Arsenal Banter Archive April 14 2013

14 Apr 2013 22:46:51
can I just say it was lovely to see the joy and celebration of Ox when he assisted the own goal / Giroud goal. the boy was exstatic, remember him getting slated for not cheering when on the bench (cant remember what game) whilst jenks was jumping for joy.
Neelg3

14 Apr 2013 21:01:10
Two years ago I said Gotze to Arsenal and it never happened. Last year I say this year it will happen. It never happened.

I see now tv are rumour milling it, and I am still hopeful this deal will happen. But if it doesn't happen this season then I doubt it ever will.

Gotze to Arsenal in the summer. And not before time too!

CS

14 Apr 2013 20:04:26
do you really think capoue is the right man for our club? he's behind Diaby in the french national team and I think he'd be a squad player at Arsenal. Not starting XI material.

Opinions?

Jack

No I don't wanyama is the man for us I live in Scotland (I know the spl is so far behind pl) he is a beast very calm on the ball great range of passing & he takes no rubbish! Just does his job plain and simple unlike song! Would love him to be our dm

-Homesick-

14 Apr 2013 18:27:45
Anybody else think that the reason Vermaelan doesn't perform is due to him playing with Koscielny who s effectively a right version clone of him and the reason Kos plays so well is because he plays with Mertesacker who balances it out and makes the defence a lot more assuring? I think that Vermaelan would be best playing with Mertesacker. In the summer I hope we sign a similar player to Mertesacker as I think he is holding the defence together every time he plays

Vermaelen got dropped for koscienly.

remember the 2-1 defeat to spurs he and mert were shocking

14 Apr 2013 15:56:16
can the emirates capacity ever be increased?

paul

Yes. By 10-12. 5k I think. Someone here actually stated that we wre actually looking to built a 72k stadium but were refused planning permission.

Hackney Gooner

It can be expanded by reducing the space between seats, filling in the corner gaps or replacing the current roof with a 3rd tier and building a new roof.

All possible when the waiting list for a season ticket has tens of thousands of people on it. The drawback is with the transport links, they would have to be improved to handle to extra numbers passing through {Ed027's Note - Spot on

We also have a lot of space around the pitch.
Notice how at old Trafford there isn't much room around the pitch.

Nick.

There's not that much room around the pitch only really on the west stand side but the space is used for managers area and subs warming up

14 Apr 2013 15:21:09
I honestly do believe, and before I say anything I think I've made it obvious i'm an admirer of podolski, that if Podolski played down the middle for the majority of this season we wouldn't be battling for top four, we'd be guaranteed it and dare I say it I think we'd be above man city. We really do have a gem of a player on our disposal, but we're not using him to our advantage. If poldi starts every gem from now till end of season we'll win every match.

CheetahChaz97

Spot on!

Even though I agree, in spite of all this i'd rather leave it to the other players if this injury business is to be believed, and make sure we have a fully fit from surgery Podolski at our disposal next season.

Dead right. if you see the genuine pleasure podolski gets when he scores and the reaction of the other players I think he is a big part of our future. WEnger is no-ones fool and if he actually had the choice of playing him a lot more he definitely would. next season he will be the one to watch - lots of great goals.

exiled clockender

Heard rumours of him leaving but its sounds like total nonsense. You can tell he loves it here and if it wasnt for injury I think he would have played more as a striker and scored even more goals. Considering the amount he's played he has done well and it bodes well for next season.

14 Apr 2013 13:23:13
How long is mertesacker suspended for is he back for everton?



SM1996

14 Apr 2013 12:46:41
i feel the way to make podolski play best is play him in a false number 9 role in a 4-3-3 and have him play balls to the wingers who cut inside it would be perfect for us because he's such a dangerous player giving him the freedom would make him nearly impossible to mark, i'd have the team like this
gk= szcezny
defence= Jenkinson, koscielny, vermalen, monreal
Midfield, wanyanama, wilshere and cazorla in a more advanced role
attack the ox on the left podolski centre and right wing Lamela, overall we would spend, 15 to 20 on wanyanama and 15-20 on Lamela. with the wingers cutting inside we would be any teams nightmare and I feel we could make a title push

Sorry for the long post

Bergkamp5353

A false 9 usually involves playing a central attacking midfielder or playmaker in the striker role so that they can drop deep into midfield to create problems for opposing defenders as they are not sure whether to follow him and leave space in behind or to leave them with time and space to pick out a pass. If podolski was to play striker in a 4-3-3 he would probably be more of a conventional striker where as someone like cazorla at striker would be a false 9. Hope this helps

GTID

Thanks I just think if he was given a free role and the front 3 changed positions throughout the time we could play any one and cause havoc.

We done have players who are smart enough. only poldi and cazorla do that and giroud sometimes on the wing.

walcott always ends up in the middle when he should be on the wing. same with gervinho. no vision.

14 Apr 2013 11:36:52
That penalty is certainly a big talking point and as Arsenal fans we will be somewhat bias, but I fail to see how a blatant shirt pull inside the box isn't a foul. I can understand if Norwich fans and Chris Houghton were aggrieved by the fact it wasn't a corner in the first place (let's be honest) but it's hard to argue with the pen decision.

Norwich committed more cheating offences throughout the game away. Johnson was determined to break Sagna's leg again and Kamara did a horrific dive resulting in the free kick they scored from. Don't even get me started on Holt. Time wasting by kicking ball out of Ramseys and Koscielnys hands as they were bout to take throw ins, how was this nit picked up on? Nothing would satisfy me more than to plant on in Grant Holts face, what a terrible professional.

Well it was 3 points for the better team. We created far many more chances, Podolski and Giroud were unlucky not to get braces and Gervinhio missed an open net. Not much to comment on no-one really had a great game. Ox changed the game when he came on, we need another winger like him.

Everton will be a tough game on Tuesday, they still have CL football to play for. Apart from Baines their back four are quite slow. I think a front 3 of Walcott, Podolski, Ox would be the way to go. Cazorla is clearly best in the free role. I suspect Wilshere will play but I think he should be rested. Unchanged defence and keeper is likely.

Next 3 games will be tough. If we can get 7 points I'd be satisfied. Fulham are no mugs at home and United will be tough. If Fabianski, Vermaelen and Cazorla on particular have great games I can't see why we won't win all 3.

Detriot Gooner

14 Apr 2013 10:50:24
Ed002 this question isn't strictly Arsenal related so hopefully you can answer it. Do you think that in a few years all the major clubs will be playing in a European 'Super League' and if so how do you think it would be structered?

Thanks a lot

Invincible49 {Ed002's Note - As a special treat. Without going in to too much detail: (a) A number of clubs take the opportunity a once or twice a year to discuss various issues including changes in rules, television rights, the power of UEFA, exploitation issues for new technology streams, etc.. These discussions, the last of which were in late August, also always turn to the possibility and structure of a breakaway pan European league. Several are ex-G14 clubs, several are not, and some clubs decline involvement in such discussions. (b) The plan is that at some point a number of clubs would break away from their national leagues and UEFA. They accept that they would be banned from all existing club competition and the players would initially be banned from all FIFA competitions as well, but know that FIFA would be looking to negotiate in any case. It would be the end of UEFA in all probability and UEFA are very aware of this. It would also result in a restructuring of many of the national leagues. (c) The clubs would renegotiate their television rights, rights of distribution via other streams etc.. (d) It remains the greatest fear of UEFA and all major national authorities that one day this will happen.

There is every likelihood that the big money from television, sponsorship etc. would go with a breakaway league. It would completely rupture the operations of UEFA and I would expect it would require national associations like the FA to restructure their leagues. Nobody wants this but it is the eventual consequence I would expect. If I had to speculate, I would think (1) you might eventually see something like five or six EPL teams leave for two-tier pan European league; (2) the Premier League would be disbanded as an organisation; (3) the FA would restructure in to two 20 team divisions with lower leagues regionalised as they were many years ago; (4) FIFA would ban all players from the breakaway teams from International football - perhaps rescinding that position to stop FIFA breaking up as well. I could also see many teams lose their professional status. I would think we are probably 10 years away from any significant move at this time.

I hold a reasonably strong view in terms of the need to restructure football in Europe in any case. For me an eventual a breakaway pan-European league would force the restructuring of many of the national leagues, possibly resulting in a British league with perhaps only a couple of professional tiers and then regionalised amateur leagues below that. Financially I do not see that so many pro sides can be sustained within the sport which, like it or not, will see more and more money going in to the highest levels of the game. Governments will ensure that grassroots sport get funding but everything in the middle (Southern, Northern, Conference, Division 2, Scottish Divisions 1-3, League of Wales will not get the funding needed to continue on any sort of professional basis.}

Wow that's fascinating but imagine how difficult it would be for away fans to go to every game.

Thanks for the special treat Ed

Invincible49

It wouldn't happen. If every away game, was a trip to spain/germany/holland/france - people couldn't afford it. Alternatively, people CAN afford it, but they are a large reason why the emirates is as dead as a dodo.

Thinking outside the box a bit. I could see a 64 team European tournament during the summer months the way the World Cup and Euros work.

Obviously there would have to be restructuring of many domestic leagues to ensure there is no disruption for leagues that don't start/end around the same time.

I could see the domestic football being played to a close. Bear in mind the domestic football fixture list would be significantly condensed via the absence of European football during the season.

A break of a month or two. Then the European tournament beginning. European Champions crowned ready for the next seasons football.

Obviously for this to work International football would have to take a backseat, leaving players to pull double duty every four years abolishing the Euros. Less domestic fixtures, and this could work, and in my opinion would be much more exciting. The whole season would build to see who qualifies then an exciting wait to find out who the champions would be.

I just feel with the commerce in football now this is the way we are headed. Or something like it. Less time spent in 'off-seasons'. The amount of pre-season football we get at the minute says it all. More and more every year.

I just think eventually club football will overtake international football because of the money in it. I mean there are plenty who could care less about international football. I love the World Cup and think it should stay. But the Euros and all the rest ACN etc I have no interest in.

There are massive hurdles with this but I think it would be much better.

14 Apr 2013 19:25:27
I doubt a super league of the top clubs would break away. I heard they were planning to join the Champions league and Europa league because nobody cares about Europa and everyone fields weaker teams.

Morning
hi ed002, nice to see you here.
i was on the spudettes site,
wow, some of the posts were so bad. abusive: (: (
anyway, just so you know, appreciate you here!
anyway,,, hm afraid I cany see any spudettes from up here:) oh:) because we're aboye you's! mind the gap:):)
COYG! andi {Ed002's Note - It was a single potentially violent, racist homophobe. The sort of person football has been driving out of the game since the 70s. It is no more than co-incidental he says he is a Spurs supporter.}

14 Apr 2013 09:09:58
Guys thanks for the replies to my 8:40pm post last night. I finally got home at 9:50 after a 14 hour round trip day lol

Anyway that journey doesn't make me a better or worse supporter than any one else. It just shows my love and commitment for the club in that I make the effort

UlIm not going to talk about what makes a good or bad supporter as I'm sure we all have our own equally justifiable ways of measurig that but I wanted to reply to a couple of very good points made in reply to my 8:40 post

Our away support is undeniably phenomenal but our home support is patchy and I wondered why? The only reason I have is that the ratio of supporters to 'customers' is different

The vast majority of people who travel with the club are vocal supporters who will shout cheer and encourage their heads off for the whole game (and for. Lot much longer too lol) so they get places rocking

At home there's a much higher proportion of customers who turn up to sit in their nice padded seats and wait for the players to entertain them. Those people simply are not football fans and they do not understand the role and involvement of spporting like the away fans do

We're not alone with this issue. Man United have even employed acoustics engineers to improve the noise at their place. The problem is that clubs like our and Man United have been tasken away from the true supporters and moved into the arena where customers are encouraged.

The other good point is that no stadium has ever created a noise or atmosphere - that's done by the supporters inside. Norwich out sang us at times yesterday and even sang 'we forgot you were here' to us at one stage

I hate Stoke but that's because going there is not a pleasant experience. Their fans make the place more daunting. The reason is they have a lot less customers and a lot more supporters. For good reason they don't turn up to sit in their posh seat and expect to see things go their way - they support their team and try to help the players make things go their way - I've experienced the same at Swansea, Sunderland, Wigan, Villa, Blackburn and other place over recent years

Their home supportatmosphere is better because a higher percentage of people are supporters and they have much less customers waiting to be entertained

So cmon. Every home game let's rock the stadium to its foundations just like I know the away support will do. Its Everon first up and that's a massive game. If they beat us they're a point behind us so let's make the place (in the correct way) intimidating and let's get behind the team

Let's make the customers feel embarrassed and show them what it is to truly be a supporter and make our club as renowned for its home support as it is for the away support

COYG

Agree with this post completely when I go to the emirates with my mate whos got season tickets the person next to him literally reads a book at times! And often leaves at half time.

These are the kind of people you don't want wasting seats. that's what happens when tickets are as expensive as they are.

That's Champagne Charlie reading AW's life story, he leaves at half time to be sick!

14 Apr 2013 08:36:30
The Podolski goal shows why we need to play him slightly behind Giroud with his movement and clinical finishing he could bag 15goals+ a season along with Giroud's link up play I think we will be okay with the midfielders and wingers doing the creating and Podolski and Giroud with the final product and we could be a force as strong as any

To win the league and compete next season we need more, (at least 20 points more ) and that in my opinion is with a Manchester United team that is not near the quality of the past.

When are we going to wake up and see we need to strenghen with real quality in all positions and give the players we have now something to fight for.

Shaneyd

United like most clubs has only 3-4 top quality players. It's fergie managing the club around those which take real quality

14 Apr 2013 06:53:49
All this controversy over the penalty. i've been saying forever that yellow cards should be dished out EVERY TIME a shirt is pulled PERIOD!.

think about it. its football. you're not supposed to use your hands for ANYTHING, (except throwins and goalie use) you can use your arms/shoulders for barging on 50/50 balls and as leverage when jumping for headers. you get my point. but pulling on opponents shirts is just simply NOT PART OF THE SPORT. refs should just strictly dish out yellows for this. its the only way to stop it from happening.

let me ask you this. how is slowing a player down by tripping them any different from slowing him down by pulling back on his shirt? the bottom line is that you are beat and now using a cheat method to slow your opponent down.

what do you guys think?

I think your right. But yesterday shows how scared refs are of making those decisions. It took the assistant from 40 yards as opposed to the ref who was 10 yards from the incident. So making it an instant yellow card offence won't change much in my opinion. The refs will still bottle it.

14 Apr 2013 02:05:17
Some of you Arsenal fans that gives stick to Ramsey for having strings of bad games, where are yaaaa? Quick to lose your patience with him, but can't compliment him when he is putting in shifts of quality and hard work.

I always said that if Ramsey stops the superfluous tricks and passes and keeps it simple, he'll show you what Wenger saw when he first came to the club. He is utter quality on his day, but always gives 110% for the crest, even if he isn't having a stellar game. A mark of a cult hero for us fans.

Some of you Ramsey haters are a joke.

TOP GOON

Sorry!

Still not the top draw quality we need to compete.

Shaneyd

14 Apr 2013 13:08:43
He might not be the top quality of first 11 yet of the likes of Gotze and Isco or Toni Kroos, but he could be as long as he is played consistently. You name me other players in the Arsenal side apart from Jenkinson and Wilshere when fit that puts in as much hard work as he does.

Also, is it his fault that we don't have the quality to fill that role? In our squad who would be better in his position? Coquelin? Definitely not technically better than Ramsey and not as good of a passer.

Now he is putting in a good quality strings of games to his name he should be credited. IMO he should be on his way to being a cult hero amongst all us gooners.

Those gooner out there that were hating on Rambo, ought to come out and praise his recent performances. If Rambo has one bad game, the insults will come rolling in. But, if Jack Wilshere has a bad game, we forget about it and make excuses. Enough of these double standards, be objective. Don't try and defend your favourite player or "saviour" whilst you continue to use another player as a scape goat because obviously you will not be seen as ever being an objective fan and to me your statements will mean nothing as its so biased.

TOP GOON

I'm coming round to Ramsey's place in the line-up. His commitment and energy since the turn of the year has vastly improved. A couple of goals would help him "kick on ". His biggest failing for me is the constant 360 degree turns. It slows down the pattern of play. I find it irritating and wish he could develop the peripheral vision that Jack seems to have! Hope he really comes good.

14 Apr 2013 01:04:44
The most realistic Arsenal transfer targets for the summer is d one I saw on prisonerofclass football section

1. Jovetic (depends on UCL)

2. Fernando Amorebieta (free transfer, to replace Squillaci & Djourou)

3. Antoine Griezman (Soceidad, if we don't get UCL or we get priced out of Jovetic)

4. Lars Bender/Capoue/Maxime Gonalons

5. Valdes/J. Ceaser

13 Apr 2013 23:55:43
why on earth did wenger dropped moneral? Gibbs was horrible! I guess bar has been raised and Gibbs can only be cover for LB position.

mohag gunner! {Ed027's Note - Everton on Tuesday

Thanks Ed to this reply to the plastic gooner who doesn't know its own fixtures. i'm sure podolski, wilshere and walcott will all start on tuesday as well