Arsenal Banter Archive February 15 2014

15 Feb 2014 22:21:06
So want us to turn up tomorrow and put a decent performance in and progress to the QF of FA Cup. It's up for grabs! COYG

15 Feb 2014 21:04:29
Lpool fan in peace here guys, can see ozil coming under a bit of stick lately, my 2pence worth is a good saying "Form is temporary class is permanent" which I think some up ozils time with yas, hope for a good game tomorrow I'm going for a 2 1 win for Lpool, with sas to steal the game

Evening Kirkbyjohn,

I kind of feel a little bit guilty because I think I started all this Ozil talk, lol.

Good point though mate, class is permanent.

2-1 Liverpool? nah, 2-1 Arsenal mate, hopefully.

Suarez can't score against good teams, so is that a sturridge brace on the cards

DG imho, the stick he had been getting wasn't started by you. It was the media. He had a very poor match against Liverpool but see that game again. He is a player who looks forwards, a true attacker. When he lost the ball, he failed to protect the ball. I know, but was there any player making the run in space to receive it? No, same goes for Sagna, no player gave him that option to move forward. We were down 2-0 and I would ave been furious if we just keep passing the ball in our own half.

Hi Cannon,

You are correct my friend but I think I started the post on here to say I expected more from him. I know the media has been giving him stick but I kind of stuck the boot in, so to speak.

The media is quick to get on our backs seriously.
My post isn't getting posted. zzz. Anyone from Cranford area?

15 Feb 2014 19:40:58
Hi Ed we haven't had a poll for a while so pretty please with sugar on top

Could we have two
1 would you take Van persie back next season
2 would you buy Ozil again tomorrow for £42 million.

Two subjecs that have been mentioned a lot on here lately so it would be interesting to see what the % are either way in a a yes/ no question.

{Ed001's Note - done for you:
http://www.arsenalrumours.co.uk/poll49.html
http://www.arsenalrumours.co.uk/poll50.html
I thought an undecided on Van Persie would make an interesting option, as sometimes people just aren't sure until they see where the club finishes.}

Good questions G62,

I just voted yes for both, lol

Thank you Ed 001 really appreciate what all the ed's do and how quickly you in particular did this for us.very much appreciated

{Ed001's Note - no worries mate, if there is one of us about we are happy to do it. Polls intrigue me, well when the question is a good one, to see what the majority think. Always fascinating to see if most people see it the way you do.}

15 Feb 2014 19:32:11
Did Chelsea win Jose? Failure.

Lol Robbie

15 Feb 2014 17:26:08
Liverpool fan here. Firstly just wanna say the banter between the two pages have been brilliant really enjoy reading the posts on our page dags especially you get everyone's reply and open up a great discussion. So I've got a question:

If Wenger gets you 4th place again with nothing else but with the points still being close would you want a change in manager?

Decent question that mate, if there were less that 4 or 5 points between top and 4th it would seem silly to do that.
But what ever happens Arsene has to spend this summer and on quality players to survive much longer

15 Feb 2014 18:12:22
Hi Redtwist,

Personally I'll be sick to my stomach if fourth is all we achieve but by the same token this season fourth will actually be no mean feat.

It's a proper title race and not like last seasons give away title.

So no I wouldn't want a change of manager but I'd want Arsene to buy the right players in the summer and then really see what he can produce next season.

There will be nothing to save him if he doesn't produce then and I would wonder how he would feel himself if fourth was our lot this year.

Yes. Its all a bit ground hog day if that is the case.

Hi RedTwist, and welcome.

Good question mate. Personally I would give Arsene another season, at least.

Since the move from Highbury to the Emirates he has had to operate with certain financial restrictions to pay for the stadium and the interest.

Im not a financial expert but I believe we have had to sell some of our best players to help finance the upgrade.

Our financial situation is now a lot healthier and we have been able to keep hold of our best players and secure the services of ozil for £42m.

Basically, Wenger has had his hands tied behind his back for a few seasons but now he can express himself more and secure more quality signings.

I believe he has earned the right to stay on for another year or so, hence the contract.

If we finish fourth with 14 pts more than last season (on current pace). Would be harsh to change the manager if that was the case. But so much to play for, we don't know what this season says about all contenders yet.

15 Feb 2014 15:24:05
Bit of controversy. Need an answer a friend asked me this. Now we are, I suppose, halfway through the season and you were now asked to pay for Ozil would you NOW be happy to pay £42 million for him
Honest answers only please. The question is about whether we now believe he is worth £42 million on his performance up to now.

No comment, lol.

Cracking question goldboy!

For me, NO, however he showed us early on that he can be a world class player it seems that he has 'fallen off the horse' recently and needs to get back in the saddle very quickly.

Everybody knows that the EPL is one of the hardest leagues in the world and usually it takes a season for new players to settle in.

Would we have valued Suarez at 40m plus 2 seasons ago? Was JW10 looking like a word class player earlier this year? Did Ramsey look like a world beater last season? Cazorla looked like a bargain last season but the first half of this season looked awful.

My only hope is Ozil can find his form, but whilst he is finding it he needs to show us fans that he is trying his hardest and his body language and effort are not showing that.

I'll throw a curve ball. What we have seen since his move would you pay 37 for mata. I think both players will grow into what we know they can do and the teams are better suited after summer to their strengths.

No pre season, no winter break, acclimatising to a new team and league, most assists in world football last year and a brilliant track record both domestically and internationally ummmmm yes! The fact that he has had a different midfield trio every game since Rambo got injured is another factor as he looked to be building a great relationship on the field with him and Flam until that aswell. 100% think he is worth it!

Yes I would, because the talent is there and he is 24.

We have only see glimpses of him this season- time will tell us, but I firmly believe he will come good and best is yet to come imho.

15 Feb 2014 17:46:58
Worth every penny and will no doubt help attract other players to us in the summer.

I would remember why we all got so excited in August and think of what I know of Ozil over the last few years and not judge him on the last 6 months alone and pay what it took to get him at the time.
Friends do ask some strange questions, let's hope Draxler doesn't ask Ozil how forgiving are the Arsenal fans of a/slow start from a big money signing

Scores the winner against us or bayern, PRICELESS lol (that's for you dags ha ha) ;-)

Worth it for me. his world class shows, just needs a run of form, or the correct players around him.

If we want to win big trophies we need to build around him.

Thank you Simonpw, I love the sound of that mate, lol

I think he needs a bit of time to acclimatize. Remember Robert pires looked out of his depth in his first season with us and he turned into an absolute legend

Would I pay 42million again for Ozil? Absolutely! The problem is he hasn't really had any luck. I know if Walcot was not injured, he would score hatfuls of goals. Ozil functions best when he has very quick strikers and wingers. The most lethal attribute he has is the final pass at pace. Sadly, Giroud does not have that pace. I can't wait for a game when he operates at AMF with Walcot on one wing, Gnabry on the other and a really clinical striker ahead of him. By that, I mean next season we will really see what he is made of. If we buy a class forward that is

15 Feb 2014 14:53:27
If I read anymore about players that need a break or are tired i'm going to go mad.How much a week are they on for gods sake? Need a break my arse! I know people that are slogging their guts out 60 hours a week to support their family in jobs they hate and are taking home little more than £400 a week. These are the people that need a break. These players had better start getting their finger out of their backside 50, 80, 100 grand a week appearance money, win bonus, percentage of transfer fees, need a break? they need their heads examined that's what they need. More to the point we all need our heads examined as we are the ones that are contributing to it all.

Very very true, I’ve always thought the same, the old favourite gets drawn out their channel boot bag, "well its a short career, they shout from their louboutin heels. that cuts no ice with me either, the majority have a natural talent they are born with. I’d like their lifestyle and wages, no matter how short their career is, get some perspective.

AWF1966 . Exactly mate well said.

Yeah it's quite funny. I know football nowadays is faster and quite demanding but come on, these guys are out there doing what most of us would love to do for a normal wage.

These footballers are much fitter than I ever was. I still managed to train 4 or 5 times a week with gaelic football and football. Played games on a Saturday and a Sunday, sometimes with a game during the week as well, all whilst still at school all day then later holding down a job too.

I'd love the opportunity to play in England, train in the best facilities. Playing against some of the best players in the world, in the league and European cups.

Not to mention the 10's of thousands a week for the pleasure of doing so. I'd say I'm not alone in saying most of the posters here would play for the Arsenal for the same wage you would get working in a blue collar job.

15 Feb 2014 11:18:40
Great piece in Metro this morning regarding, as the paper succinctly puts it, " Mourinho is a spiteful little troll " The stats don't lie, Arsenal under Wenger have won four times as many FA cups as Boreeneo and more Prem titles, these are facts, take this into the game tomorrow those that are going, be the 12 man,
a team needs its supporters, fans stick by the club, through thick and thin, yeah sure, another signing of Ozil magnitude is needed, a few injured players are needed as well Rambo, Theo etc, Be the 12th man
roar the side on, don't play into this spiteful little trolls hands, We are Arsenal.
COYG

15 Feb 2014 12:25:32
Because he was born at an early age and walks with his feet close to the ground he thinks he is different.

If class was measured in dynamite he wouldn't have enough to blow his ears apart.

15 Feb 2014 10:16:50
Liverpool fan here.

Looking forward to the Cup match. Will enjoy the game and hope that the best team wins. Whilst Liverpool will clearly want to win the Cup the priority is clearly top four.

Based on the type of football they have been playing I think Arsenal and Liverpool both deserve top four but you don't always get what you deserve in football.

My question is whilst we should both be looking at being in the mix for the title do you have any nagging doubts about Spurs making top 4. I do not like Levy and his gang and I really don't believe that they shouild be in the top 4 this season but the table does not lie and they are still up close and personal.

Any chance you can set my mind at rest and covince me that they will fall off the pace?

Hope we all enjoy the game tomorrow.

Hi Tommy I think a little while ago it looked pretty much certain they top 3 would fight it out and Liverpool would get 4th, now its not so clear cut.
For your self's its crucial you make the CL to keep Suarez and attract new players who can make you even stronger next season, I think for Liverpool your target has to be get 4th nailed down and if there's games left to play review your target.
For us 4th again would mean, I dread to think

Absolutely agree gunner62 but this season is so crazy that we could finish top or 5th or 6th.

Chelski and Citeh have the biggest squads and will be in the top 4 I think but I really believe Liverpool and Arsenal have played to best football this season and have made more out of their resources.

Whilst the sensible thing would be to take top 4 place now if offered it I would say no and let's play on and see what we can do. We have Citeh Chelski and Spurs all to visit Anfiield so it is in our hands to some degree.

Right now though if I could be guaranteed a win in one of those games it would be the Spurs match.

The bonus this season has been the really poor fist of it that Manchester United are having. Long may it continue.

Good question Tommy,

Personally, I think Tottenham are looking very decent since Sherwood took over. I haven't looked at their remaining fixture list but I know we have to go to WHL soon, so you never know mate.

When you are only 6 or 7 points off top spot, you have always got a chance.

15 Feb 2014 09:24:52
Gooners let's just get behind the team, whatever formation Wenger puts out for the FA cup.
Give them 100% of our support, and hopefully they will get a result over Liverpool (The new critics favorites)

Yes some of the players are tired / jaded, but cheering instead of booing will give certain players more self confidence and the extra few % to get the win we need

But I would not want Wenger to sacrifice the FA Cup for the Champs league, as I think we stand a better chance of winning the FA cup

Well said Highbury Old timer,
Getting behind the team, very important, haven't managed to get to Emirates this season, last season the atmosphere was terse each time I went, I think Wenger has already conceded that we will not win it, so is focusing on other goals and games, I have always disagreed with this policy in general, keep a winning team winning, don’t make changes.

If anyone wants to reply to my post just abbreviate my initials to. H.O.T

H.O.T
Your spot on mate, booing is not acceptable or helpful to the team.
I can understand people being disappointed and not wanting to applaud and cheer that's fine but booing your own team?
Waste of energy, if you feel like that stay away until things pick up

15 Feb 2014 00:04:29
mourinho's comments recently regarding wenger being a failure has angered me, as has the comments made by many fans saying he is right.
I mean yes we haven't won a trophy in 8 years, but its BLATANTLY obvious this has been the result of our new stadium. Which came at the same time when Chelsea got a big wallet, Man United started to spend big, and then city with their money.
The stadium tied arsenal down to a long term loan. This provided wenger with strict budgets, where to be honest he never really spent in transfer windows as we always sold key players before buying.
to those who said it was wenger's decision not to spend, the money was there; really? is that why he sold all his best players? those players he nurtured into top players.
what manager has achieved what wenger has on our budget? Jurgen Klopp maybe? but although he never spent much compared to the likes of Bayern, Chelsea, man city they never had to sell any of their top players to raise funds.
to say wenger is a specialist failure is completely disrespectful, especially considering it was from a guy who second choice to wenger for job as real madrids manager.

A hundred and twenty mil spare cash didn't just appear out of thin air. We've had serious money to spend for three going on four years.
That's 8 transfer windows.

It's totally unacceptable that Giroud is our first choice striker, that we don't have a world class dm or a left winger.

The accounts which are available to all to view will show you that for the last 5 years the CASH available has benn constantly over 100m. The selling of players wasn't entirely needed.
Thierry Henry recently said the reason he left was that the club weren't going in the direction he envisaged. Same as RVP. Maybe if that cash was spent on let's say 4 25mill players things would be different.

Waq1 is correct- although what AG and rocky is saying is also true.

Not saying whether this is right or wrong, but just how it was.

Yes there has been cash, some of it was for contingency (i.e. if there is some sort of disaster/emergency if you like- most businesses have that and its prudent)- so there's that, but they also didn't want to dip into it until more of the loan had been paid off and income had increased (i.e. new sponsorship deals, etc).

An analogy would be like having £5,000 savings in the bank, but you have no job/income- would you splash out thousands of your savings here and there just because its in your account? Or would you spend it wisely and wait for your income to increase? (i.e. it would soon run out, without money coming in)

That was their thinking-again not saying whether its right or wrong.
(clubs finances are more complex than we think, especially if you don't have a "benefactor" and trying to create a self-sustaining business, etc).

It has been an incredibly frustrating time for us, especially in terms of the transfer market, there is no doubt about that and all the while watching other clubs spending- some of those have had success with spending, others not so much.

BUT, we do have money to spend now and I expect to see it used in the summer (frankly IF it isn't used and invested in players then really AW has to go - because there is no reason for him not to use it anymore).

LG as always mate both balanced and fair post.
I agree we have to spend this summer and spend what it takes also even if that means paying 50 mil for a 45 mil player, if that's what it takes so be it.
No more excuses or reasons even, credibility is wafer thin when it comes to missing out in the transfer market already