Arsenal Banter Archive December 12 2014

12 Dec 2014 22:42:23
So Wenger says : "If everybody is fit and available, we don’t need to go into the transfer market. But we have to consider that there could be a question mark with Koscielny’s fitness and we have to go into the transfer market.”

Media overreacts as they are anti Arsenal! If everyone was fit we provably would be okay in defence BUT we always have injuries, so he will sign someone. MOVE ON and give the guy some credit - think he deserves it

13 Dec 2014 00:02:58
If we just sign one decent centre back, problem almost solved, defence wise anyway.

12 Dec 2014 18:49:57
Anyone else think we should raise our expectations and aspersions a whole club? from chairman to players to the majority of supporters we seem to have become absolutely ingulfed in 4th place acceptance.
Yes other clubs may have a billionaire sugar daddy but history is full of giants beings brought to their knees by those we far less resources.
Have we become the stepford fans programmed to be happy with our lot and anyone who speaks of a real challenge to city chavs and utd is considered a trouble maker :-)

12 Dec 2014 20:59:10
Good question mate.

Arsene's 18 years in charge has been a roller coaster ride, to say the least.

For 9 years we were up there with the big boy's, domestically at least.
We were either winning the Prem or coming 2nd to red nose.

Than the sugar daddy's took over, so we had to move to a bigger, better stadia to generate extra income.

We knew things would be difficult, especially as we had to sell our best player's to our rivals.

We weathered the financial storm and accepted finishing 4th as a step in the right direction, indeed, it was almost like winning the prem, but without the fanfare and open top bus parade.

But, once it was made public knowledge that we were financially 'unshackled', and Gazidi's was shouting from the rooftops that we can compete with any team on the planet (financially), our expectations have risen sharply.

4th this season?
Acceptable, but not good enough.

I think most people would give Wenger another season, but come next summer, I expect some major changes and big additions to the squad.

whether or not it happens, well, that remains to be seen.

12 Dec 2014 22:04:13
The way I see it these days g62 is that under Kreonkes ownership we will be a 4th place team. He has no competitive ambition for this club. That is reflected in his other teams. He is a business man. We are minimum yearly investment with profitable returns.

Even if we drop out of CL he may drop big bucks to get us back the next year but don't count on continued investment from him. If we consistently dropped out of top 4 after that he would minimise his investments further and pull money from ever increasing tv deals and the 100million fan base we've accrued worldwide.

If we continue how we have financially over the last 2 years maybe we can maintain top 4 and possibly win the Prem once every 5-10 years. Maybe 4 cups total a decade. Which I think for that model we've been working under is still very good, it doesn't meet my ambitions but then again I once wanted to be the first 12 year-old to singled handedly win the world cup, but I think its realistic and a hell of a lot more than most get.

If we continue footballing wise as we have this season, (which is dramatic but possible) we sink out of the top 4 consistently and IF the financial investment is cutback accordingly we will be a top six team that get CL football twice every 5 years or so which is still a hell of lot better than most teams.

But those are two possibilities I think are likely. One of which I've been psychologically beaten into believing is our best case scenario.

Forget about being a PSG, Chelsea or City. We'll never be a United, Barca or Madrid without a competitor in the box seat and we might complain about their resources but they are clubs that made their own fortune.

12 Dec 2014 22:04:50
PS
We're a club that's making some one else's fortune

Arsene said 'don't judge me on a game but on the season'.
Therefore if his performance is 4th or below & no cup he under his own rule failed.
So the only the CL cup & or FA cup & 3rd is acceptable.
If we do not achieve that does he then accept a judgement of failure & resign?

{Ed025's Note - your setting the bar very high there sagalout..

Thanks for the answers lads personally I thought 3rd was ours to lose at the start of the season as I'm realistic enough to know we can't close the gap between us chavs and city over a summer and 3rd would be a step in the right direction despite not signing players for the positions most people on here and pundits agreed we needed.
It just feels like I'm swimming against the tide and out of step with the whole clubs ethos in thinking 4th is not acceptable season after season.
I'm not asking for dominance or even saying we should win titles I just want to be considered a serious threat in the title race and in head to heads with the big boys again

13 Dec 2014 00:06:04
Totally agree with last post G62.

Hi Ed 025 I think Arsene is setting the bar he is asking to be judged on his seasons performance.
As I have posted before as a Rep for major blue chip companies I was judged every month! On 1 company I was employed by it was on today's values around the £25 mill range I ran a business much like a manager does if I didn't hit set targets I was out!
This is the team & club he has created with his values, he must compete with his competitors.
If he is to be judged at the end of the season what are the targets he has set to meet? Has he come out & told us? How are we set to judge whether he has succeeded?
4th has always been his base line so improvement must be above that otherwise there has been no improvement.
Last season we won the FA cup 1st in a long time he must at least achieve that to be at the same level.
If that is achieved then despite a massive investment there has been no improvement.
That is failure in any other business terms.

{Ed025's Note - its hard to compare business and sport sagalout, i personally think you will make top 4, but the cups are a lottery, arsene must know the team are a couple short to compete at the highest level, so if he does not add in january he is playing russian roulette for me, and if things go tits up he may well have to fall on his sword mate..

12 Dec 2014 18:18:48
Guarantee debuchy faces a set back over xmas.
Rushed back, forced to play, no alternative.
Like theo last year

{Ed025's Note - are you playing santa this year AG?.. :)

12 Dec 2014 19:16:26
AG,

Does that stand for Always Griping?

PS, only joking mate. Tbf, you make a fair point.

12 Dec 2014 17:04:12
No Ramsey tomorrow.

Jeez, are our players made of porcelain?

I played schoolboy footy, Saturday footy and Sunday league footy, never once picked up an injury, apart from when I burnt my hand on my half time ciggie :-)

Bunch of overpaid tarts.

It's just getting ridiculous. Right when he was showing some good form as well. Some suggestion he's going to be out for a while too.

I used to play 5 a side on a Sunday eve, tore my ankle ligaments on 20 plus occasions and went in goal to finish the game, then played the following Sunday with a strap on (my ankle before you ask).

Doesn't make it right though as I can hardly walk now!

Shankly refused to speak to injured players and when he saw them on the treatment table he would stop have a chat with the physio and just give the player a cold stare on the way out of the room and mutter something like coward as he left :-)
I can't remember which player said this about him but he said players would try and hide their injuries rather than have shank's think badly of them, how things have changed

12 Dec 2014 18:23:19
337,
you are a tart as well lol.

G62,
they don't make 'em like Shanks anymore.

12 Dec 2014 18:51:15
In school we had a "rule" called INDACORNNERRR!

Wherein if the ball was kicked into the far corner of the court (it was a court) we'd all run in a kick the holy heaven out of one another.

The teacher never stopped it because there'd be up to 50 of us rootin' at one another for a solid 2mins.

Didn't like a lad INDACORNNERRR!
Liked a bird
INDACORNNERRR!
Bored of the match
INDACORNNERRR!

And none of missed the next class through "injury" :P

{Ed025's Note - was your school approved sheeny?.. :)

12 Dec 2014 19:19:44
There's a rumour ED025 was always INDACORNNERRR.

Normally with a pointy hat with a 'D' on it.

lol, love you really Edward

{Ed025's Note - i was always in the corner dags...of the bike sheds with a bird.. :)

12 Dec 2014 20:45:16
I used to love school football 20 v 20, I suffered a lot of injuries indacornnerrr, 3 broken fingers and a broken ankle to name a couple.
But now it's all health and safety, not a clue why:) now I only have to get out of bed, and I've got more injuries then diaby.

12 Dec 2014 19:58:59
Dress rehearsal for the Southern Comfort ad's heh Ed? lol

{Ed025's Note - my apprenticeship..

13 Dec 2014 00:00:58
Haha ed my school wouldn't be approved for a loan!

{Ed007's Note - I'm sure Ed025 was in the navy so there's more chance of him being 'in the barrel' than in a corner. (Google it).}

14 Dec 2014 13:53:28
Very good ED7. Dags take notes :P

12 Dec 2014 12:07:15
I can't believe Wenger has just said that we don't need to sign anyone in the window, unless Koscielny's injury persists.
This has to be a ploy to keep fans expectations down or give the impression to teams that we may purchase from, that we won't be held to ransom.
The least we need is a centre back & defensive midfield player.

Sounds like a ploy in a lot of ways - and a wise one, at that - but there's no denying that Wenger pretty much point blank refuses to be held to ransom so that's what always makes January moves seem unlikely. this has got worse too now that Man U have started to throw money at every problem and even at things that aren't a problem (see: signing an injured Falcao) so the chances of being outbid by another potential suitor are sadly just increasing

I don't think players will go cheap anymore, madrid are to blame for this, the rest are just playing the same game, as its now a norm.

smashing the record on ronaldo and bale and then barca with suarez and neymar shows how crazy the game has become.

sanchez has been a bargain if you look at the last 5 years. proven quality.

if we do look to add a player this summer again it will either be 2-3 players, a defender with immense potential, a DM with immense potential and possibly a GK.

The only players I would like us to target again not saying we can afford them but atleast try persuade them to consider us would be Dyabala and pogba but considering they will cost 100 mill or more it would be insane.

but pogba in the middle and a decent defender with immense potenial and we should be good to go on another run, barring injuries we can contend. stay within striking distance of top placed teams and with 10 games to go, some sort of inspirational motivational talkto win it all.

"don't need to" doesn't mean won't. He will try his best to get what he wants without paying inflated prices, just wait and see.

12 Dec 2014 16:53:06
Robbie,
I think Wenger is just playing his cards close to his chest.

That said, if he doesn't sign anybody, I will lose what little faith I have in him.

How often does Wenger buy in Jnauary

P.S Dags

Diaby will be a new signing

12 Dec 2014 18:27:14
Bambam,

you could be right mate.

12 Dec 2014 11:29:03
I think a massive clear out in the summer would be very healthy for the younger players at the club.
Saying a big thank you to players like Arteta Flamini Diarby Rosicky Monreal Poldolski and replacing them with not only better players but also where possible players with a winning mentality, players who have won big trophies and still have a hunger for more.
Just one or two players who are very vocal and who want and expect medals every bit as much as money would do the likes of Jack Ox Aaron Gnarby etc future no harm at all.
Bringing back that winning mentality would give the whole club a lift from the very top to the very bottom.

Just to add Poldolski loves to tweet and post a selfie with all the rich and famous he can get close to
Sanchez loves to stay behind for extra training
Who's the best example for our youngsters on and off the pitch.
Love Poldolski anti spurs tweets but they shouldn't make him a hero above what he efforts puts in on the pitch and training ground

Gunner62 you are talking about a big facelift, are you willing to take a few steps back to do this because these changes involve risk - is it worth missing the CL a couple of years to come back with a new golden generation?

You want to get rid of Podolski because he tweets too much? What a joke. I'm sure tweeting doesn't affect his performance and training. I think he deserves a transfer if he won't get more playing time. He's too good to sit on the bench.

We have 7 defenders (counting Bellerin) and you want to get rid of the one who's probably saved our asses multiple times because of his versatility? Monreal is a fine lb who gets ridiculously unfair criticism. Superb against Southampton yet no one notices. At times he's been our best defender this season. You can't expect him to be convincing at cb but he's played well enough to give us a chance. There should be no one going out and at least one cb coming in.

I have mixed feelings about Arteta. I think he as well has performed well at times but he's been injured a lot. He's still our leader and captain so maybe one more year as a squad player? We'll need to sign 3-4 players anyway so stability is what we want (look at Liverpool).

If that's what it took yes please Rooster, I don't believe it has to be that way but if so bring it on.
Better to take a few beatings fighting your way to the very top than to be pretender who's allowed to sit with the big boys but has no say in the big decisions.
Sitting back and appreciatively accepting forever Fourth is no way forward for Arsenal football club, we may at present not be the best team but we should forever strive to be

{Ed025's Note - the problem as i see it G62, would be that a gamble where there is little chance of a CL place would be detrimental to the progress the side mate..

I want to get rid of poldolski not because of how much he tweets but because of how little effort he puts in on the pitch.
If he put in half the effort of Sanchez and Ox he'd be a regular starter we'd have trouble keeping hold of him and he could tweet all he liked for all I care.
All tweet no effort = a :-( G62

Dunno why we need to replace flamini and arteta? Surely it would be more productive to get rid of flamini and bring in someone younger/better than arteta to fight him for the spot? I bet transfer discussions pre-fifa and FM were a lot more rational.

I agree Lemon, I am a big Arteta supporter and basically in line with you. Flamini for me can stay, he can play the cups, come in when we are ahead and also with all our injuries, he is a pretty decent 3rd choice LB or RB.

Starting in the CL or against a top half premiership team, as our destroyer DM, not so much. Still like him.

Ed I'm not talking about getting rid of 8 ok players and bringing in only 2 quality players I would replace the 8 with 5 of the best players I could get my hands on two of which would ideally be very vocal players to get everyone going.
The one thing all five would have to have is a strong winning mentality where 4th was failure year after year and not acceptable to them no matter how much we paid them.
Winning is habit and a mind set we have lost

12 Dec 2014 00:59:01
Any chance of us signing Schneiderlin? I would really love to have him, as I think that he would fit perfectly.
Joshuafish

I have a feeling January will be a very frustrating transfer window. Unless players are in the last year of a deal, the clubs tend to try and hold onto them or ask for absurd transfer fees.
I don't think we have a chance of signing Schneiderlin in this window. We may be able to sign the likes of Van Dijk & Mings, if we pay around £10m per player.
In order to tempt Southampton to sell Schneiderlin, it would probably take a fee in the region of £25m, the same goes for Sissoko at Newcastle. More likely would be Cabaye. Although, I would prefer wither of the other two players I mentioned, as they are younger and taller.

12 Dec 2014 08:10:04
Ronald Koeman has said Schneiderlin won't be leaving in January.

As you are well aware Dags we will not be signing anyone significant in January. Who would you, as an Arsenal realist be happy with us signing to get us through to the summer? I suggested John Obi Mikel and got slated. Who is better out there to sign in January?

{Ed025's Note - than john obi mikel....carlton palmer?..

Do you do nothing or the best you can in the circumstances you face?
Curtis Davis or Vincent Kompany? Sadly Kompany is not going to happen! So what next
Curtis Davis or Monreal from January to May should Kos be out again?
My point is just because you can't get the car you want at the exact time you want it doesn't mean you have to hitch hike every where.
Oh by the way I like Monrealhes a 100% tryer even if he ain't good enough he gives all he has to give and you can't ask for more than that from anyone

{Ed025's Note - 100% effort is a fine thing G62 but it can only take you so far mate, to compete at the top level you need quality..

I agree to an extent 62. We need to bring in top players, we know that. But that can only be done in July which we also know. So why not bring in a decent stop gap to aid our fight for the Champions league spots in January? Because if we have no CL in 2015 then we get no top players, limited resources and we take the biggest step back we have taken since 2004. We must invest but invest wisely, invest with a purpose and invest in a squad which reflects our ambitions whatever they may be.

{Ed025's Note - a very churchill like war cry there VDG.. :)

Totally agree Ed and in my own complicated way that's half the point I was trying to make, I like his effort but not his limited ability as with many others who if they ain't bgood enough now they will be.
Davis would be no ones first chioce for Arsenal but he would improve our defence as we stand and is a lot better cb than Monreal

{Ed025's Note - i think he is too G62..

12 Dec 2014 10:19:55
VDG,

This doesn't exactly answer your question but, I feel we missed out big time in not getting Diane, a bargain at £3.5m, who Hull snapped up, and bringing back Alex Song on loan from Barca.

Either of them would have improved us.

{Ed025's Note - was,nt it the bachelors who sang "my diane"?.. :)

Mikel is awful

I think that's the key word Dags improvement and Song/Diame would have deffinately improved us .
Ideally I'd have gone for Alonso/Song or Alonso/Diame last summer but would have settled for Song/Diame gladly if need be

Winston Reed anyone? Sam said he won't be leaving for less than 20 Million but his contract is up in the Summer and that decision would be taken out of his hands. Quality IMO

12 Dec 2014 16:19:08
Ooppss, sorry Ed.

Stupid keyboard, I meant Diame :-)

Agree G62.

JKG, Reid is a damn fine player, would take him any day.

11 Dec 2014 23:55:30
Arsene Wenger sings "Let it Go" - Cesc Fabregas edition

watch it, it's hilarious XD

Thanks for sharing this Bdg, brilliant :-)

{Ed025's Note - that is brilliant..

12 Dec 2014 17:09:20
Love it :-)

Top song, LET IT GO NOW!

{Ed025's Note - the song never bothered me anyway..

11 Dec 2014 23:00:31
Gents - need to get at least 3 (4 if possible) tickets for a home game as desperate to take my boys to their first match.

Had emirates cup tickets but couldn't go due to a family issue - any ideas where to get these at a reasonable price?

cheers

12 Dec 2014 00:10:52
Lol arsenal tickets at a reasonable price? Your having a laugh ain't ya? 😋

Promise that's my last message till Xmas lads, I will leave u again, just can't resist an open goal lol.

Seriously though mate I hope u can get sorted.

True, would settle for face value!

12 Dec 2014 08:12:35
Lol Chris,

You crack me up :-)

Hit the post on that open goal CR, the reason our tickets are top money is because we sell out at top money! Just because you can only fill your ground if the tickets are cheaper than a meat pie

{Ed025's Note - there are only actually 17 people from manchester who have season tickets...the rest are glory hunters..

Wasted their money then this season and last season ed, not much glory there!

{Ed025's Note - not all hunters bag a deer 337..