst outcome for Arsenal Football Club. If the club wanted to hold him to his contract for another year against his own preference (which is clearly what they have had to do) Wenger should have had the balls to remove the captaincy and use this latest instance to create a new era where it is clear that being an Arsenal player and captain means something – it is an honour. Instead we allow another beautiful-treason of a soap opera unfold to distract us from our primary purpose (winning trophies according to the AST).
Arsene is in the midst of a conundrum. If he takes away the captaincy it’s basically saying Barca has won. Until they actually win, he will never admit the eventuality. It could also affect team spirit as he will certainly be seen as a lame duck captain.
On the other hand, by Cesc retaining the captaincy it can provide a “false” hope to the team and fans that if we do good Cesc may stay. The bad part to this scenario is exactly what you have said above.
Knowing Cesc as I do :) I’m convinced he will be both professional and committed. I don’t think he knows any other way to conduct himself. He is very mature for his age and we are probably looking at a future Barcelona and Spain captain in the making.
Unfortunately, at 22 and not even at his peak, we will be facing him for many years to come.
Correction: Cesc is 23 and old beyond his years (because he was such a phenom, etc….) In recent years he’s missed big chunks of the season, not quite enough for the likes of the perma-crocked 3 (Dudu/Sicky/RVP) but enough to carry on the tradition of the Captaincy (Gallas/Henry were certainly out injured with regularity….)
Fingers crossed that he maintains his value during this season on loan and then maybe we can get top dollar when we do sell him…And then he gets hurt in a big bad way and continues the (general) curse of “those that leave”….
In other words….It IS a bit hard to get excited by Cesc’s statement (and my wife, who loves Cesc almost as much as Torres–new howdy doody hairdo notwithstanding–actually said “meh” upon reading it…)
back from a quick 3 day holiday in the Berkshires…
didn’t look or check the internet, hoping to come back
to a new keeper and CB…
LOL at myself!
1 week to go, and we are still f’ing around as always.
can’t be bothered to truly invest in a team, that doesn’t invest
its vast amounts of profit, back into a team that needs NEW PLAYERS
in KEY POSITIONS.
Cesc speaks.
YAY.
about time.
had no choice but to say something, as Arsenal didn’t get the
amount that they deemed acceptable.
good for the short term of the club, as in this season, as long as
Cesc comes to play… we’ll see about that, but it means we “would” have
a chance to be Top 4.
But, without a new keeper and another CB… I am not stoopid enough
to believe that we are playing for anything other than a Top 4 spot.
Sorry, I’ve had 5 years of this bullshit. Not that interested.
I’ll watch the TV games at my residence. Not going out of my way
without a new keeper and CB…
looking forward to our fantasy league, that should be fun…
and I’ll even watch a bit of the Championship, and other leagues…
support teams more in other leagues…
hope Wenger has a magical week … and we get a No.1 keeper and
another defender with a bit of experience.
:)
Damn friendlies. I’ve read that the omission of Walcott, Wilshere, and Gibbs from the U-21 side means they are all odds-on to be called up to the senior English side for the team’s pointless friendly against Hungary. WC ended only a month ago, and Euro qualifying begins in another month. This is so pointless.
If you don’t think Barca are an arrogrant group of twats – this is there official statement regarding cesc Fabregas:
“In the light of the statement released today regarding the contractual future of Cesc Fàbregas, FC Barcelona regrets the decision of Arsenal FC to declare the player not for sale and their decision not to take into consideration the offers proposed. None of those offers, in any way, exceeded 40 million Euros.”
By the way anyone see the Champion’s League play in draw?
Spurs draw – Young Boys. A bit karmahic don’t you think? After all their vile paedophile chants about Wenger?
And the name of the stadium they are playing in Wankdorf or Wank something. But it starts with Wank. You can’t make this up.
They have got the easiest possible draw. Good for them.
So….I’ve been thinking about our opening match up at Anfield as it seems a big one for both clubs….A victory by ‘Pool (over a hated rival) would get the Hodgson era off to a great start. A loss (for them) would be tough, but at least they won’t be walking alone (or something…) A draw probably actually suits both clubs fairly well and given our set of injuries/late returnees/new faces, I’d be tempted to take it right now, if it were on offer.
Perhaps we’ll get some clues as to how we’re gonna line up for that match tomorrow in Poland. Certainly it seems AW is priming us for the idea that if a player hasn’t played in the pre-season they will be “short” for the opener. Thus, at this point, I see something like this:
–Keeper (Ah geez….)
–Sagna, LK6, TV5, Clichy
–Nasri, Frimpong/Djourou, Rosicky
–Walcott, Chamakh, Arshavin
Who knows, maybe we’ll get an early goal (or maybe AA23 will have another Anfield blinder…) and the game will open up, but as it is, and given the (almost absurd) weakness/inexperience in the middle of the above line-up (at least towards the back) a draw seems plenty to ask for….esp. in light of the fact that we’ll be asking our boys to employ their “superior technical quality” to ward off the raucous Anfield atmosphere….
In other words, give me something, AW, anything (tomorrow, in word or in deed) for this hippie to get optimistic about…
Thats actually not a bad attack. LK6 and the keeper our only two question marks – okay they are big question marks.
For those of you wanting a statemtn from the man himself – in Cesc’s own words – recently released:
He said: ‘Firstly I would like to apologise to all the Arsenal fans for not speaking sooner about my future but I have not known what I was going to do until this moment.
‘I cannot deny that joining a club like Barcelona was not an attractive move for me.
‘This was the club where I learned my football, it is my home town where my friends and family are and a club where I have always dreamed of playing.
‘There are not many players in the world who would not want to play for Barcelona.’
Fabregas said: ‘I have had many conversations with Arsene Wenger both in person and over the phone over the last few months and although the content of those conversations will remain private, the conclusion is that Barcelona have had two formal offers rejected by Arsenal.
‘I am a professional and I fully understand that it is Arsenal’s prerogative not to sell me.
‘I owe a lot to the club, manager and the fans and I will respect their decision and will now concentrate on the new season ahead with Arsenal.
‘I can assure all the fans that now the negotiations have ended I will be 100 per cent focused on playing for Arsenal.
‘I am an Arsenal player and as soon as I step out on to the pitch, that is the only club I will be thinking about.
‘I am looking forward to the start of the season and putting this speculation behind me.’
Very good….And better late than never. Almost as if CaribKid had written it for him….. ;-)
I bet he plays 90 mins in Mexico while Torres sits….
Don’t know if I take that as a compliment or what :)
Definitely a compliment…both for the quality and honesty of Cesc’s statement and for predicting it….
While I want to believe that Cesc will give his “all” for the team I have to agree with Nip above in that there is a big difference between “commitment” and professionalism. We shall see….
And, of course, it’s a two-way street….The team now have a year to show what they’ve got to offer Cesc. And no matter what they show him, it may not be enough to stop him leaving anyway.
Also, I think it will be interesting how Cesc will be “managed.” Will he be flogged for pitch time or handled more gently? or maybe we’ll lean on him for what is becoming his specialty, the quick game changing cameo (witness Aston Villa at home last season AND the world cup final) and then swaddled in vague, protective ways (“he’s picked up a slight knock”, you know, the kind that stretches until we need him, really need him, again….)
A lot depends on the rest of the squad…If we’re really competing for either of the two big trophies Cesc may want to be a part of it….if we’re tooth and nail for the Really Big One (a top 4 finish), I see the “protected saviour” idea playing out….I guess I just worry that his “loan year” is more about maintaining his “value” (i.e., his “potential” for his next team). than about really producing for Arsenal, and a player of Cesc’s caliber, ALWAYS produces, just by being on the pitch, (in worrying the opposition, etc.)
At least we get to watch it all unfold….
This is irritating.
We all can understand that the reasons why Cesc wanted to leave Arsenal. From both professional and his personal perspective, these reasons are very much justified, and understandable, yet we continue to bash him and the position of the captain of our team.
Why is it so difficult to understand and accept that like you can love two or more people (not necessarily romantic love that I am talking about), similarly you can love two different clubs too?
He has always given his all, and I have no doubt he will continue to do so. His committment would definitely be 100% now, and will only increase as the season progresses, he is not only professional but emotional about playing for Arsenal.
He has never bad-mouthed Arsenal, never spoken publicly about his desire to leave, then why is it so necessary to come out to deny something.
Media has put these players in such a difficult Catch-22 situation. Feel sorry for Cesc, and wish thanks to people who went for the training yesterday, and applauded and cheered him.
Hey, I love my wife, my kid AND my old dog (14 yr old lab/husky mix) and the latter has been on my mind the most lately, because she’s winding down….
But when it comes to choosing between two football lives…I think it is like choosing between two romantic loves (if romance is construed as fidelity and marriage and a future together….)
When in doubt…I turn to the country music… http://s0.ilike.com/play#Oak+Ridge+Boys:Trying+To+Love+Two+Women:895205:s38023.16184.8874.1.1.75%2Cstd_afd2fa784be43ca5383d83f086210de5
More seriously….We may need to accept that we are not, at present, a “winning team” (following on from Ozil’s list, as quoted by Kiwi) and thus the biggest, most confident players will not see Arsenal as an ultimate playing destination. Teams at a similar level (Liverpool springs immediately to mind) are trying different strategies (new owners with cash/debt infusions). Hopefully our “investments,” (stadium, young players, etc.) start paying dividends sooner rather than later and we start a more positive cycle where our good results start attracting better players rather than the opposite one that the CescSaga seems to illustrate….
There is a BIG difference between being committed and being professional.
Giving 80-100% is professional. Playing with a broken leg is committed. Do you think Cesc will ever play for Arsenal again with a broken leg? I doubt it.
It is sad that our club has come to this. We have to beg and keep uncommitted players at the club simply so that we don’t lose out on the trophy that is CL qualification.
Sad indeed.
It’s a cancer. It started with Vieira, his team observed his behaviour and it was no surprise to see first Cole and then Henry follow in his footsteps. Fabregas observed all three and now he plays Wenger & Arsenal.
Wenger being Wenger he lets it all unfold, it’s his style. He refuses to get on the front foot and set out what is acceptable, no he fawns over his players. Give me Ferguson and his flying boot any day.
It’s hilarious to read other sites. Even now, after all this, after 5 years of nothing, whenever a poster criticises Wenger (even mildly so) they’ll often be met with an OTT abusive name-calling response. Wenger still has support and a grip on an element of the AFC fanbase.
Cesc has been called up for Spain in their friendly against Mexico in Mexico City. Apparently he is not fit enough to play for AFC but is fit enough for the national team.
“INTERESTING”
Once again that means both Cesc and Vela will be unavailable to play for us on opening day against Liverpool due to national commitments. These darn international friendlies are a piece of crock and our players inevitably end up crocked.
Called up for a meaningless friendly and likely to sit on the bench, unless of course he is used to rest the more important Barca midfielder’s.
In the bigger picture it doesn’t really matter, Cesc is only on loan and we don’t compete for trophies we are in a holding pattern – the objective to regain a CL spot so that we can go around again and reduce the debt.
Iniesta and 2 other Barca players are being rested so Cesc probably will start.
I was interested to read that RvP didn’t get as big a cheer as one would expect at the supporters day.
Players are the recipients of an enormous level of sentimental indulgence by supporters. Yet…. it has it’s limits.
Players who ‘do it’ on the pitch for the club are normally given a lot of latitude (i.e. Cesc), but guys like RvP and Rosicky are on thin ice. Swanning off to play for their countries in self-gratifying tournments or friendlies whilst being largely absent when it counts for the club in the hard-yards of the season.
Hopefully Rosicky gets his ticket to Gala, that would leave RvP as the only remaining member of the tri-crocklet.
With the dross gone it reduces the clutter and ability for Wenger to fudge our real strength and who is and isn’t stepping up.
tri-crocklet…love it.
LOL, I was thinking the same thing
A few thoughts….
– interesting that Cesc feels the need to speak publicly and emotively to the Barca fans in Spain on more than one ocassion, and yet the Arsenal faithful get a wave.
– imo Cesc being Cesc there is unlikely to be a backlash by fans or players There will be no big-bang of anger, more-so a slow leak of disillusion). Season 2010/11 will be yet another iteration on the transition theme, another transition year, as supporters get used with the idea that he is going.
– I maintain what I’ve always said, my primary concern is around the legacy that is being continually reinforced whereby the captain of AFC is seen to be seeking a move away to a big club. That’s not healthy.
– I really couldn’t care less if he plays at 80% or 100% this season, if his heart has left us he’s there to paper the cracks for 1 more season. I’m interested in seeing the next winning team emerge and if Fabregas is not part of that then in reality he is ‘on loan’.
– Read Ozil’s comments on who he wants to go to. It’s about as forthright as one could be. He wants to go to a winner – Arsenal wasn’t ever mentioned – he mentions ManU, Chelsea, Real, Barca. Chelsea has usurped our (2004) position as one of England’s super-powers.
It seems a few people are disappointed with the way that Fabregas has handled this Barcelona rumor. I think he’s handled it as well as he can. Some would like to have a radical statement of intent one way or the other but I don’t think that’s required.
It’s no mystery that he wants to go back to Barcelona. However, Wenger’s not prepared to let him leave right now. Cesc, being a pro, respects this fact as well as his Arsenal contract. After the World Cup, despite his desire to return to Barcelona, he came out and declared himself the proud captain of Arsenal.
I don’t think he needs to say anything else. There’s no need to go to the media and thrash his countrymen because of their attempts to pressure Arsenal to releasing him. I don’t want the Arsenal captain stooping to that level. Likewise, we don’t want him stooping to the level of submitting a transfer request and try to force his way out of London. Lastly, I don’t expect him to address every little rumor that comes out, especially while he’s on holiday.
Eventually, Cesc will face the media. I’ve got $100 saying that the very first reporter will ask him something about a transfer to Barcelona. This is when I’ll expect a statement from Cesc of a political and professional nature. He’s Arsenal captain but long before he even knew of Arsenal, he was a Spaniard. I don’t expect his statement to disrespect Arsenal or his countrymen.
“I don’t expect his statement to disrespect Arsenal or his countrymen.”
Neither do I Joshuad and that’s why I said a PC statement is needed.
Kenny Sansom on Cesc staying at Arsenal:
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/08/05/2057520/arsene-wenger-told-me-that-cesc-fabregas-will-stay-at
ONE week before the start of the season, we STILL have Manuel Almunia and Fabianski as our top two STARTING keepers. There is now NO chance that Wenger will buy a new keeper in time for the new season. And if he doesnt get in a new keeper before the Liverpool game he won’t bother again till the window closes.
I told you guys in March after Manny ended our title challenge at Birmingham with his flap in the 93rd minute that Wenger is so completely out of it that he will STILL start Almunia come August.
Gentlemen, we are in August.
I really hope this French b@$#@*d leaves at the end of the season.
Fabregas is a consumate professional. If he stays, he WILL play his skin out and actually perform better than he did last season. He knows this is he’s and Wenger’s last season at the club so he will be desperate to “do something” and try to win some silverware so he can leave with his head held high.
As of March of this year, there was little or no chance of Fabregas wanting to leave THIS summer. Players who want to leave in the summer do NOT play with a BROKEN leg in April! He was motivated and rearing to go.
What really did it for him was the pathetic way the team collapsed after he was injured. He got his broken leg against Birmingham and toiled on, only for him to watch Almunia fuck it all up. He watched as Denilson, Diaby and the other utter twats fucked it all up against Spurs and Wigan and the others.
As he was watching from the stands, he was thinking to himself, wow, I played with a broken leg and these guys cant even bother doing the basic stuff like tracking runners or working hard. Plus when you are observing from the stands it is a bit easier to see how weak the team is.
To cap all of that, we had just played Barca, and immediately after he had to go home to recuperate from the broken leg. To much time and too many Catalans to talk to. That was the turning point.
Based on reports I have gotten from attendees – there was no booing of Cesc at all.
Fans are fickle. Cesc scores against a hated rival he will once again enjoy most favored status.
Based on the scenes at the Emirates today it looks like Cesc is staying. This does not look like a player in agony. He seemed very cordial and close to Wenger and his teammates. Does not look like there is any acrimony.
Either Cesc is just better at tuning the crap out, is the consummate professional or the press (and the Barca players) were making it out to be more than it really was.
I maintain what I’ve said all along: if Cesc stays, he will be fine.
I think he will be fine in terms of performances overall. But as for the relationship with fans, I think it 50/50 that he’s gonna be booed, for the same reasons I think Stag pointed out a thread back. Sad that that’s the case because if it were to happen the general aura around the club becomes one of internal weakness (more so than it already is), which other teams will pounce on. I think it also starts a vicious cycle between player and fans.
Soccernet article today doesn’t look too promising. But there’s no quotes there so it sounds completely made up. Like I’m sure a lot of things this summer have been. I hope that the fans that have direct contact with Cesc (at the stadium) keep that in mind.
If Cesc plays like Cesc, the fans will have nothing to do but cheer.
Meanwhile, now Ade is said to want out of Citeh? Which is a bigger bitch? Karma? Or he?
I don’t think the fans will boo him if he plays up to 80% of his capabilities. At 80% he is still better than most of our current players.
My biggest fear is how he will be perceived in the dressing room, especially since he appears to be a lame duck captain.
I still think he still needs to come out and make a politically correct public statement. It is sorely needed.
I hear you, CK. He probably will say…something.
But I can’t think of a sporting culture in which what anyone SAYS mean less than it does than football.
What he DOES, as ever, will mean a lot more.
Guess you never heard politicians speak :)
Please note: I said SPORTING culture. ;-)
I thought of participating in YAMA Fantasy Football 2010/2011 challenge … until I get to ESPN registration page ..
My curios mind is asking fellow YAMAian who has already registered …
Why does ESPN require user to supply info like home address? Even birthdate shouldn’t be needed. I would think having a checkbox indicating user is above 18 years old should be good enough.
WTF?
Nothing says you have to put in the correct information. If you are reluctant to dispense personal information just create an internet alias, name, address, DOB, etc.
I was just curios since I thought it was free to register. Requesting too much detail info implies that they might charge for the service (or may be spam)
Kiwi, as far as Wenger putting his stamp on defenders, that’s one position I do not wish him to do that. Wenger doesn’t do well in that department. Arsenal’s best defenders in the Wenger era were either inherited or have been bought and already had their game established. Ashley Cole is the only exception but he was mentored by the old back four and on loan. Clichy plays for France and Gibbs looks to have potential but the jury’s still out on both of them becoming great.
The likes of Sol, Kolo, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, etc. are Arsenal’s best defenders in recent times and they all came to Arsenal established internationals. The likes of Senderos, Djourou, Gilbert, Hoyte, etc. (not to mention the numerous players who’ve failed to even make the first team) have not developed with great success under Wenger’s guidance. We need to stick to buying established defenders, DM’s, and keepers and let Wenger put his stamp on players in attacking positions.
I think we agree, I don’t want him to touch defence – that’s what I wrote above. I suggested he bring in and empower a real defensive coach….
To me FB’s are secondary in importance to CB’s. Your CB combo dictates your defensive capacity. Good FB’s can not compensate for a poor CB combo, never. However a great CB combo could make a defense containing Clichy and Sagna look excellent.
All this to say that I focus on CB’s and on that front Wenger has only ever signed one really really strategic guy – and that was the 26 year old Campbell on a free.
Gallas was a great player but a poor fit. No one else rates a mention.
Wenger can’t pick CB’s and keepers. Sad but true.
“However a great CB combo could make a defense containing Clichy and Sagna look excellent.”
I don’t think either of those players are bad. Certainly not Sagna. We are one CB away from having one of the better starting back-4 in the league. The problem if we could get that taken care of would still be depth. You need at least one back-up CB who can be ready to go at a moment’s notice… at least one. We don’t even have two sure-fire starters let alone a back-up.
Interesting point by Steve.
None of the players that would normally fill the midfield threesome positions have played in the pre-season. It’s quite a laugh if you’ve stopped trying to see logic in the genius Wenger. Only Robin van Persie has had anything like a busy WC. Cesc and Song were largely passengers – although I guess they trained with their national squads. Whilst the double-D’s, how did they pick up knocks? So why exactly we go into the season with none of them playing I’m not too sure. No answer on that one Steve.
Maybe this is Wenger’s answer to the post-tournament flat-spot? Who knows. I honestly wouldn’t have thought our squad was that seriously impacted. Let’s remember van Persie missed a large chuck (most) of last season, and only returned in the last few games on rehab to ‘prove’ he could run for the WC squad. Fabregas also has played very little football over several months. I would have thought a little bit of game-time would have helped him.
Yet I sense, more and more folk have stopped trying to find sound logic in Wenger’s approach. I stopped 2 years ago. I found myself having to defend the illogical. At least we’ve shed our squad of Eduardo, Campbell, Sly, Gallas and Senderos. If Rosicky goes to Gala that will be superb. Walcott to Villa may be a dream to far. Then all we need is for Arsene to take his sabbatical and do a goodwill cross-continental tour to Outer Mongolia and Siberia.
@So why exactly we go into the season with none of them playing I’m not too sure.
Because they are pampered, spoiled athletes who didn’t get as long a Summer vacation as they normally do.
The evidence seems to back that up Vibe.
Hello, all. After following the YAMA blog since the mass exodus from “The Site Which Shall Not Be Named”, I’ve finally decided to stop being lazy and register. I joined the YAMA Fantasy League on Soccernet (French Toast Mafia) and I look forward to a less-disappointing season than the last couple or five.
Were you a poster at AA or just an observer? Either way, welcome to the site, and to the fantasy league! We’ve got a nice place here that DAG’s made for us.
Occasional poster. I played in the AA v BigSoccer Man U game in Chicago a couple of years ago. Do fans in Chicago meet anywhere to watch games, or do people just watch at home?
There are a couple of good soccer bars in the city, and I’m sure you’d find a handful of fans for each of the big teams there on matchdays. I know the Chicago AA branch meets to watch games b/c I emailed the branch guy to ask him about it once (a long, long time ago). But I never got around to meeting up with them. For the record, I actually live in the suburbs (hopefully not for too much longer), and it’s quite a hike to the city that early on a weekend morning.
I see. When I first came to the city, I used to go all over the place. Abbey, Gingers, e.t.c. Now, I just go to Fado or watch at home. For the really early games, I’d rather just stay home, watch, and then go back to bed.
Also, maybe you guys can help a Noobtard out with another query…(As I’ve only followed the team since Fall of ’06…)
What’s up with the need to give the World Cup guys so much time off? I know that Cesc has a big day coming soon (tomorrow at the “open training session” when he must kiss the badge or something, or very soon at the very least…) but why no RVP? (or Song or Diaby as I ask above?).
Are we purposely lowering expectations for the match at Anfield (and other early season matches) so that a draw (or even a tight loss) would be acceptable? AW wouldn’t do such a thing would he?
I defer to your collective worldliness and experience….
Been thinking a bit about getting teeth pulled or Dentistry or at least about three players with initials DDS…
Of course I mean: Denilson, Diaby and Song….the holy MF (which stands for “mid-field,” not anything else) trinity of up and coming youth, of players AW said (two years ago) we wouldn’t want to kill, etc.
To use another abbreviation….WTF?
Where are these guys? Am I correct that they have not played a single minute of pre-season football? Are they injured? Or maybe if they played, they would kill the likes of Wilshere and Frimpong?
To me it seems like this is a monumental season for those three. They must prove what they’ve got or hit the road. (And their relatively high wages/long term contracts, etc. should be chalked up as the “cost of doing business” or pursuing a certain policy….) The very fact that we know NOTHING about their level of fitness, etc. speaks to the notion that we don’t count on them very much (which is insane, particularly in the case of Song, who is guaranteed first 11 and has no real back-up.)
But maybe I’m just misinformed and some of you guys can tell me what’s up with those three….
But don’t think I’m jumping into the abyss and questioning the unquestionable one or anything like that….I still (more or less) think that buying Gareth Barry for 20 million pounds would’ve been stupid and that Xabi Alonso (for more money, and then having him move on, Cesc-style, a year later) wasn’t the answer. Still, I know that those three have been at the center of the debate for so long, and now they’re…Well, where are they?
I’m just wondering….
Diaby and Denilson had knocks and are just back to training. Denilson should be a few days ahead of Diaby in terms of return schedule.
Arsene said Song was not fully fit yet due to the WC participation.
See my question below…
Maybe Song, like RVP (and Cesc) is still “mentally” unfit from pulling splinters out of his butt (sitting on Le Guen’s bench)….
Seems to me that we are (for some reason or another) attempting to lower expectations for the start of the season, or intentionally trying to “broaden” the squad, perhaps at the expense of gaining maximum points early on.
And this, to me, seems lame…(Or is it normal practice for all the top teams in a WC year?)
Anybody?
It seems to be a normal practice. Hell even Rooney is just showing up to his team.
DDS has got to be luckiest players in the world.
Arsene will ensure that they are not hurt/impeded in any way.
The last experienced CM signed by Arsene was Gilberto in 2002. I doubt he will ever sign one again!
Who will Wenger sign?
To answer my own question!
– there’s the Vermaelen/Chamakh/Koscielny type. Players with some experience in a second tier league in their early to mid-twenties. All of these players still come with the opportunity for Wenger to put his stamp upon them and be hailed ‘a maker of fine players’.
– then there’s the Sly/Campbell types. Seasoned veteran’s who come to plug a gap, add a bit of experience, buy a bit more time, but critically won’t ‘kill a youngling’s aspirations’.
If the Emir Spahic deal happened it is a variation of both. A veteran bought from a second tier league to buy a bit more time for the Djourou’s and Koscielny’s.
What we’re seeing is that Wenger will never go head-to-head with his competitors on recruiting players – except – if it’s young talent. If it’s a Walcott, Ramsey or Nasri he’ll back himself. He’s made a policy decision to never go in to a bidding war over more-established talent.
Bidding wars seem bad, don’t they? It seems far preferable when there’s just one team involved and the “needs” aren’t pressing (i.e., Barca’s situation with Cescy…)
Even our record signing (Arshavin) was sort of like that, although we “needed” something/somebody to get up for 4th that season….
Through a more optimistic lens, you could say that at least we’re getting some players at their supposed peaks…and some of these guys who aren’t such big names…might just be late bloomers ;-)
Joined the fantasy league.. “Poisoned La Sagna”
Not been too psyched to post anything lately. Like others have mentioned, I have never been down about the start of a season before. Still will make sure I catch every game though..
And for the Nasri vs Cesc discussion, I think the only thing Nasri is better at at the moment is dribbling past players.
“The most important thing is that so far the negotiations go as planned and that the transfer could be completed soon,” Spahic told SportSport.ba. “Arsenal is a great club, I’m an admirer of Arsene Wenger and I hope that Montpellier will cooperate.”- Emir Spahic on his possible transfer to Arsenal
Not an inspirational signing if the story is true. He was a part time club player up to 2 seasons ago on some Russian League teams.
He is the Bosnia team captain however, and at 30 years of age provides the experience we lost in Gallas, Silvestre and Campbell.
You cant compare his “experience” with that of Gallas, Campbell and Silvestre. The latter 3 won numerous titles!
I hope we get him, cos getting him is better than buying no one.
Plus the Russian league isnt too shabby, I rate it over the French league.
His experience even for his age is much better than Koscielny’s.
@Fred, thought you knew me by now. That ‘experience” comment was very tongue in cheek ;)
Outside of the last 2 years, he averaged under 12 games per season for his Russian clubs. I know there are late bloomers, but this dude needs viagra to bloom :)
@Not an inspirational signing
Well, I kept mis-reading his name as Sapphic, so that was briefly exciting.
;-)
BTW, I signed up for the fantasy league as the Arsenal Red Cloud.
Found a site which keeps track of EPL schedule on US TV:
http://www.epltalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/
That makes 5 of us.
Come on folks – its a free home strip of the team of your choice with the name of our choice – all on me.
Yup guys, we all love to play arm chair manager so why not test your skills :)
Thnx for that, CK.
11 am against ‘pool. Nice way to start.
is the 2010/11 season over already? Oh right, it has not even started. Last summer was the first time I was not really looking forward to a new season, but this summer has surpassed even my lowest expectations.
On top of that, it is likely that Canadian TV access to the EPL will get a bit more expensive as now 5 weekend games (3 sat, 2 sunday) will be divided between 4 channels, one of them being the expensive Setanta and another being a new to be created sports channel whose pricing is not yet outlined. About 4 years ago, all 3 sat games were free on regular cable in Canada, but once Setanta entered the Canadian market, everything changed. I think the days of free cheap access to EPL games on Canadian tv are long gone.
Interestingly, as the EPL becomes more expensive, access to other leagues becomes easier. Serie A is now back as free on regular cable, and Bundesliga and La Liga are much cheaper via GOL TV Canada.
yes, internet feeds are a saving grace and this coming season, they might be even more important atleast for me.
We were paying $14.99/month to get roughly half the matches on Setanta, until they had their issues. So now we pay the same money to the folks at Fox. Feeling rather pessimistic about the upcoming season myself, it’ll be a grudging addition to my DirecTV bill. But I can’t watch on the computer. Too small to get fully engaged.
Hopefully, ESPN will offer some Arsenal in HD at least.
Yeah that is the same price in Canada for Setanta, albeit in Canadian dollars. Setanta Canada has survived and still goes on.
I got the computer hooked to the TV but still easier via the TV, especially when it comes to recording the games for later viewing.
Yeah, I could probably hook the computer to the TV, but with the XBox and everything else…meh.
BTW, Canadian dollars and US dollars? Pretty much aboot the same these days, eh?
yup, currency is almost touching parity. Cue cross border shopping trips from Canadians :)
I have not even seen the fixture list for the USA, but if the end of last season was any indication it seems like we may also fall into the Canadian category.
When ESPN and Fox sports picked up the Setanta feeds I thought we would see more EPl, but then FOX created a new channel which is not accessible to most peons.
Hopefully ESP360 will carry more games as it’s the only stream I can hook up my HD TV without noticeable resolution loss.
As for the start of the season, I am not yet enthusiastic about the current squad.
For the past few years we always seem to have controversies and question marks about our squad heading into the season.
I am just sick and tired of these reoccurring soap operas.
The funny thing is this new Canadian channel created to cover some prime EPL games involving the big 4 might not carried by all digital cable/satellite providers in time for Aug 14th. So basically only people in Eastern Canada will get it to begin with and then maybe the rest of the country will be allowed access as September rolls around.
And then another new soccer channel is getting launched which will cover Europa League and Ligue 1 but also won’t be available to most of Canada right away. I am not too concerned about this channel even though that means I won’t get the chance to see Wenger’s future great stars from Ligue 1 :) Not that I will lose sleep over that.
Well, maybe by the time you get the channel you can watch those same players playing for Arsenal in the Europa League :).
And one more
Why do we have this debate? Generally thrown by Arsenal fans desperate to convince themselves that they can compare Wenger to Ferguson or to try and convince everyone their players are better than their United counterparts when they are clearly not as good.
It’s why I can’t help but inherent dislike of all things Arsenal., starting with the myth that he took over a team on the verge of relegation (a team who had recently won a CWC), gloss over the fact that he turned a likeable club into a violent, arrogant disrespectful team with an awful disciplinary record for years, then highlight a ‘personal duel’ which you choose to believe only existed between 2002-2004 because it was enveloped with Arsenal success, conveniently forgetting the three years prior where Wenger lost the ‘personal duel’ and the five years and counting since you anti-footballed your way to your last trophy (Emirates Cup doesn’t count). But that’s fine; you support the club as you like. I don’t have any desire to alter a supporter’s biased view of their own club even if they do massively inflate the opinion of the talent of some of their players.
However I can’t gloss over this crazy theory Arsenal fans seem to have, this wholly inappropriate superiority complex. It’s condescending to say the likes of ‘Neville and O’Shea’ have no place or that Wenger would ‘have won in better style’. Really? Consider this, maybe, just maybe, the likes of O’Shea might just win more trophies than the players at your beloved club because he’s a better player and defender than most of your defenders. Big up what Wenger did with Henry but completely dismiss Fergie’s moulding of Giggs and Scholes into two of the best players ever to play the game as ‘good focus’.
Maybe; just maybe, hammering six goals past Newcastle, four past Liverpool and being the better side at Highbury in the late winter/early spring of 2003 was just a little bit better than ‘making fewer mistakes’. Arsenal fans seem to think they have a monopoly on good football; it’s a myth. Sure they batter the likes of Derby but they haven’t been able to do it against a big team consistently under Wenger’s tenure; United have twice destroyed Arsenal on their own pitch in just over a year, out-Arsenaling Arsenal, yet this gets quickly forgotten because Arsenal fans simply cant face the truth (Arsenals yearly ‘title challenge’ is as ridiculous as LFC’s ‘its our year’ claptrap). The football United played in 2007 and at times in 2008 was some of the best I have ever seen and was rewarded with the trophies it deserved.
United haven’t had such remarkable success because of simple focus. Our success even over the time since Wenger has been at Arsenal has been phenomenal and should be given the credit that it deserves; it’s down to Fergie and down to an incredibly talented bunch of players playing mostly brilliant football against any opposition – furthermore, any comparison between the managers may have been worthwhile in 2004 but now it is redundant.
A nice fan email.
From http://www.football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_6292732,00.html
Fergie’s Ying And Wenger’s Yang
Marky B is right about Wenger’s approach; he’s right about Arsenal’s rampant egos as well – but this is no revelation, most seasoned whingers down the Emirates could have told him that. It’s also not necessarily a failing, and its certainly not unintentional.
It’s interesting that there is a program on C4 tonight about 2 experts with exactly opposite philosophies going head to head to see whose theory is best – they should do a feature on Wenger and Fergie.
The story goes that when Wenger assesses a new player on the training ground he looks at what they do well and tells them to keep doing it and get even better. It’s basically ego massaging along the lines of ‘You are the greatest, no one can stop you’. His greatest success would be Henry who went from pacy and promising to electric and unbelievable in his time under Wenger. His ego went through the roof, but his talent went ballistic and led Arsenal to unprecedented success (an unbeaten season). Plenty of managers would have slapped Henry down for his arrogance, self-absorption and ridiculous antics (not shooting from penalties, taking all free kicks regardless of success etc.), Wenger didn’t, he made him captain. Inevitably a player with such an inflated belief in his own ability would feel he was entitled to play for one of Europe’s giants – as did Vieira, Petit, Cole, Overmars and now Fabregas – in Henry’s mind Wenger didn’t make him, he just let him play to his potential.
By contrast, Fergie is rumoured to take the exact opposite approach, reminding his players of their weaknesses from day one so that they know how to improve. His philosophy could be shown in the remarkable improvement of talented but undisciplined players like Ronaldo or Nani, but it’s really shown in the fact that he’s built 2 Champions League winning teams on the backs of Butt, the Nevilles, O’Shea and Fletcher. These are players who seemingly have no right to be remembered alongside Maldini or Zidane, but they are because they do what they are told and keep fuck-ups to a minimum. Players who let him down get a bollocking that keeps them in check (or a boot in the face) and anyone whose ego gets to big for their own good gets invited to bugger off (Beckham, Ince, Stam, Keane – eventually). This breeds a frightening loyalty in those that remain, embodied by Solsjaer and Giggs, but with the money he’s spent and the talent he’s had Wenger would probably argue that he could have done more and maybe done it better (Brian Clough style).
It looks increasingly likely that Wenger will be remembered as the flawed idealist who blew his own immense credibility by ignoring the faults of his team and himself, but I will always remember the personal duel between these 2 men for what happened between 2002-2004: In 2002 Wenger beat Fergie to the title in his own stadium – unheard of in the PL era; in 2003 Fergie’s United machine made less mistakes than Wenger’s team in ‘squeaky bum time’ to regain the title and he mocked Wenger’s assertion that Arsenal might finish unbeaten as ludicrous because it seemed to be impossible at the time; 2004, Wenger does the impossible and guides his team to an unbeaten season. Was this the power of positive thinking? And yet the best Arsenal team I’ve ever seen couldn’t do what United have done twice since ’99 and win 3 titles in a row (and a European Cup) because they lacked focus and discipline – Wenger’s Achilles heel.
Since that point Wenger seems to have come unstuck, allowing egos to swell without the trophies to back it up, but he’ll believe that his team can still do the impossible and win the title; and he’ll no doubt think that as long as they believe it too, then maybe they can. And if they do, then given the players and tactics he will have used, he will be entitled to believe it’s his greatest victory yet.
Max Benjamin
In recent years the periods we play well seem to be characterised by our game having less of the endless possession and slow build up and more of the incisive break-aways and mixed play (i.e. crosses and players in the box). The problem seems to be maintaining this higher intensity game. There seems to be a sense of inevitability whereby we return to the slow build up and endless possession.
One problem is the predictability of the slow build up. When you are confronted with a massed defence it takes something very special to conjure a goal. Unlocking a massed defence (when you aren’t prepared to go the aerial route) requires perhaps a quick-fire one-two between players. This ground-based attacking style is very hard to execute and hence has a relatively low return for the amount of possession.
I still muse often on why we moved away from our rapid attacking game. The possession style just seems so ineffectual and limiting.
I was just thinking maybe Wenger is aware that we don’t have the personnel to play the way we used to and is trying something else with these lot.
“This ground-based attacking style is very hard to execute and hence has a relatively low return for the amount of possession.” Yep especially when the opposition has “parked the bus.”
However scoring doesn’t seem to be our problem we are getting away with it as teams probably don’t fear us anymore and are prepared to have a go. The defensive conundrum is Wenger’s big issue right now.
In most games (vs lower / mid table opposition), the attack works fine and the defense is cause for concern.
Against top teams (read Chelsea, ManU, etc.), even the attack fails.
The way Arsene has handled the captaincy is no different from the way he handles the whole team.
Normally, you work hard and earn your way into the first team or captaincy. It is a honor for which you have worked very hard.
At Arsenal, things are done a bit differently. It doesn’t matter if you are ready. You are simply thrust into the role, be it the first team or the captaincy. Then, one hopes you will grow into that role. Nothing else can explain the promotion of folks like Deni, Diaby, Walcott, etc. into the first team. Same thing for the captaincy. Was Henry ready? Did Gallas earn it? Was Cesc ready. We all know the answer to that.
If one of your underlying motivations is to be seen as ‘the great developer of talent’ then all of this makes a certain kind of sense.
The problem is that we’d need to BUY a replacement before selling
Cesc… if we were planning to bring someone in…
because if you SELL first, no you look DESPERATE, and the prices
just go up.
So, if we sell Cesc, we’re just doing what we do best…
POCKETING THE MONEY… and blowing away the competition again
in the Profit League in one business decision.
We’d def go with Nasri in Cesc’s spot, as noted, he’s already
played there at the end of last season, and early this season.
Even taking free-kicks.
Rosicky.
That’s a laugh.
I hope we get 15 to 20 matches out of him all season.
If he is “targeted” for a few hard fouls by the opposition, he’ll
be injured most of the season.
“So, if we sell Cesc, we’re just doing what we do best…
POCKETING THE MONEY”
LOL that’s funny.
I agree with Kiwi that Ramsey was bought in to replace Cesc especially with Merida’s then imminent departure in mind, so the bringing someone in scenario is hypothetical.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed on Sicknote.
Not sure Arthur on Ozil. I haven’t seen enough to comment. But in all honesty I question the merit in presuming Wenger is in any way inclined to buy a replacement. Has he ever bought a player that was on the radar????
I’m thinking Wenger always knew Fabregas would go (but not the precise timing) and the signing of Ramsey was in his long-term contingency planning. I don’t think Wenger thinks ‘like-for-like’ rather he sees the creation of a pool(s) of talent. A pool of attackers and a pool of midfielders. I don’t even think he sees a DM’s role nor a strikers role in the true sense. He just sees broad skillsets, and believes in the approach of letting the players find their own role in the team. Now I’m not being silly, of course there is some shape, but it is at the loose end of the continuum whereas GG had a very defined sense of roles and player accountability.
That said, Wenger’s teams normally have a couple of ‘princes’. Players he just loves to fawn over and that the team shapes around. The elk of Vieira, Henry, Pires (altho that’s 3). At the risk of over-simplfying the man’s thought processes, I think you can assume he likes a prince in attack and one as a creative influence in midfield. RvP is his attacking prince and I think Nasri will be the creative midfield force.
So post Fabregas….
Wilshere..Chamakh..van Persie
Diaby……Song……Nasri
You’d still have the ever-developing dynamic duo of Bendtner and Walcott in attack plus the ever-recovering Rosicky.
Then add the invisible Denilson and a (hopefully) returning Ramsey in midfield, maybe the Ghanaian lad. Sure, he may add to that pool but I wouldn’t be expecting a marquee signing. Wenger would almost see it as an affront to his vision to have to go out and ‘replace’ Fabregas in the market.
All of this is not what I would want, but what I believe would be in Wenger’s mind.
No I don’t think Wenger is going to buy a replacement at all, but I think that is the only way we can replace Cesc effectively if at all. I haven’t seen enough Ozil either to make an informed judgement, but from what I have seen he is a cesc like player, mature beyond his years with excellent vision and a goal scoring threat. Looks like he has a lot of pace too.
I have to agree I think Wenger will stick to the principles of his Youth policy.
Yep, GG and I think the majority of old school British managers have a rigid almost mechanical approach to what a player should be doing on the pitch. Wenger likes to let them play with less inhibition, great in principle but in practice any indiscipline will mean mistakes the likes of which will help us to continue “shipping” an excessive amount of goals.
A shame he seems blind to his relative lack in organising the defensive side of the team. If he appointed and empowered a defensive coach everyone would ‘win’.
It’s one of those strange situations where the more control one gets the less likely a successful outcome.
It suppose it would help a DF coach but I am not sure if it is that simple. THe main reason being that Newcastle employed Mark Lawrenson back n the day as a DF coach to sort out hteir problems. I doubt we can get much better than Lawrenson to do the job, he was a great DF in his day but what did it acheive? Nothing. Tony Adams managed Portsmouth they too had a poor DF record.
I think if we do have the right personnel in then what we need to do is DF better as a team by pressing the opposition and closing down spacs more quickly. Do not allow them time to pick their out their passes effectively.
That’ what we did at the beginning of last season until we lost confidence somewhere along the way and went back to the old routine.
100% right. Why can’t we maintain the pressing intensity?
Maybe it is not in our players psyche so we cannot do it consistently. But that is where the manager comes in.
I think anything that takes a lot of energy and concentration tends to break down when you don’t have success. Perversely, it also breaks down when you DO have success.
Both of the above IF you don’t have the right mentality to begin with.
And, as art says, that’s where the Manager comes in.
You guys just have to see this. One of the most hilarious goal celebrations I have ever seen. Roger Milla may have bought eccentric goal celebrations to the world stage, but some people have taken it to another level.
Behold, Finnish fishing celebration:
Google this: Celebration of the Season: Stjarnan vs Fylkir
I am not able to post the link it seems YAMA has some kind of spam filter that stops me doing so.
You guys just have to see this. One of the most hilarious goal celebrations I have ever seen. Roger Milla may have bought eccentric goal celebrations to the world stage, but some people have taken it to another level.
Behold Finnish fishing celebration:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/6384888/
“The next debate is, who will replace Cesc?”
_______________________
No real debate. It’s Nasri.
Rosicky, no chance, he won’t start even half our games.
On Ramsey who know’s? Eduardo’s scenario (and Diaby’s) should leave us all rather circumspect.
No, it’s Nasri, French, arrogant, keenly chased by Wenger, and ripe for the key role. He even played the role when Fabregas was out at the end of last season. Nasri will become Wenger’s new prince. Perhaps he’ll get the captaincy too? Then in 2-3 years just as he looks a world beater, the drums will beat and he will admit he has long followed Real Madrid…… then Wenger will eek out a year, and Wilshere will step forward.
I thought you might say that Kiwi :-D .
But if can remain fully fit (a big ask) he might be a better “fit” than Nasri, he has more experience and has been used to that position prior to Arsenal. Not sure if Nasri can do it week in week out for us In CM, although he is a great SS and qood enough on the wings.
I probably favour bringing in someone new though but I don’t know who? Maybe Ozil, do you think he could be good enough or do you think we would still be better off with Nasri playing there?
Nasri’s game is totally different to Cesc. Nasri has a combative edge, is probably better on the ball than Cesc, but doesn’t quite have that instinctive vision for the killer pass.
Potentially, Ramsey appears to be the closest Cesc clone, although I think he is more talented. Laugh as you may, but Ramsey at 19 is further along than Cesc was at a similar age. Unfortunately, Ramsey was assassinated last season and at best, will have lost a full year of development.
There is only “one” Cesc, and unfortunately, the team has been built around his talents. Without Cesc we probably would do better in a 4-1-3-1-1 formation with song as the DM, Wilshere (note the corrected spelling), Ramsey and Nasri across the MF, with RVP tucked in behind Chamakh. before I am roasted to death, please note that this would be the following season when Cesc has left and both Ramsey and Wilshire has had time to mature. :)
I fear 4-3-3 is here to stay. It fits with Wenger’s new vision of pools of players with lowly defined roles.
“It fits with Wenger’s vision of pools of players with lowly defined roles.”
That is an interesting but cynical interpretaion of our use of 4-3-3 but it does make sense.
I got to say I did laugh. Was you watching Cesc properly at 19? I have to ask the question because I cannot believe what you are saying.
Cesc was far more mature at 19 than Ramsey is. I believe if Wenger had not bought Arron for such a high price, probably whilst giving him assurances as to first team opportunities, he would be in the reserves right now as would Theo Walcott. They both show potential but are clearly not ready yet.
Ramsey’s game is also very different to Cescs. Like you said yourself there is only “one” Cesc. The only real similarities I see between Ramsy and Cesc is the position they play in and their ability to score goals from MF.
Although I rate Nasri highly too I would not say he is better on the ball than Cesc more that he is far more flamboyant where Cesc uses his skills in a more mature and pragmatic manner.
Just my opinion, not implying that you must agree.
Agree on much, Cesc is the essence of efficiency. He really is a gem, a complete midfield package.
My one question is the relationship between him as our axis and our slow lateral passing style that has become all too easy to frustrate.
Is Cesc a victim of the style or the cause?
Hmmmmh Good question.
I think the likes of Nasri and Diaby are more likely the cause as they in particular like to hold onto the ball too long.
I don’t remember Cesc holding onto the ball too much especially when he was with the old guard. But the continental style has definately crept into our game, whilst the pace on the counter, speed of pass and general fluidity has definitely been reduced.
Shouldn’t the wider spaces of The Emirates allow greater opportunity to Cesc (and co) to ping the opposing defences?
It should do shouldn’t it.
The next debate is, who will replace Cesc? I hear a lot of people talking about Arron Ramsy has the obvious replacement. I do not think Arron Ramsey is anywhere near the same league as Cesc in his development, plays like a youth team player a lot of the time but he is a cool finisher that has the ability to score a lot of goals from MF. Hopefully he will be ready to show us that he can be consistent by the end of the coming season.
Fran Merida I think would have been a better fit for the departing Cesc once he got more consistent, far more technical abilty and intelligence than Ramsey at this stage in his career.
Out of the possible creative CMs Ramsey, Rosicky, Nasri, Lansbury, JET (he prefers FW, I have been told), Denilson, Diaby and Wilshere. I would say Rosicky, Nasri and eventually Wilshere (eventually, not quite ready yet) standout (in that order) with Ramsey being injured. I do not think anyone of them can fill Cescs boots adequately but I think Rosicky would be the best option unless Nasri can show some consistency in that part of the field.
I also do not think that Ramsey and Wilshere in CM would be a good combo without a Song/Flamini style strongman there to help them out. So if we were to go back to a 4-4-2 at anystage that would be a no-no unless Arron can develop his DF game a whole lot more, then we can have a Xavi Iniesta type thing going on.
Speaking of Flamini I thought he looked good against us, had Frimpong in his pocket for most of the game too :-o .
It is getting worse by the second, it feels like a the Ade saga again but I will still be surprised if the fans give it to him like they did Ade if he doesn’t perform this season.
Like with the Ade the fans had already felt insecure with the departure of Flamini and IceCream Cone and then Ade drops his bombshell about going to Milan. Fab has done the same thing while the fans feel insecure about the lack of transfer activity and the DF frailities, Cesc drops a bombshell on us. The difference is that Cesc really wants to leave he already has an outstanding contract.
I have always maintained that Cesc would give his all for us if he stayed ONE MORE SEASON. However if he performs like he did after winning Euro 2008, pretty poorly, then the fans might get on his back perceiving this to be lack of commitment rather than lack of form. Naturally if the fans get on his back he will perform even worse and think that his consideration of the fans was misplaced.
What I am afraid of is that Barca have decided they will not pay over the odds for someone whom they see as theirs anyway. They already know that he is desperate to come to the club thus they are (although Arsenal holds the contract) in the position of strength. They have no money this year and may not have any money next year. Then what? either we hold Cesc til’ the end of his contract and let him go on a free? Obviously that will not work because no one wants an unhappy player and I am sure Cesc will be fuming.
Barca have being playing their cards ever so well. get the players to tap him up remind him he is part of the family, play a video of him at Barca in front of what 2,500 fans and eventually get him at a fraction of what he is worth.
I think Barca are determined to get him cheap, why else would they the value Yaya Toure so highly (he is a very good player by the way) and offer so little for Fabregas? Is it valuation or principle? I think principle, and I don’t blame them for trying it, they have to start being frugal now anyway. However they should have thought about Cesc and their poor finances when they stupid enough to part with Eto’o for Ibrahamovic and nonense money. That has got to be the worst deal in football history and was highligted by Eto’o goal against Barca helping them out of the CL and Ibra’ general uninspiring performances.
It is funny how people make assumptions on the character of players based purely on media output, but I suppose if the media are saying what you want to believe then you will gladly believe it.
We were led to believe that Ade was a money hungry mercenary that felt nothing for the club, Cesc is the consumate professional that is one of the few players really loyal to Arsenal. Looking at the situation now I can only draw the opposite conclusion. Ade loved Arsenal, that was the first big club he played for and it would have been far better than playing anywhere in France, he has no footballclub that he has a natural allegiance to i.e Togo United if there was ever such a thing. Cesc however has always been a Barca fan and despite all the talk otherwise would eventually want to go there. What saddens me is the manner in which he has tried to force a move, yes that is what he has done. The fact that he has done so at a critical time, leaving us with a short time (less than a season) to find a replacement shows me that the sense of loyalty was misplaced.
Perhaps we need to ask this question – why don’t ManU have to contend with this circus?
Wenger brings this upon us. Ferguson is better able to select his captains and then to remain suitably unsentimental in his dealings with players. Ferguson doesn’t feel the need to use the captaincy as a carrot – why does Wenger? When the Beckham bandwagon got too much Fergie literally gave him the boot (lol). He tolerated Ronaldo for a season (note he wasn’t club captain) then sold him for a fortune.
So, giving ‘suppport’ to the 23 year old multi-millionaire ‘kid’ Fabregas seems like a bit of sentimental hogwash to me.
This is just more grist to the mill. We have been the architects of our own misfortune yet again by appointing Fabregas as captain when it was blatantly obvious that he wasn’t a good choice. We’re then made to look like a second class club by playing the long-suffering lover as he fraternises with Barca. Wenger needs to show some balls. If he can’t then Hillwood should do it for him – this is just another chapter in this Mills & Boon saga.
@Perhaps we need to ask this question – why don’t ManU have to contend with this circus?
Winning is a much better carrot than an armband?
“Winning is a much better carrot than an armband”
You are right, but winning didn’t stop Ronaldo leaving ManUre, Real was his dream club so once he had achieved everthing at ManUre he wanted to leave.
Sucess could have got Cesc to stay for longer but he would have wanted to go back to his roots at sometime I think.
Right. Achieving everything you can at a club is the flip side of the same coin. Sadly, with a series of third places finishes Cesc seems to feel as if he’s done just that.
You are right, two totally different scenarios same result. He feels he has achieved all he can achieve at Arsenal, he has lost faith in the youth “project” as he referred to it.
The armband thing always seems to backfire on Arsene.
He thinks give them the honour and they will act like captains and show a greater sense of responsibility and loyalty to the club. Always seem to have the opposite effect.
Being made Captain of a stilled barge isn’t nearly the hono(u)r Wenger would wish for it.
lol
Although I could never refer to my football club as a “stilled barge”, you are right being made captain is not seen as enough of a honour at our club.
Like Kiwi intimated the Vieira and Henry scenarios made the title look cheap.
I do not think Wenger should use it as some sort of means to get loyalty from his players anyway. It should be the best man for the job and once Cesc departs the right man is Vermaelen.
@Although I could never refer to my football club as a “stilled barge”
Art, I really thought I was being measured. There’s still an iceberg out there that we need to dodge, or we have a whole new ship metaphor.
LOL :-D
What would be the iceberg 5th placed finish? Relegation? certainly not financial ruin.
Maybe we will have to pleasure of referring to Barca of preferably ManUre as the Titanic in a couple of years.
Financial Ruin?
surely you jest.
We are TOP OF THE PROFIT LEAGUE, every year.
Nobody close.
United and Barca aren’t going Titanic any time soon, but keep hoping.
Stag, I still like Barca and I want ManU to survive so we can beat them home and away every season. I don’t really hope for their demise to be that complete.
Yeah, 5th. That would cost us, gasp, money!
The pride already goeth…
As to United, Forbes calls them the “richest (football) team” and ‘the biggest property in all of sports’. So they have that and a bunch of silver to tide them over.
http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/20/most-valuable-athletes-and-teams-business-sports-sportsmoney-fifty-fifty.html
Cesc is a pro. He will make a statement but it won’t be so bold as many would like. It will be very political because he has to straddle the fence. He loves the club and doesn’t want to alienate the Arsenal fans. Likewise, he doesn’t want to alienate himself from his countrymen.
It’s a very difficult situation for a young man to be in. It’s similar to Reyes situation with Henry. It wasn’t anything that Jose said or did, rather some other idiot back in Spain saying things in the media and putting the player in a difficult situation.
Cesc situation is difficult and I’m sure he’s pondering the right words to say as he doesn’t want to burn any bridges. As fans, we all know what we want to hear. Spaniards know what they want to hear. Cesc has to consider both sides and choose his words very carefully. It’s tough. Respect the fact that it’s tough and suppor the kid.
Grow up Joshua. He’s 23 and paid a fortune to kick a ball. He has a decision to make. Stop turning it in to a soap opera.
Whichever way he goes a club will be disappointed – that’s it.
He’s not innocent either. He could have told his Barca big-mouth aggitators to shout up. He didn’t. That’s life.
Cesc already said he wants to go to Barcelona but he still has a contract as well as a political responsibility as the club captain. Why say something else to antagonize Arsenal fans and be forced to live with that if Arsenal decide not to sell him?
It’s not just about him. Wenger won’t allow himself to be bullied by Barcelona. There’s also dealing with stupid shit like death threats and people vandalizing his car or his home because a handfull of fans take football to seriously.
As fans, it’s much simpler. We are for all things Arsenal. Players don’t have the luxury of being so myopic as they can be quickly jettisoned by a club. They understand that football doesn’t stop and end with one club and when things change, they tend to change very quickly. They have to be mentally prepared for that. Add to that, Cesc has love for both Arsenal and Barcelona. Matters of the heart are never that simple when it’s your heart.
Wenger will have an entire year to mentally prepare for losing Cesc. He needed that time when Vieira and Henry left as well. The biggest mistake Wenger has made is allowing a player to leave without a replacement. If Wenger takes the captaincy, Barcelona will be encouraged more than ever to pursue Cesc. If that happens, we WILL lose him and won’t have time to find a suitable replacement. I’m sorry, my friend, but this already is a soap opera.
with Kiwi.
ooooh poor Cesc, he’s a victim, with a tough decision.
either REQUEST A TRANSFER, or SAY YOU ARE STAYING AT ARSENAL…
its really simple.
no mights, no maybe this, or I love both, but I am a Barca club member …
he is not doing Arsenal any favors by saying little or nothing at this point.
Wenger said HE NEEDS TO MAKE THE STATEMENT.
I don’t really feel for him at all…
he’s brought it ALL on himself for ANY fan anger.
I agree with Kiwi and Stag.
I said this before, if he stays for the obligatory one-year farewell season he should be de-captainised. Only that will send the signal we need. To be captain of Arsenal Football Club is an honour that you don’t get lightly or take lightly.
There are downsides to keeping him for a season, there is the risk that something happens (injury) and his value plummets. But….. I can accept a season as ‘just a player’. The upside in keeping a player of his calibre is ok.
But just think of what a signal that would give to the whole team. “Sure Cesc, you can wallow in sentimental nonsense for the off-season, we’ll even allow you to leave for your hometown club for your market value (assuming they can pay), but it will be next season when we have a year to adjust. But, one other thing, the captaincy is an honour for a player of calibre committed to the club, Vermaelen is the new club captain.”
Naturally Cesc will be upset, yet after the initial anger passes what can he expect? That we’ll carry-on this ridiculous legacy started by Vieira that our club captain needn’t be committed?
Kiwi have you forgotten the history of Vieira’ departure. Arsene let him go, for cheap too as he decided Vieira was on the way down following his last seasons performances (and possibly injuries). Arsene presented Vieira with the offer from Juventus if he was not willing to accept that offer he would not have given Vieira the choice, he was also under contract.
Vieira was never committed to Arsenal, I have never looked at him in the same light from the day I read and believed that he was considering a move to ManUre. But we understand that a captain is a humman being and always going to be committed to themselves first, captains will always come and go. Vermaelen is an ideal captain in my eyes but who say he will not want to leave someday too or we won’t want to sell him if the time and price is right?
“I hope to see all of you more often and closer.”
______________________________________
Words of comfort from Cesc to Arsenal I mean Barca fans. ;-)
if he starts the season for the club, and does not come out
and SPEAK, saying he WANTS TO BE HERE, and BARCAs PLAYERS NEED TO SHUT UP, then the supporters should BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO… loudly.
what we don’t need, is a captain, half-hearted, and half-in…
How will that help Arsenal?
Half-hearted is better than zero-hearted.
he deserves to be lustily booed…
how does it help Arsenal for fans to cheer him for WANTING TO LEAVE THE CLUB?
He doesn’t care about “helping Arsenal” any longer.
As much as I’d love to see Arsenal get on the front foot in this and make a statement such as sell him to RM….. Wenger being Wenger he’ll eek out another year loan arrangement out of Cesc. Once again all our eggs are in the one basket and the legacy of disloyal captains will continue.
Cesc will wipe his eyes with the 110,000 pound roll he just picked up from the pay office, and hanker down to the new season. His heart won’t be quite there despite his best attempts, cause once you’ve made up your mind to go you’re already part way out. And when you’re the captain what signal does all this send to the players that remain? Follow me guys as I serve out the last months of my contract. Yeah right that’s pretty inspiring.
Truth is, many Arsenal fans will understand exactly why Cesc wants to go and it’s not limited to Barca being his hometown club. It’s as much about his aspirations as a footballer wanting to experience the winning feeling and playing beside equals. As CK says he just has to accept that there will not be a fairytale ending. Many of us have experienced similar instances in our own careers, your company wants you to commit and stay on but you hanker for a different opportunity. There inevitably comes a tipping point, a time when you make that decision to move on. The WC looks like that for Cesc.
Anyway, we’ve flogged this saga, it’s boring, I’d have had more respect if Cesc had made a definite decision pre-WC and took the heat like a man. Instead he does a Vieira – tacky. In fact Vieira had a bit more class in a relative way. Cesc shouldn’t have stood by as his Spain/Barca team mates took turn aggitating for the move on his behalf. Classless alround. Arsenal FC is a classy club and this is tacky. We deserve better.
Like Henry before him, Cesc will only leaves Arsenal for Barcelona. He’ll never sign for Real Madrid.
Vermaelen is being groomed for the captaincy. I think he’s the first good choice since Vieira left.
Cesc staying is not only about keeping the player but about Wenger trying to send a signal that Arsenal are not weak and won’t be bullied in the transfer market by the likes of Barcelona. Because it’s this late in the window and Wenger still hasn’t signed a replacement for Cesc, I’m in favor of keeping Cesc.
The only reason Vieira didn’t sign for Real Madrid is because they didn’t want to pay him what the Galacticos got paid. In fact, Vieira encouraged Makelele to demand a new contract from Real Madrid because he was only on like 30k a week.
Nice article DAG.
I will not only agree with you on your review of Sagna, but will also state he is the best DEFENSIVE RB in the league and is now honing his offensive skills. The only RB in the league I would rather have at present is that c**t Evra.
Re Cesc. As I have said previously, love him to death, but he needs to leave now as long as Barca can raise some funds. As captain, his so called “one year loan” to Arsenal will be a big distraction on and off the pitch and may certainly create friction in the dressing room. Barca has done a fantastic job making sure this happens. If I was Arsene, I would sell his arse to Real Madrid (they would be delighted to ream Barca where the sun don’t shine) and watch in delight as the entire Barca organization froth at the mouth during their fits of epilepsy :)
mates, but at the same time can’t afford to alienate his Arsenal fan base. Sometimes you just have to get off the fence and do what you really want to do, knowing that you can’t please all the people all the time. I also think the weight of his decision if he stays at Arsenal will see him perform way below his best even if he is giving his all. that’s just human nature.
Love him, but it’s time to say au revoir and god bless, and please, no booing when we play them in the CL.
Sagna best RB in the league: agreed. Evra’s a LB not a RB.
Cesc will never sign for Real Madrid.
I agree we should sell him now, if, as you say, “Barca can raise some funds”… but what if they can’t? I’ll be dissatisfied if he goes for less than 45m GBP.
It looks like Barca are struggling to pay what the market would demand.
Why not take 40m and say 2 of their experienced foreign players? And at the same time bring RM and the Milan clubs into the negotiating equation.
The problem with your first proposal (bringing in the players) is that Wenger would never agree to it… even if he should. The problem with the second proposal is that Cesc doesn’t want to play for any of those clubs, and as a paying Barca socio would sooner retire than play for RM. (Okay, maybe not retire, but you get the point.)
Wenger’s done very well for someone who wanted to leave for Barca 9 years ago. Given we got 4 pretty exceptional years out of him after 01, I’m further bolstered that (should he stay), Cesc will be fine for the duration of his contract. After that, though, complete shite.
;-)
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=811414&sec=transfers&cc=5901
A note from CG to everyone at YAMA:
It’s Jack WilshEre, not WilshIre.
I stand duly corrected.
I wasn’t sure so I copied DAG. If the blind lead the blind, they both fall in the ditch.
“Well, it is the second month of the the Cesc to Barca saga and frankly, I am tired of it.”
-I am very tired of it as well. I am tired of the offseason as a whole, and I am desperately awaiting the start of the league season in two weeks!
“This past Friday the lads over at talkSport claimed we Arsenal were holding Cesc hostage.”
-Kind of like Puyol saying he’s in prison. Gimme a fucking break.
“Now they are being perceived as pushy and arrogant.”
-Being perceived that way? They are that way.
Ladies and Gentlemen –
The 2010/2011 YAMA Fantasy League is Now Open on ESPNSoccernet.
Search for the following League: YAMA League.
1st Prize – Strip of Your Choice with player name (also of your choice)
2nd Prize – TShirt of Your Choice
3rd Prize – Baseball Cap of your choice
The link for the ESPNSoccernet Fantasy Home is:
http://premierfantasy.soccernet.espn.go.com/app/start.jsp
yes.
cool.
I usually play Fantasy League . com
but Soccernet is FREE, so this should work for everyone.
Thanx and well done.
I have signed up for the league.
There is now a link in the right hand nav to the league site
Right now Chi and I are the only ones who have joined.
I am signed up for a team, I will join “the league” shortly.
its not easy picking a team under that budget!
Right now, Koscielny looks better than Djourou. Johann played so well a couple of seasons ago but the year off has absolutely killed his game. He looks like an absolute rookie; seemingly completely un-aware of what’s going on around him. It’s not the technical side but his problems are more tactical. He needs to get it together and soon or when he plays, coaches will target him.
As for Cesc, Wenger obviously want’s to keep his captain because he’s the talisman and a super talent. Another reason is he doesn’t want to appear weak and strong-armed by Barcelona. He needs Cesc to come out and make a statement, which we won’t get until after he comes back from vacation. He will have to choose his words very carefully. Look for the politics in his statement.
You’re not the only one who prefers Wilshire to Joe Cole. While I don’t think Wilshire is ready to be the main man, he’s certainly ready to play a major part in the team. I, too, am expecting big things from him.
Anyone see the pics of Sol Campbell? What a dumpy looking fuck. What professional footballer plans his honeymoon during the pre-season when everyone else is getting fit? Professional footballers get married every year and they don’t plan their honeymoon during pre-season. Sol is an old pro and he knows better. Then, he has the audacity to ask for more time, well after the start of the season, to get match fit. Pitiful. Lastly, he tried to blame the kit as the reason he looks fat. No Sol, it’s the huge gut under the kit that makes you look fat. What an un-professional douche bag. I’m glad he’s gone.
Doesn’t Sol know that stripes make you look thinner?
yes. he should have planned his wedding during the season.
???
its his WEDDING. missing pre-season, when you don’t have a TEAM isn’t that big a deal…
Dude, please. People get married every day and they have enough sense to plan their wedding/honeymoon at a time that won’t interfere with their jobs. Sol’s been a pro footballer for many years and knows what’s required to prepare for a season. If he didn’t plan on playing this season, it makes sense. But he had every intention of playing this season and is no where near ready for a season that starts in two weeks.
Coming in a month late, fat and out of shape, and full of excuses is absolute bullshit from a professional. He deserves all the crap he’s getting from the media.
Josh, Sol is old. Preseason would do him more harm than good, esp. w/ the medical staff at Arsenal.
Agreed, Sol is old. However, if he wants to be a professional footballer, he needs to do whatever is required to ensure he’s ready to play when the season starts. Showing up a month late and about two stone overweight is not the right answer.
Both Celtic and Sunderland told him what they thought of his honeymoon plan. It rhymed with “fuck-off”.
I do remember when he went to signed for Portsmouth is his main gripe about Arsenal was that they ran too much.
The attraction of Joe Cole was that he would have been FREE and he would have been someone to bring Wilshere through (hopefully). At present who would Wilshere learn from?
Arshavin is too quiet and insular, Rosicky is overjoyed just to be on the pitch, every other AM is either too young or to useless to be in a position to show Wilshere a winning way.
Ah well, water under the bridge.
At 80k a week, it would have been an expensive risk to hope Joe Cole could mentor Jack WilshEre. I don’t see anything in Cole’s game that would scream to Wenger “yes, this is the guy to mentor Arsenal’s next young hot prodigy”.
It’s even more relevant when you consider how much you would have to pay in wages to an injury-prone player. Is he better than Rosicky, Arshavin, or Nasri? I rate him only marginally better than Vela and Eboue. He’s certainly not 80k a week better.
Cole chose Liverpool over Arsenal or Man United because he had no competition there. Rieira and Benayoun are gone. Philip Degen flopped and Maxi Rodriguez is old. There’s only Ryan Babel, which leaves another side free. He walks right into the Liverpool side. He’s not good enough to just walk into the United or Arsenal side.
he could walk into the Arsenal side…
no doubt about it.
I disagree. Joe Cole would add very little to Arsenal and he certainly is not worth £80k a week.
Also JW seems to have learnt a lot without the likes of Joe Cole as a mentor, he will continue to develop without him. Arshavin is probably his mentor now and I doubt if he is as insular as some perceive.
I saw hightlights of the Emirates Cup.
Frankly, can’t be bothered.
I am not investing my time and money in THIS squad, unless
Arsene and Arsenal invest in the team. We need another CB and
Keeper… to START THE SEASON.
If we go in without another CB AND Keeper… I’ll watch when they
are on Fox Sports… and obviously watch highlights and hope they win.
But I won’t live or die with the results like I have for the past 15 years or so… I will watch lots of the Premier League matches, and
watch the Spanish, French, Italian and German Leagues as well…
Without additional players coming in, we are NOT competing for the
League title… or the CL.
We will NOT try to compete for the FA Cup or League Cup any differently than we did in the previous 5 years,… why would Wenger suddenly change that strategy?
Cesc?
Well. I agree with DAG. say something. do something.
it is quite apparent he isn’t, because he holds out hope that
Arsene WILL sell him, so he’s saying nothing, hoping and praying that
Arsenal cave in and take the money.
I think its 50 / 50.
Without him, we have ZERO chance of winning the league, because
Wenger will “not have the time” to bring in someone of great quality.
And whomever comes in, will take a bit of time to adjust to the league and club, unless he’s from the EPL…
The kids.
Yeah. some of them look decent. but play in a few real matches and
let me know how its going. Pre-season is not a good barometer sometimes… because you don’t know what type of effort is being given.
So, I’m “waitin’ and seein'”… I will invest if Arsenal invest.
if not, I’ll play Fantasy Football, watch more of the other leagues, and wait for the NFL!
That league was FantasyLeague.com?
yes.
I just looked at the Fantasy League on Soccernet, as well…
and that doesn’t look bad either, and its FREE…
and you can set up our own league.
I know cost can be an issue for some, and that’s understandable.
Nice article DAG.
Totally agree about Cesc. Sh*t or get off the pot. As our captain, Cesc’s silence on the matter is inexcusable and he will find out shortly, you can’t have it both ways. Unfortunately, Barca are in debt somewhere between Pool and ManU and don’t have the funds to buy OUR player…….and aren’t likely to be any better financially next year or after. Describing Barca players as arrogant is being kind.
I would love to see Cesc stay for 2 more years, but Arsenal can raise their game without him. In the midfield, Cesc is a genius with the ball BUT a liability on defense.
I was able watch the Emirates Cup and saw many promising signs from our new signees and others.
Overall – I like what I saw in everyone’s performance.
Chamakh really can’t be compared to Ade. Totally different playing styles, but Chamakh is much better suited for our passing game and will fit in quickly. Confident with the ball at his feet, and has some speed.
For me, Frimpong was the eye opener during the tournament: strong in tackling, quick decision with the ball, good positioning, and I certainly would rather see him at back up for Song vs. Denilson or Diaby.
Regardless of his age, he physically can compete and should be an option that will allow Song regular
rest. He plays above his age.
We have a few weeks left in the transfer market. Hoping we can pick up an experienced CB and keeper.