Arsenal Banter Archive February 18 2014

18 Feb 2014 23:09:37
Greeny and Jenny were posting earlier about team selection for tomorrows game.

I mentioned Cazorla without realising Greeny already named 11 players.

Where am I going with this I hear you asking?

DG's master plan>>>

Because Cazorla is the size of a hobbit, he could run on the pitch at the start dressed as a mascot, preferably holding Meretesacker's hand for dramatic "nobody will notice" effect.

Result?
12 versus 11 and we win the game.

Who's ya daddy?

Why stop there? Just throw Gunnersaurus on up front and pretend he's Giroud. I'm sure the extra height would trouble the Germans!

Hehe don't you just love Gunnersaurus?

18 Feb 2014 20:16:52
If These Rumours Are To Be True About.

Mario Balotelli

Julian Draxler

Paul Pogba

Then We Be Invincible Once Again Next Season

Can Just Imagine Ramsey, Wilshere, Pogba & Cazorla In Midfield With Draxler On Left With The OX Right & Baloteli Up Front

Make's the mouth water for sure

Really doubt pogba will leave Juventus.

18 Feb 2014 21:38:47
That's a bit like having a Henry, an Overmars and a Viera back in the team.

Now I've made myself miserable :-(

Pogba to PSG, i'm quite sure this is going to happen.

PSG have been after all the young superstars like janujaz, hazard and pogba. they want to build some sort of super team with their unlimited funds.

they will be selling the likes of Lavezzi and pastore this summer for sure, not to forget cavani. a cool 100 million in transfer fees for sure.

18 Feb 2014 19:48:47
Just checked Physio room which showed Ramsey now returning 22nd March then confirmed it with the report saying that is the fixture he's aiming to come back in.

I know we keep saying it but walks off the pitch on Boxing Day and nearly 3 months later could be back.

Having only read the other day he was due back on the 1st March it's so frustrating.

I didn't even appreciate we had been without the, at that time, leagues best player for so long.

It's so frustrating - seemingly we have a physio centre that is either lying to the media to mislead them or is completely incompetent. Almost every injury to Arsenal players in the last couple f years or so has ended up being twice as long as diagnosed . on this basis Walcott will be back in the middle of next season, he'll play 5 or 6 games just start to do great things and then be off again for the rest of the season again.

You have to hope our medical team are taking no chances Jenny and not just really bad at their job, but previous evidence doesn't support this case at all.
With friends like them?

We really need a new medical team. they seem useless.

Who runs our medical team?

Harold Shipman?

You just killed me there DG

Rue, are you sure it wasn't Shipman who killed you? Lol

18 Feb 2014 18:38:35
Been a while since I last posted as I've just got back from Barcelona. Went to the Nou Camp to see them thrash Vallecano 6-0, and I have a few observations. The first is that Iniesta is an absolutely amazing footballer. Completely different animal when you watch him live and, in my opinion, deserves to be regarded in the same bracket as your Messis, your Ronaldos and your Kallstroms. Secondly, Barcelona are defensively weak, even with Puyol. After we've beaten Bayern, if we get Barca in the next round, we'll have a real chance of going hard at them at getting into the semis.

Anyway, enough drivel about Arsenal-lite. Tomorrow, the lads play the biggest game of the season, bar none. Overall, we've been fantastic this season, but we'll really have to step it up if we want to beat Bayern. I agree completely with the team Greeny suggested earlier - Chambo and Poldi out wide to offer some pace and direct running - to give Lahm and Alaba something to think about. I feel if we go at them early and shut down their midfield, we'll stuff 'em. Bayern Munich, we're coming for you. COYG.

I have always thought Inesta should be up there with the other two as class above world class, unbelievable little player and really nice bloke to by all accounts.
Would fit in well at the Emirates me thinketh, puma make him and Barcelona an other they can't refuse.please!

I don't think anyone underestimates iniesta, xavi or messi. they have won too many trohpies to be considered a fluke.

you would be surprised when you go to barcelona and talk to locals how they love that guy. those 3 are their holy trinity in football.

18 Feb 2014 16:22:15
Afternoon gents

I keep reading reports saying Bayern will be too strong for us over 2 legs. Admittedly they are one of the best teams around. People are saying that they are stronger than last year so we have no chance. To answer anyone saying that to me, I respond with. SO ARE WE! When we beat Bayern in the Allianz last year we were in a bad run of form, however this year we have been sensational! We are much better than last year, 1 point from the top of the league, quater finals of the FA cup, and last 16 of Europe! Bring on Bayern!

We always have a chance we are Arsenal not Aberystwyth.
Bayern are a excellent side and deservedly favorite for the tie but write us offin haste and sit out the QF

18 Feb 2014 12:59:22
I meant to post this the other day when I heard.
Wayne Rooney £300 grand a week!! that's without sponsorship and add ons. Now I am not joking when I ask have I missed something here. Surely this is not for his footballing talent.
I think it is so outrageous bordering on the insane. How in the world can he be worth that.
Lets put things into perspective. If Messi was in the Premier League would that make him on £1 million a week then, or Ronaldo what would he be on too. Absolutely ridiculous to believe Rooney is worth that NONSENSE. I feel sorry for any club that has to try and sign top names after that its going to be a nightmare. We will now see wages going through the roof in the summer wait and see.

They need to keep him and pay him what he wants, he can't be part of that exodus.

Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic probably the brazilian twins, not to forget nani and anderson, they will want to sell cleverly, ashley young, its not easy trying to replace 8-9 players by buying 5-6.

Difficult summer for them, unless they have begun their negotiations already

Laker you make a very good point as half of Man Utds current squad will be leaving through the exit in the summer and Moyles will have a hell of a job mould a team. He will be in a building phase for a couple of seasons hopefully!

I totally agree, Rooney is not worth 300k a week imo, that's if he is going to get that at all. Quite how u know the ins and outs of his contract i'm not sure but it would be fair to say he will be on quite a wedge.

Onto what it does for any1 else, simple answer, nothing lol, football has been crazy for decades now and u need look no further than 35m for Carroll or 50m for Torres. This should have no effect on arsenal at all, u have never shopped in that bracket (wages wise) and I dnt really see that changing.

Laker, yes this summer may prove difficult but then again may not, as u all no i'm far from happy where my club is ATM but also respect Moyes for seeing what he has at the club before going out and spending 100's of millions on a guess, after all the same team walked the league last season althou I doubt Moyes would of expected such a big drop off this season. I expect homework has been done and targets identified, aswell as first choice 2nd choice targets too.

However this time next season if there is not significant improvement I expect Moyes may not see out the season, but that's a long way away for now. I would personally be praying for a top 2 spot and a cup if I was a gooner (yuck, brougt up a little sick there :-)) otherwise u may see a similar season as utd's next season for yourselves.
Without improvement I do wonder if Wenger will stick around (althou that will make some happy) for me the man is magic for keeping a competitive-ish side in the top 4 for this long. Even thou I do think he has the problem with spending money not the board as many seem to think here.

At the end if the day there are very few special traditional clubs left at the top level and I wish nothing but luck for arsenal this season, but do fear that many of your fans have brought far too much into the narrative of the modern day media of football being a game played differently every year, its not! There has to be planning, utd for example did not buy a great team in 2008 when we won the league and cl they matured into the best team in Europe over 3-4 years and if it wernt for Ronaldo going and investment in replacements not really forthcoming, should of been the best for 3-4 more years. Right now your team imo is near the end of a 3-4 year plan and without a trophy or silverware to show for it u may have to start again and wait another 3-5 years to see it, but the difference is next time I don't think Wenger will be there to help u throu it and that may be a bigger loss than some on here think!

Gd luck for tomorrow guys, I really mean it and much more luck to your fine selfs for the rest of the season ahead :-)

Feel free to disagree after all these are just my opinions

18 Feb 2014 19:20:07
There is absolutely no doubt that Rooney isn't remotely worth that money and I can't believe that United are thinking of paying even half that.

As far as Arsenal being at the end of a plan that is about as far from the reality at what is happening here as it's possible to get.

With the young guns signed up, the likes of Zalelem, Gnabry and Crowley getting noticed, some great experience with quality added to the arrival of Ozil, this is without a doubt the beginning of a great squad about to enter IMO next season, year two of a plan.

With a very small exception we have no what is termed as deadwood or players that are not able to contribute.

We have money to add to a squad that is on the up, we will I have no doubt win trophies over the years ahead.

The other problem for United is the previously lauded players like Jones, Smalling and even DeGea seem to have gone backwards this year.

RVP looks distinctly unhappy, Kagawa has just been totally wasted, they just look a million miles from a team and a Crystal Palace led by Tony Pulis away is just about the worst next fixture they could have.

Thats a fair point I suppose, but the same points apply, wether u are at a start or the end. Wenger I believe won't be there in 2 years at the most, and arsenal like united are in a unique position in terms of management, u have had the same manager for nearly 20 years that has built the gaint u have become in recent times but when he leaves for paris will leave behind either a sqaud that has won nothing or as i'm sure u all hope a sqaud with winners, either scenario which united are a great example might not be enough to prevent a transistion period and a self efficient club like arsenal and united does not have the flexibility or stupidity in the transfer market to throw around 10's of millions willy nilly on many players, add to that a transistion period and it all adds up to the possibility of a difficult season.
But I dnt believe many people would ever write arsenal off as a dead horse if that happend as many on here have with United and have done at their peril in future years imo (laker)
I would agree to jenny about Jones, rafa, Evans etc regressing, however I think this is more down to confidence rather than lack of talent, rvp is not happy that looks obvious and I did like Wengers attempt at mind games prior to our game subtlety using this to arsenal advantage.
Did it work? Who knows, neither team got much credit out of the game, althou I do maintain on another day we would of put at least 1 chance away, but I would guess so would u.
I just am little disheartened with the quick fix culture of football fans these days, imo there is nothing more exciting to see a group of players grow together to the best they can be and when they end up CL winners, or league or unbeaten it gives great satisfaction as fans watching. Then again i'm a soppy old git :-)

18 Feb 2014 20:53:23
I think part of your last paragraph does sum up what is happening here, we are growing into a great team, we have no need to quick fix just add each season where we need.

That in essence is what Sir Alex failed to do, he allowed the team to become old together without filling the necessary gaps.

How long it will take to build it all back up is the thing that currently causes all United fans debate and concern.

Think there is little doubt you will be back it's only the when that's uncertain.

Fergie survived on the class of 92, for the superstars that he has had at his disposal. when arsenal were buying strikers for 12 million, united were buying defenders for 30 million.

united always had the advantage to pay big money, to attract big names due to their success and even buy players from the opposition by a position of strength.

we wanted ronaldo, fergie spoke to his agent, slipped him a fiver and the rest is history.

the players we managed to steal from united, with the promise of game time have paid of, ramsey and ox to name a few.

fergie possibly did not have funds or he wanted to go out on a high and only had one objective.

he brought back paul scoles from retirement instead of playing pogba.

if you had him, your season would not have been the same, he is world class at 20.

he rode his luck with giggs and scholes and kept a core while adding 30 million players here and there.

when chelsea became oil rich, they added a new threat to Man utd, while arsenal were waning, and now with city coming into the picture Manchester United are no longer the big draw, in terms of money.

now united is scraping with arsenal for the best of the rest, and at this stage the progress for the future will determine the pulling power.

having rooney, mata and van persie is a start, but if they don't spend big or give their youth a chance like jesse lingard or zaha then they are only adding to their woes.

it will be an interesting summer, but what will be most interesting is to see if the players will take a paycut if they miss top 4, when rooney is getting paid more.

18 Feb 2014 12:45:48
Does RVP really want to go back to Arsenal? I think he would be thinking that he has already been down that road.More to the point do we need to take back a 31 year old striker? let's face it he has hardly set the world alight this season injuries or not. I say forget him let's go after someone who has a bit of mileage left in them. If we are going to pay decent money for players their are plenty better out there we can be looking at. We need to freshen things up not go backwards

Agree Golds. I don't ever want to see RVP back in an Arsenal shirt. End of.

He made his choice and he's now 31 and back to being injured a fair bit. I would take Balotelli, Draxler, Costa etc the players the right side of 25.

Id like to see him pair up with zlatan.

Its EGO time.

18 Feb 2014 10:03:40
I'm sure there's a lot more talk than substance but I would be very very happy to have super Mario join us.

Yes he's full of potential problems and that's the chance you take but for two fantastic seasons he might be the breath of exciting wonderment that make the Emirates rock like never before.
Two years because he would get bored and want to leave but could be a case of better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all

Agree. He could be the, dare I say, Cantona-esque player that could catapult us to the title and silverware in general.

Think how motivated he would be to play well against City, Utd, Chelsea etc.

He wouldn't be intimidated by the big teams. He would want to show he belongs and would no doubt drag some of the current players to that sort of mindset.

18 Feb 2014 08:23:40
As a tactician and motivator there aren't many better managers than Mourinho but as a person he is an absolute ****! Always commenting on stuff that doesn't need commenting on, just to try and play some mad mind games.

When he says that this Barca team is the worst team in a long time he is probably correct but there's no need to comment on that and the media encourage it by asking the questions because it sells papers. If they are that bad why did they romp the title last year against his Madrid team with the exact same team (bar Neymar, who actually improves the team!) as last year.

He does like to talk a lot of rubbish does Jose!

Mourinho in one word 5 letters.PR*CK

Someone should ask him if he considers one copa del rey and one league cup as a success in spain.

on a side note.

Ronaldo, Pepe, Casillas, Ramos, his own team turned on him.

Well done Genius.

18 Feb 2014 03:48:29
Eds, what are the chances of a live chat page or box even? Particularly for games and transfer deadline days
Would be a great way to discuss games.
Guessing abusive language could be a problem but maybe you could make it for registered users only and so you can track down the culprits quicker and easier.

{Ed001's Note - it was something we used to do in the past, but it was very labour intensive for the editors involved. The wrestling editors have been trialling a version on their page for PPV events though, so we are still looking for ways to make it work. Once we find a workable solution, we will use it again.}

Ed 001that would be brilliant but don't make this site too Much better I'm finding it increasingly difficult to fit my work and life around it as it is, if it gets much more addictive the job will have to go :-)

{Ed001's Note - just for you, I will make sure any trial runs take place on here in future. Though we would regret it when you lose your job, can't afford the internet and vanish from the site!}