Arsenal Banter Archive April 10 2014

10 Apr 2014 19:14:11
r.e. steve's earlier post regarding improvement;
so your saying, if wigan won the fa cup and stayed up they wouldn't call it an improvement?
because imo winning the fa cup and finishing 4th is definitely an improvement.
we end a long trophy drought and get champions league football.
on top of that- we are no longer a selling club, we have new sponsorship deals coming into force, we have a great core to the team. have finally made a huge signing, have finally given a player over 100k in wages,

My sentiments exactly Waq, see my earlier post

Wigan won fa cup, a cup. They didn't stay up they were relagated. Improved teams don't get relagated, they stayed up the year before and regardless of whether they won the cup they did worse over the whole season. Winning the fa cup is an achievement that championsip and relegated teams have won. Its a knock out comp. Your season is judged by the league and we are not improving. It would be great to win the cup but getting mullered when we play our direct competitors is not an improvement. Regardless we are not going to improve our standing this year.

10 Apr 2014 20:02:19
Waq,

I can agree with most of the improvements but not those on a footballing front, 3rd or 4th is as well as we've done for a long time.

Yes the FA Cup ends a trophy drought but any team can win it, sometimes they say your name just happens to be on it. There is no requirement to have a superb stadium, a top manager or millions in the bank.

It's the FA Cup and anything can happen. So where we want to see it most, on the pitch, with a team worthy of the name, we remain sorely lacking.

Whether that be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 players short depending on varying opinions, we are missing vital parts of getting back in the game.

It has driven me crazy trying to fathom why Arsene failed to provide at least one or two more of those vital parts this year.

Ill put it another way for you. Ask yourself. Have we improved against sheik city, have we improved against chelski, have we improved against Liverpool, have we improved against everton, and have we improved against man u. Our record against our nearest challengers is dismal.

For me the league table never lies over 38 games where you end up is where you deserve to be.
Cups? Liverpool under Dalglish.
For me the real improvement is in individuals
Szczesney is a lot better than a year ago while Ox looks to have moved up 3 levels in one go this season but the biggest bonus is Aaron of course, from next to nothing to almost everything in half a season.
Team wise great first half a season but found our level in second half, last 5 games will have the final say on exactly how good or bad we are.

10 Apr 2014 23:18:20
I don't usually post but felt that I had to add my thoughts regarding so called non-improvement of our club against our direct competition.

I have included the following teams to be our competition, not for the outright championship but for the champions league spots. Man U, City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton and the little chaps from up the road. Last season after playing the teams above both home and away, Arsenal amassed 11 points. We managed to get points from all but Chelsea who beat us away and at the emirates. This season from the same fixtures, we have a total of 13 points taking something from each opposition. This is a testament to our improved home form since the start of the season. Have we improved on this front? I think you will all find that statistically we have.

with regards to the F.A cup, it is no surprise that we have reached the semi final as all of our games have been played at home, which again highlights our improvement at the emirates. Last season in the F.A cup, we were knocked out by Blackburn which was played at home. Have we improved on this front? Again, the stats don't lie.

I never believed that this season we would be in this position, especially after the villa game. And in fact, I believe that games against opposition outside of the champions league chasing pack have cost us dearly. On two occasions we have lost 2 points from winning positions. Southampton away and Swansea at home. That is four points closer we should have been. And if that were the case coupled with the easy run in, I think we would have been in with a shout.

I feel that we have been extremely unlucky with injuries this season, which hit our midfield hard. I am a strong believer in that the team with the best midfield ends up winning the premier league. City is the benchmark for all the top sides and I think all the teams apart from United have tried to improve their packs to combat theirs. And, for a very long time, we not only matched them but was better. Maureentheho, brought in William and Matic to strengthen theirs and the results are there for all to see. Everton added Barry and Mcarthy. spurs added half of Europe and livepool have bought well and managed their injuries. United have bought Mata and the fuzzy haired chap will come good for them soon and no doubt that the midfield will be their main priority during transfer season.

I suppose people could counter the above with lack of squad depth etc. But up until last weekend we had 4 out of 5 of our starting midfielders missing due to long term injuries. I also suppose people could counter by saying our medical team is rubbish etc. But, people should also note that Arsenal are fouled more than any other team in the prem most of which are not punished which leads to further fouling. I do appreciate that a lot of our injuries are muscular but bodies adapt to physical pain from contact injuries to alleviate pain, this in turn stresses other muscle groups which eventually give up themselves.

I'm going to stop now in fear of boring anyone who has bothered to read the above to death.

COYG

{Ed002's Note - You need to register.}

Apologies Ed. I though I was signed in.

Not bored at all mate.

Bloody good post and statistically very accurate.

There has be no improvement. A cup win will do good to get the trophy drought off our back but honestly, anyone can win it.

We had a real chance this year and Arsene mucked it up big time! Had he bought the players we need, we would nearly be home and dry already. Now, I can see a few players leaving in the summer, so there is an even bigger rebuilding job needing to be done.

The FA Cup and 4th would've been an improvement if we were only 2/3 points away from the top. As it is, we have collapsed again and will finish in 4th if we are lucky, well behind the winners, just as last year.

Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Everton have all improved this year and passed us by and a lot of that is to do with their managers. United have had a terrible season but yet could still finish above us with a squad that is in much better shape for next year than ours and one that will be significantly added to. Just like Chelsea, City and Liverpool will do.

We have fell further behind this year.

We are 2 points better off at home nessi and yes that is an improvement. You forgot to mention 3 of them were spurs who for me don't come into the equasion. You forgot to mention the fact we have amassed 3 points away from home against these sides 3 of which were spurs and a 4 to 40 goal difference ( slightly exaggeration ) and how embarrassing it was to watch the away games. Anyway moving on let's win the cup.

10 Apr 2014 18:08:23
I know this won't happen but it would be the best and right thing to do for the fans, players and everyone connected to AFC

The club should realise a statement saying
Wenger is or isn't staying

That he or his successor will have £100 million or whatever the exact figure is to spend on strengthening the sqaud THIS summer and they won't be happy to see any change from the money given back.if the mager isn't able to get his 1st 2nd or even 3rd choice players HE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A 4TH CHIOCE TO TURN TO.
And finally that the board given this support will expect top 3 minimum 2015 and top 1 2016 or sooner.

Disappointment and disenchantment are extremely high right now and expectations rather than hope of things being any different in the foreseeable future or rock bottom.
Its up to the club and manger to give us real tangible reasons to believe yet again that we are going to be title contenders again.

If a selling club is approached by Arsenal for one of its players who they are prepared to let go, they are more than likely to ask for an inflated price having learnt that Arsenal have a substantial (£100m) kitty.

I agree on the rest though, better fans know if Arsene os going to stay or not.

G62, Arsenal don't do things the easy way mate, you should know that, lol

I'm genuinely on the side that thinks AW is undecided, if I had to bet i'd probably go with he's staying but its too tight to call for me

if he does stay i'd love for him to have the DC-10 it attitude to cash and go spend the lot (dreaming I know)

maybe we could get mi5 to replace him with a look a like who spends then returns arsene back once the squad is revamped

arsene wakes up going hmm haven't I done well lol

but well i'm hoping uwe hasn't done his home work and we're in for a free flowing game and arsenal win convincingly but who am I kidding

think I might have an emotional hedge and back wigan just in case to try take the pain away of what will happen if we show up like we did at everton

10 Apr 2014 14:39:23
Has anyone looked at the treatment table.how many injuries

Wilshire, Kos, Ozil, Rosicky, Gibbs, Ox All big doubts for Saturday

Its a joke, but not a surprise.

+ Walcott, Diaby and Ryo on long term wtf is our medical team up to!?!?

Thats an awful lot of anti-hair loss tonic!

I think we're going to need a bigger table.
Flybo

I heard the whole squad have had x-rays this week and see which ones still possess a spine

The medical team certainly got a heavy workload, they don't just sit around collecting their pay you know. wait a minute, are they there to bring injured players back to health or delay their return to the pitch so that they have people to talk to? Our medics advise Arsene: Player X 3 weeks away from fitness. Arsene to Media: Player x minimum 3 Weeks, Maximum 6 weeks. Final Outcome: Player X returns after 4 months

11 players out of the squad not being funny but wtf happened did a bomb go off at colney or what?

10 Apr 2014 13:56:34
I am going to go with what Ed has explained, that Wenger is on his way out, that it is a matter of "when" not "if", and that it was always the plan for him to see us through the tough years and then leave the keys to a younger manager to lead us through a new era.

My greatest fear though, is that even with a new manager at the helm, Arsenal will continue to put money ahead of trophies on the priority list, and that Silent Stan Kroenke will continue with his "low-risk, high reward" investment.

If you look at his other sports franchises, namely the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and the St. Louis Rams of the NFL, you will see a worrying pattern: neither team is good.

The Nuggets had a good team a few years ago, then sold their star player Carmelo Anthony for big bucks (sound familiar?). The St Louis Rams suck plain and simple, came last in their division last season, and haven't made the playoffs in years.

It seems that Stan Kroenke is not about the trophies, and I fear that even when Wenger steps down, Arsenal will continue to be used as a cash cow.

Please tell me I'm wrong,
Peace,
Trinidad-Gooner

He is messing with fire mate, Arsenal fans pay top dollar to see trophies, before you know it, if they hire some sack of spud manager and we struggle next year, the fans will start to campaign and some will even take things personally.

Fact is Football is a religion in England, and Kroenke will have to learn the hard way how to get thrown out of your club if he wishes to risk it that way.

I have no idea why we don't just make it a supporters club and elect a president, that way if we don't like how it goes the people have the power to challenge the decisions. Obviously changing track now, especially for a club the size of Arsenal financially. perhaps the era for that in english football has passed.

Laker,

Completely agree man, I'm not English but my father is, and I have gradually grown to understand that football is like religion as you say, and that foreign owners have a responsibility to the fans to uphold the great tradition that these football clubs represent.

I'm actually surprised that it has gone on this long. I really do believe that Wenger loves Arsenal and has sacrificed his own legacy for the betterment of the club, but I also think that the Board love Wenger because he can work miracles on a tight budget. Keep us in top four and CL with little to no investment.

Even last summer with the bold statements about how we have so much money to spend, we had a net spend of 32.5 million pounds and did not get the striker that we so obviously needed. January came and went without further investment to bolster our injury plagued squad, and we were top of the league with a great shot to press on and win!

TG if Arsene really is calling it a day then we will know very soon the clubs intentions.
If it Klopp or similar then they will have a lot of money to spend or they won't take the job, What top manager would.
If its Dennis Wise Or Gary Megson your right about the quite ones plans for us and we're doomed we're doomed

If arsenal fans are so ardent and fierce why is he still in charge? why are the owners still there?

end of the day hand your ticket back in there is a list of 9000 ready to take it

victim of our own success and I use that word sparringly

football for me is too much about the cash now

what happened to the days of playing cause you love the game

62

Good point, we will be able to tell what their level of ambition is by their choice in selecting the next manager.

I wonder if Wenger will be selecting his successor the same way Sir Alex did?

10 Apr 2014 10:34:45
Hello everyone in reply to Greenys message I would never dump or dessert my team of 50 years and counting, what I would like is Arsenal to dump(probably not the best word)so let's say end their relationship with AW and embark on a new one and if it takes a couple of seasons for that relationship to blossom so be it.To Greeny and all other Gooners have a good day

Have a nice one mate

10 Apr 2014 06:40:49
Hi Eds - quick one:

With the issues in Ukraine I've read on the news that players at Shaktar Donetzk (sp?) may be allowed to leave in the summer. I see it as very Wengerish to take advantage of such an opportunity and sign the likes of Bernard and Taison? Unless the latter goes to Chelsea.

Can you see this happening / have you heard anything in the grapevine?

EMG

{Ed002's Note - Sorry I have no idea what you are talking about. "Wengerish"?}

Ed. Can you not remember Wenger jumping on the sinking ship that was Malaga and getting Santi and Monreal also looking at Gamez and Rondon seriously! So I think it would be very 'Wengerish' to jump on the instability in the political and social happenings in Ukraine especially Kiev and Donetsk who are both in the worst effected zones!

Wengerish - as per Baz mentioned i.e. With Santi Cazorla at Malaga and taking advantage of the financial situation; As per Özil and the apparent outcome due to Bale etc moving.

We know Wenger likes to bag a bargain when possible and I wondered if you knew anything which maybe in the pipeline w.r.t to the situation at Shaktar?

EMG

I thought "Wengerish" was refusing to change tactics or make substitutions when you team is getting battered after 15 minutes.

Here's hoping he jumps on the Wengerbus and gets the hell out of here.

10 Apr 2014 07:09:30
Jumping ahead 12 months and utd will with or without Moyes be back in CL qualification contention.
Liverpool will have to contend with CL football and a PL challenge so will need to get through the summer without losing any top players and add a few to them just to keep pace.
Everton will do well to repeat this season imo
City? don't see them being any weaker
Chavski spit spit, will be stronger.
Us?
Anyone one up for another 4th place nail bitter, same place same time next year every one?
We have to cange if we want change and a different out come

While I agree its wengers decisions that has caused the downfall, its the players that we have that have ultimately led us here.

Giroud cheating on his wife? I can only imagine where his head is. tosser could not keep it in his pants.

none of our players are physical, not ever Arteta, perhaps flamini, and kos, but beyond that no one.

playing to our strenghts is fine, I can see that, but when we have walcott, ramsey, ozil, wilshere, out how can we play to our strenghts, that's pace, vision, hunger and stamina right out the window.

Arteta and giroud need to go or play sparingly, with them to playing big games we will get nowhere.

Its time for the Ox next season to take it one step further and enter the aaron ramsey territory.

we have pace with Ox, walcott, gnabry, we have vision with wilshere, ramsey ozil, we have pace in defense with Kos, and a game reader in per, we also have flamini who is a great addition.

but going forward we need a Lars bender (20-25 mill)

we need a draxler or a reus ( 30-40 mill)

we need a RB, we need a LB, we need a CB cover, we need a GK cover, (give or take 40 mill)

and we need 2 strikers. (alvaro Morata and Josip drmic for me seem like the ones we should target, they have pace. I have no idea what these reports about Jay rodriguez are but he's injured, but he would be the type of player we need, direct.

Arsenal will not be challenging for titles with any of these players, a 30 goal a season striker is the only way we can win it, and we are just not capable of buying that player in the transfer market.

I agree with Laker, we need to be more disciplined on and off the field, we have players that are more than capable of making things happen, but too often they simply don’t.
As said we are in desperate need of a prolific striker, someone with pace and power that isn’t going to be bullied.

For me, we should go for Romelu Lukaku as he's a beast. Then someone like Morata as a plan b option if you will.

Good post's boys

10 Apr 2014 06:07:00
This 100 million we supposedly have to spend is sounding like
an advertisement for the National Lottery Rollover that's never been won. 100 million is a fortune we know, but in footballing terms it's peanuts. Players are earning more in commission for being transferred then a lot of top players are actually valued at on the transfer market. I don't know what we think we can buy with 100 million because I personally don't think it's going to get us what we need at the moment remembering we still need to off load some players and we may still be thin on the ground.

I think the reality Goldboy is that this isn't a one summer transfer window fix.

I think we need realistic expectations about that. Besides the financial issue you speak of, buying a lot of players at once is generally not a great idea (just look at the spurs and others), even if we had 100's of millions to spend.

Ideally, we can bring in 2/3 quality players this summer, followed by similar the following summer.

I think we have a nucleus of a good team- let's say for argument sake we added someone like lars bender and balotelli (not saying them necessarily, but just as an e.g.) and then replacements for any players who leave.

With the players we have to come back from injury and just 2 players of that quality, for me would make a huge difference to our team already.

The following summer you add 2 more top players, etc.

But if AW is still the manager is that actually going to happen anyway!? That is perhaps the most important question to ask.

Agree Golds mate