Arsenal Banter Archive January 22 2014

22 Jan 2014 22:50:41
Alreet everybody? Gun doon the pub like, to cheer on the Mackems like ya na. Err'em, sorry about that, don't know what came over me. Congrats Sunderland and to Mannone, fully deserved. You've made my night fella.

If anybody works in any shops in Manchester that sell ropes and Moyes walks in, please don't sell him any. Not for him, but for every fan of every club in the country. Where was I? Oh yeah. ha

Flybo

Well deserved.

Ahh bless ya flybo, it dnt Mata anyway ;-) so nice to know u spend the hard earned money Malaga gives u on watching us x
We will never die!

Ahh CTR, it's good to hear from you. I've got a spare pair of nickers that are already twisted if your interested? Of course I was going to watch the game last night, I've always enjoyed good car crash television. It compensates for all the Danish detective programmes I watch. You might be interested in them? Something to lighten the mood for you ;-) Still love you though.
Flybo

CTR, you know jose is just prepping to take over next season when utd finish 5-6th and now have a half decent player.


why do you think you are playing SOOOO badly though CTR? like honestly?

22 Jan 2014 22:29:28
Mannone you legend.

Love it! What a big nosed ledge! It's such a shame to see Manchester United struggling and going out of another cup competition!

ha!

Mannone is magic

22 Jan 2014 22:00:21
Thank god there's only 9 days left of the window! The names are ramping up now nearing its conclusion on Friday week. Cavani, Pedro, Falcao, Draxler etc.

Isn't it funny how, since we signed Ozil, the calibre of player linked is World Class.

We've come a long way from wanting Wenger to sign Mo Diame from west ham for £3.5m and Demba Ba on loan!

Good post Greeny, totally agree.

22 Jan 2014 20:53:38
Wenger must have a plan up his sleeve. This is our best chance to win the league. They will all strengthen again next year and be used to their new managers. Wenger knows giroud is not good enough to lead the attack. He ain't stupid. We'v already bid 30m for cavani last January. Why not go all out for him and let him lead us to glory. Thoughts?

22 Jan 2014 21:32:25
I know we seem to regularly do the Giroud thing in questioning how good he is.

The simple answer as much as we all love Giroud is how good would we be with a Saurez, Cavani, Falcao or Aguero leading the line.

Phuck ing good is the answer!

Grimaldi in France apperently watching PSG match, could be watching him, but don't think we'll get Cavani tbh

I do not think we are going to break the 42.5 million we have bid for ozil.

cavani will cost over that.

We ain't getting diego costa, we ain't getting jackson martinez.

Im going to go out on a limb and say it maybe alexis sanchez.

he is a tough player and he has pace to burn.

DONT agree this is our BEST chance its out FIRST chance for years.
This is just the start for us and we will be much stronger next season even without adding new players, but if and when we do add? Its going to be a fantastic next for years

Alexis Sanchez? Yes please, class.

22 Jan 2014 19:56:54
Gents,

Yesterday I asked if we could win Prem League and got a mixed bag of replies.

So, can we win the Champs League?

Yes or No, and you may elaborate if you like.

Fire away.

We were top of the league after 1st half of the season and still are.

So YES, absolutely!

But YES for CL too. But we need that bit of luck of course. We have to be on top of our game too. Just relying on luck won't help I guess.

That said I remember Chelsea winning it only based on luck through more than one game. So I guess it's possible but happens once in dunno say 10 to 20 years?

No! We will be far to busy winning the premier league this season but next year?

If we can beat Bayern we can beat anyone, but I'm not so confident as I am on the league

I don't think so, Currently our team doesn't have strength in depth to play all those games and premier league without picking up key injuries. Over 2 legs I think City, Bayern, Barca and Real would beat us. But it would be close.
Fully fit with Theo, Diaby and another striker I think we would beat anyone on our day.

If we beat Bayern and Arsene decided to make the champions league his priority instead of the league I personally would make us favourites.

However as I cannot see either of these things happening I think this year may be a little early for us!

Not a chance in hell! No

22 Jan 2014 21:38:20
In answer to yesterday's question, yes but it's one hell of an ask.

Champions League I also think get through the Bayern tie then why not.

We really could do with Arsene pulling a gem through the January Window though to help us.

My heart says no but my head says no. I actually fancy us to beat Bayern over two legs though.

Don't get me wrong, I would love us to win it mind!

Just crossing everything that ANY trophy arrives at the emirates come May!

All good posts.

Im going for prem league, yes.

Champs league, no.

Prem league., I wouldn't bet against us. CL we are just not ready yet, not far away but just not yet.

23 Jan 2014 12:50:51
I think prem is main aim this season I would like to think fa cup would be taken seriously with spurs utd already out

22 Jan 2014 16:25:45
Arsene Wenger has been spotted at Heathrow airport. I have it on good authority that he is on his way to purchase a big, solid, tasty, hard as nails signing that will put a smile on the players faces. Keep it under your hats, but expect Wenger to come back with the Swiss defender Mr A. Toblerone. Your welcome :-)
Flybo

Always good to see Flyboy's take on the world!

J

Hehe nice.

He'll be used to being very effective in triangles then!

Flybo, words fail me sometimes but I have a sackful of love for you.

Cheers dg, back at ya!
Flybo

22 Jan 2014 13:57:31
Eds, Banter please.

Does anyone else think it is interesting how our team "seem to be as a unit" and some of the choices that Arsenal players have made lately?

1. Diaby, out injured again, (such a shame as when he is fit I think he is a lovely player) but not taking any money whilst not able to deliver something. (Some might say a Legendary gesture from a modern footballer).

2. Podolski answering the Q&A question about Tottenham or Retire with one word "Retire" - Legendary status achieved.

3. Santi with his hand written banner re "We 8 Tot'nam" (with a little bit of moral support from Bobby Pires I am sure!), in ones foul swoop enduring that he could (and stating that he never would) join Tottenham, and informing us Arsenal fans of such - Legend status maybe?

4. BFG - Arsenal Defensive Giant - Now so animated every time we score - Heading towards Legendary status?

5. Flamini - Returned because he had unfinished business here, realised what he left behind and wanted to come "Home" - Heading towards Legendary status? Oh, and he goes to WAR for us!

It is very interesting how we remove a number of players from our team, and those that are left all make choices that make us Arsenal fans proud, very proud.

We have a team for the first time a in a long time that understand what it is to be an Arsenal player, and how important Arsenal is, the team more than the man - The Clubs name more than that of the player!

Have not been this proud to be a gooner for some time.

Not being smug, nor am I dissing other teams or their fans, just feels nice. Hope other Arsenal fans see it and feel the same.

J in Kent

Jin

For me, that's by far the best post of the year. Well done.

I agree with the general point there mate, yeah! (I think. )

When you've got players who don't want to be there, with Chamakh, Arshavin and Mannone being prime examples, for whatever reason, be it lack of game time, wanting a bigger deal, homesick, etc, they bring te rest down.


As it stands, apart from Bendtner, everyone who's at the club, WANTS to be there.

And whilst you have little cliques, such as the French lads hanging out, the Germans training together a lot, and the lads we had from youth like Gibbs, Jack, Szczesny and Frimmy all hang too, the cliques don't second them, they hang out with this people because they know each other from before/youth/outside.

As a whole, the club has fantastic unity right now.
When you see the banter between the likes of Poldi and Wilshere on twitter or in club stuff.

Szczesny is genuinely hilarious no matter who he's talking to.
And then you've got the likes of Per who you can't not like, but is apparently (and self admittedly) a bit of a tough bloke when needed, you've just gt a fantastic balance of characters.

I feel these players we have right now are friends!

And that's going to inspire them to work harder than ever for the result.

Not just doing it for the fans, the club or the money now, but for their mates!

Peace.

Why thank you DG. And that coming from you is a real compliment, considering how intelligent and well rounded your posts always are.

J

22 Jan 2014 18:49:36
JK,

That was a lot of what I took away from my first trip to the Emirates to watch the Fulham game.

The work they are putting in for each other, how solid our defence is, what a gem we have in the BFG, him and Kos were so so impressive.

I forgot to mention how good Flamini was on the ball, never realised until I watched him close up.

I think my only disappointment on the day was not seeing TR7 play.

They were all awesome though, Poldi was a buzz when he came on, everyone wanting him to shoot.

It just gave me personally so much more belief in the team even though it wasn't a 7 nil or anything like that, they do look like mates, mates who want to win something for the Arsenal.

Thank you Jin, we seem to be playing compliment tennis, lol.

15 all, your serve.

Hi Jin mate great to hear from you mate, what a post to mark your return with.
Yet more reasons to think we can win the tittle this season!
Hope your well

Lovely post Code.

22 Jan 2014 05:45:11
Hi Eds, just heard a rumour that Diaby may be calling time on his career. Any truths in this? It'll be a sad end to a career that promised a lot but was constantly hampered by injuries (he has sustained an incredible 35 different injuries since his time at the club).
Who would we turn towards to replace him?

{Ed027's Note - no idea mate, and would we replace him?

Ya Ya Toure?

I wished.

That poor kid has dealt w such a horrid time these last few years, while the potential has been so great

We forget how early on he broke into the first 11. We hear how highly he's thought of by the French National Team

For his sake, the way he goes about his business and doesn't accept a "please pity me" mentality, I want him on the squad and contributing in any way possible when we lift that elusive trophy

He deserves to be there

If sadly true then he deserves a testimonial due to not taking the money from the club he could have quite legitimately done.

I hope its not true but if it is, its real shame for the lad and us

22 Jan 2014 01:46:04
Rodrigo from benfica good strong left foot, young, I think 22?Don't know much else about him. Heard through a dodgy news source that we are interested in the player. Can any ed confirm or deny the interest?

I remember him at Bolton, useless.

Very decent player at Benfica though, has matured and is scoring goals.

22 Jan 2014 11:25:09
I may be wrong but but the way United are performing this season I could only guess that the reason any top player would want to go there at the moment would be for the money. A couldn't see a top notch player taking a chance of ending up playing in the Europa league next season if they joined in this window. Also I believe they are going to go through the stages we went through a while back a stage of transition and that could take a while to level out. Thoughts?

I agree with you about joining man u this window and generally your other thoughts- they seem to need quite a rebuilding job and it could take a few season to be back up their challenging again.

The one main difference though between them and us, is money. They have it and we didn't (until recently).

So as long as they spend wisely, etc. As already mentioned, I can see them back in a couple of seasons (although I am not convinced by Moyes tbh- time will tell).

Goldboy, (Hi DG, G62, Flybo, Laker, USG, and others),

I kind of agree with you but then I think the following:

If Man U really do have £150m to spend, either in this window or the summer window then if they spent money on the following then they would be pretty much transformed.

Mata - £40m
Cabaye - £20m
Contreao (spelling) - £20m or Luke Shaw
Gundogan - £30m
New RB - £20m

Total £130m

Then they sold:

Nani
Rafael
Eva
Anderson

And some other fringe players then they would probably have a net spend of say £100m.

They would have a starting 11 of potentially

Contraeo (or Shaw), Smalling, Jones (Vidic), new RB, Kagawa - LW, Gundogan, Cabaye and Mata in the middle, Wellbeck - RW, with Rooney playing a fake striker no 10 position and Van Pussy as the out and out forward.

Now I am not saying the VP and Rooney are going to stay, or that they can get all of these players, but if they did in this window, not only would they get top 4, but they would probably have the "Say" in where the title went this year as they still have to play Us, Man City and others again.

You cannot tell me that the above 11 would not potentially be a very strong team?

Whether Noyes could get them working together and the best of of them I have no idea. But it makes one think.

I feel a little sorry for Noyes, and think that Man U fans should be furious with Ferguson for riding them to one more year of "Personal Glory" when everyone could see the team needed to be rebuilt two seasons ago.

Reason - Money!

Having the best players does not generally mean you are guaranteed to win anything.

Their offseason will depend on their league position, finish outside the top4, and they would not only be losing champions league money, but unable to attract the big players.

Money talks at the end of the day and its left to see if united are willing to overpay.

their revenue is double of Arsenals, always has been, but we have still managed to win against them.

Besides I like the fact nobody rates our team, but in all honesty, we are one lethal striker away, an Aguero, Suarez, Costa, Benzema player away from being incredible.

consistency comes from continuity, and we have had a core for awhile, and even though we sold superstars, we are still making new ones.

Zaha? Smalling? Jones? kagawa? young? anderson? Nani? rafael? fabio? buttner? macheda? bebe? I mean I could go on and on.

we have had a few duds too, but the money we spent to acquire them was negligible to what united spent.

for 10 million each we have a solid CB pairing, Nacho, cazorla, podolski, ramsey, ox, walcott, flamini, arteta, sagna, jenkinson, giroud, I mean united would want any of those players.

same players, just needed some belief and they have turned it around.

I honestly think we are a Draxler or Diego Costa away from being mega players again.

keep the faith. perhaps that tweet doing the rounds of wenger spotted at heathrow may have some transfer related speculation coming our way. fingers crossed.

Very good points Jinkent,

To be honest, you won't see me slating Manchester United too much, yes they are in a poor run and the job seems too big for Moysie, at the moment but, with a fair investment, they will be right back in the mix.

PS, Hi Jinkent, sorry, forgot to mention that in my post.

JinKent,

They would be very vulnerable to long shots though without a keeper in the side.

TBH they need a lot of money to escape from the current situation. Even if they spend a lot of money nothing is guaranteed just ask Tottenham fans lol.
Fergie knew what was coming so he stepped aside, took a comfy seat and put Moyes right into the mess. I don't know if he is enjoying the view, but I certainly am.
And I believe there's no way Chelsea will let Mata to Manchester.
p.s stop talking about United cause CTR will come back to haunt you and teach you a thing or two about football. haha plonker

True CECE,

Forgot to put De Gea in there.

But I am sure people got my drift.

;)

J

22 Jan 2014 07:25:29
Just read the morning footie news and saw a possible £35m + Podolski bid for Draxler.

Am I the only one who thinks this will be a big mistake if true? Podolski is a class act and once fully fit will be a great help in staying top and winning the EPL.

By all means go for Draxler but keep Podolski, he is a born winner and leader :-)