Arsenal Banter Archive January 18 2016

18 Jan 2016 22:06:43
Eds,
Hope you don't mind me posting this.

Boys, Mrs Dag's and yours truly are celebrating our 50th Birthday in Nov (2nd and 3rd) and we are just thinking of somewhere nice to go.

We have only ever been Malta (I'm half Maltese) , so any suggestions from you well travelled bunch would be nice.

Ps, No cruises, no skiing and it must be hot.

Pps, We are toying with the idea of St Lucia.

18 Jan 2016 22:27:55
Saga do some great deals for people your age group Dags :-)

18 Jan 2016 22:40:09
Yep,
Left myself wide open for that one.

Cheers G62, lol :-)

18 Jan 2016 22:56:43
Try the Maldives mate, some beautiful islands and it is seriously hot. Summer is actually Dec to April so if you don't mind leaving it a month it'd be ideal. November would prob still be good though.

One of the Thai islands also worth a shout, Koh Samui or similar.

18 Jan 2016 23:04:52
In November the cannaries are hot and can get some good deals.

18 Jan 2016 23:14:37
Sorry mate couldn't resist :-)

18 Jan 2016 23:33:00
True 28 but the rest of the season Norwich tend to be pretty average at best mate.

18 Jan 2016 23:33:18
Good shout Stoner.

Grow, is the Canaries going cheep in November? :-)

{Ed033's Note - Wolves might be going cheap by the time next November rolls round.

19 Jan 2016 00:12:44
We are thinking of hiring a villa in Lanzarote.

Good idea?

19 Jan 2016 07:56:47
Very good 033 :-)

19 Jan 2016 11:30:50
Kph Samui or Cape Verdi. That time of the year. 👍🏻.

19 Jan 2016 11:48:47
Cheers NES :-)

19 Jan 2016 12:02:44
Canaries can be hot that time of year but cam also be wet. And it's not THAT hot. Also very windy in November usually.

I'd suggest somewhere in Caribbean, St Lucia like you said, but avoid countries like Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. They're cheaper, but that's for a reason. Jamaica is horrendously violent, as is the Dominican Republic, albeit less well known. Personally I'd go for Seychelles or one of the British Caribbean islands, like British virgin islands, turks and caicos. Or my personal favourite was Anguilla. Be aware though, it won't be all inclusives and high rise hotels, if that's what you're after.

{Ed001's Note - if you are coming out to Dubai give me warning so I can be somewhere else then dags! Seriously though, you could do worse than look at Dubai, plenty for the missus to do, and let's face it, anniversaries are something for the missus to be thanked for putting up with us for another year.}

19 Jan 2016 13:29:43
C'mon Dags, its your combined 50th, a big year. so you have to step up above the norm and send your wife somewhere long haul and tropical. you can then enjoy your birthday in peace with your mates in Dagenham!

19 Jan 2016 13:49:24
In all seriousness Dags any where in the Southern Hemisphere is good as at that time of year its just hit summer. I loved Oz and NZ although my favorite is South Africa (as i lived there for 3 years. In the canaries I have stayed on Lanzerote, Fuerteventura and Tenerife over the years, and I have to say that of the 3, Tenerife is my favorite. Yes it has its share of less nice resorts, but it also has some nice resorts (Los Gigantes and Costa Adeje spring to mind) with some terrific hotels. Not sure if the eds can post this bit, but this time last year we stayed at a hotel called Royal Garden Villas. Its not cheap by any means, but it was one of the nicest places i have ever stayed, and let's be honest, you can fly there dirt cheap from Stanstead, so you can afford to spend a bit more on the hotel! Otheriwse for a longer flight, i can also recommend Mauritius and i hear very good things about the Seychelles although I have not been myself. can't give you any info about the West Indies as i have never been (its never really appealed to be honest) , but if you do consider, i would go with what others have said and avoid any resorts where you can't leave the hotel complex as its unsafe (same goes for Egypt) . I hope my Judith Chalmers impression has helped!

19 Jan 2016 14:58:10
India or Sri Lanka, the summer starts by mid February. Also Thailand/ Singapore.

19 Jan 2016 15:39:36
Gents,
Thank you all so much.
Totally appreciate your replies.

19 Jan 2016 17:33:58
Skegness isn't very nice November but there's an indoor market and a decent cafe and of course Butlins too :-)

19 Jan 2016 18:36:27
Ed001, you're in Dubai? Me too, let's do a beer!

{Ed001's Note - I don't drink mate, but I would gladly meet up for a coffee or you can drink the beer for me...}

19 Jan 2016 19:48:02
Don't do it barn, the last person that did has never been seen again.

{Ed001's Note - shhhhhhh that's our little secret.}

19 Jan 2016 20:15:53
G62, I've had many good times in Skegness on jet ski's, and if you take your own boat you can go out and see the seals.

19 Jan 2016 20:40:52
MgM I have very found memories of Skeg myself mate having spent the entire summers of 81 and 82 there working at Butlins :-)
Great summers those two :-)

19 Jan 2016 22:14:05
Right now dags the decision is all yours, skeg or st lucia. Its a hard one but I know you will come to the right one for you and er indoors.

19 Jan 2016 23:06:02
Steve, I think dags should hire a party bus, and take us all to Skegness:)

20 Jan 2016 00:16:02
Portugal.

20 Jan 2016 06:32:22
You thinking Jolly boys outing MgM?
Come on Dags you know it makes sense!

20 Jan 2016 11:21:10
Sound good to me 😊.

20 Jan 2016 11:58:53
Prague and Vienna are incredible cities. I would recommend Mahon/ Mao in Menorca too.

18 Jan 2016 13:38:17
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Schmeichel Dismissed Man Utd's Title Hopes, Weigl Rules Out Man City Move As Zabaleta Considers His Future And More

18 Jan 2016 08:10:53
I'm of the opinion, as always, lol, that Wenger really is doing a lot of things right at the moment, well if I forget over playing Sanchez that is. ;-) I forgave him that because of Petr Cech. What a game, add the irrepressible Monreal to that too. He must be close to getting called up for Spain again, surely.

Like has been said, we are still top of the league, despite our injuries and yes everyone has injuries, but none of those teams are top of the league, we are. That in itself continues with the confidence throughout the squad, they'll know they are holding their end up with the injured players due back.

And I know most would rather not see certain players on the pitch or are not happy with Walcott and Chamberlain but as a squad of players they have kept us at the top and that hasn't happened for a long time.

We all wanted to be as close to City going into the new year and some including me would have been happy to be just 4 or 5 points behind come January with all the players we had out so to be top with all those players coming back is, for me, a huge bonus.

With Elneny here, Coquelin, Cazorla and Welbeck back in a few weeks, a place on the bench for Arteta and Flamini will probably be non existent. Because along with those 4 and not forgetting Wilshere, the other places would be filled with Ospina, Gabriel and Chambers. So making the bench itself will be a fight. That unfortunately Steve will make it harder again for Iwobi but to win the league others will probably rightly be ahead of him.

Every game is now as important, starting with Chelsea at the Emirates with every chance of seeing Sanchez and Ozil back. With Cazorla, Coquelin and Welbeck all running, they won't be too far away from return.

Every reason to be cheerful because nobody cares that you got battered for 14 rounds by Mike Tyson, they care that you knocked him out in the 15th, nobody will care how allegedly easy, and I don't believe that hype, this years league is, they will care if it says 14 against Arsenal in the record books.

{Ed025's Note - good post that red dog..

18 Jan 2016 08:54:35
It will be interesting to see how close Welbeck Le Coq and Jack Rosicky are to a return once the window closes :-)
Doubting of what we're told to what's really happening? Sorry yes I am simply because of past experiences, we do tend to rinse and repeat as Steve likes to put it but hopefully I'm wrong and will have to hold my hands up and admit it about Elneny being this seasons Kallstrom/ Bielik plus the lack of cover for Giroud and how close all our players are to a return in reality to what's claimed during a window.
I'm basing my thoughts on what's happened in the past but maybe this time things really are different, let's hope so.

18 Jan 2016 11:18:40
Ye of little faith 62,

Now I know a the press are worse than Wenger when it comes to telling the whole truth but I'm going to let you in on something. ;-)

Every day before a game Wenger gives a press conference, normally after the team has trained, the press and Arsenal TV and club photographer takes footage and photos of the training because Arsenal let them.

Every afternoon after this particular training the club put up "training photos" of the first team on the Arsenal web site, Rosicky and Sanchez were in them Saturday and Sly Sports as an example last week showed some of the other long lost players out on the pitches with the boys.

The press put this in their papers because they have actually been there and seen it, no need to make it up. Crazy I know, but true.

Now not everyone knows this, so keep it between the two of us. ;-)

Thanks ed25. :-)

18 Jan 2016 11:28:00
If Jack and danny are both back running, well I would suggest then they will need a full pre season before they can step on the pitch, so about 4-6 weeks for them 2 also rosicky, then caz and le coq did play a lot before getting injured so once running prob 3 weeks that's what I would think.

18 Jan 2016 12:45:20
Kallstrom and belick are not the same thing at all . Kallstrom was loaned in for use in the first team (obvs a big balls up) beiliek was very much bought as one for the future and Ella nenny is for now.

18 Jan 2016 17:27:39
Fair Play Red :-)
I totally respect your opinion on Arsene judgement even if I don't share it, I do think we taking an unnecessary gamble on Olly staying fit exactly as we did in January 2014 when we were in exactly the same position top of the table as we are now.
For me Arsene is always wise after the event and stubbornly loyal which has cost us so often in recent seasons as the eventual arrivals of a really top keeper and DM have proven over the last 12 months both of which the world and his wife have been screaming at him to get for years.
As said Red mate I totally respect your opinion and that you continue to think Arsene is still capable making us all we can be but I just don't see it that way anymore sadly.
I really hope he leads us to the premier league title champions league title a and FA cup hattrick of wins this season and i have to eat the largest piece of humble pie ever come May.

18 Jan 2016 03:48:41
Not impressed with Theo or the ox Theo's been poor for the last 4 matches and the ox hasn't even hit any sort of form both are squad players at best can't wait until alexis is back!

18 Jan 2016 06:39:07
With so many injuries the team has suffered, but we have managed to get through a difficult period on top. Not many teams could still be top, despite having so many top players injured. Both Ox and Walcott really tried hard yesterday, without getting the rewards their endeavours deserved. I am certain that once Sanchez returns on the left, Ozil comes back and with the reassurance a Coquelin/ Elneny defensive shield will give, we will see the best of Walcott on the right. Ox needs games, he is almost trying too hard. I prefer him on the right, rather than central.

18 Jan 2016 08:12:35
IMO if Theo is to ever realise his potential its down the middle he is and always has been a very hit and miss winger, he can't command a regular England place and with the greatest respect to our national team England aren't exactly brilliant.
Ox? I've no idea what's wrong with him this time last season only Sanchez had played better than the Ox but this season he looks out of his depth every time he plays.

18 Jan 2016 12:24:52
Gunner the reason they are struggling is they are not playing a position, or at least a position they can excel at. Theo left theo right, theo down the middle. Ox left ox righyt ox holding ox on bench. Ramsay right ramsay poor, ramsay in middle different player. When chambers came he was looking solid at center back, when he got moved he struggled. Players have to learn their positions, each position is so technical now. Wenger tries to make certain pkayer jackof all trades master of none, but then we all expect them to pperform where ever he plays them. Rooneys suffered for it, phil jones has. Players need to be able to work on their own jobs to make them better. A great plummer doesn't necessarily make a great electrician even though they both work on houses.

18 Jan 2016 15:58:46
Going to chime in for the sakes of discussion here;

I disagree with the position comment Steve. "Formations" on the team sheet are something to feed the press. I think bow players have a distinct set of 'roles' rather than positions.

For instance 4-2-3-1 essentially becomes 4-6 when you haven't got the ball and are playing a high pressing game.

Theo often drifts wide when playing as a lone front man, doubling up with Ramsey when he played on the right, whereas giroud stays put as a rule holding the ball up for pacey wingers.

I know he's a different class of player but iniesta played right wing on barcas 08/ 09 team sheet I think, with messi as false 9.

Wenger, I should think will have them play in the best 'system' for what player attributes he has at his disposal.

This is only based on my vague knowledge of football tactics, so please don't take as correct.

18 Jan 2016 16:55:29
Your opinion gav and I respect that mate, but mines different. What ever you do in life and sport you do what you are best at best, but you can get by diversifying and you manage. But you are better at things that suit you or you practice more. Put giroud on the wing and he would be useless, put kos as striker he would be useless, put theo at center back he would be useless. I do a certain job at work that I am great at and I make it look easy I do other jobs other people do and I can do them and they can do mine but not as well. Why do people think ozil can't play left wing but he can center or why ramsay can play center and not right. Why because they are better suited to their best position and can then specialise in what's needed. The best players in the world don't get moved about every few weeks, they are used as a threat in the position they are best at.

18 Jan 2016 18:29:23
Yep and you make a fair point Steve. Consistency is key I wholeheartedly agree.

I think ozil on the wing was an idea worth trying and only that. We now know cazorla playing further back is a more effective solution than shoving ozil wide to accommodate both.

I don't think anybody is in disagreement we'd like acquisitions in various positions. I think primarily though, when we get to the stage where we're not playing musical chairs to cover injuries and have genuine strength in depth. Things will become easier.

We've still got a lot of deadwood in the squad currently, left over from the last squad. Most of which is questionable (arteta) . As that gets replaced and overall squad standard raises, we can hopefully field a more balanced, uncompromised team regularly and the need for musical chairs should dissappear.

If wenger is still shuffling in that situation (if he's still here) then I'll stand corrected, he may infact be a plum if that plays out.

18 Jan 2016 18:53:21
Gav you state your case well and it may turn out you are correct. I just think we should specialise rather than speculate. If theo plays as a striker and performs and make that position his own and after a while he struggles, we can say he didn't do the job he is capable of. But if he is moving about it is hard to say he isn't doing the best he can. The ox I feel is like wilshire, injuries have knocked him back and he is playing lots of different roles from season to season, until he locks down his best position we won't see his best.