Arsenal Banter Archive March 02 2014

02 Mar 2014 23:19:52
Message to Goldboy.

RE your earlier post.

Why do you feel the need to apologise mate? You are one of the top posters on this site.
You are entitled to your opinion, like everybody else, and I thought your post was very well written and constructive.

After the Stoke game I was going to write a post saying how I felt about our lousy performance, but decided instead, to write a more positive post.

You however, wrote from the heart, and fair play to you. Respect.

I actually agree with most of what you said. Sanogo will be a good player but he is not good enough at the moment to lead our line.

This is the business end of the season, we have a possibility to win the treble (yes I know it won't happen). This is not the time to throw 2nd rate players into the mix, especially against the likes of Bayern. Yes, he gave them a few headaches, but they won 2-0, so they didn't lose too much sleep over him.

He's only a kid, it's not his fault. He should be playing half an hour, here and there, when we are already winning, to gain experience and learn the Arsenal way, and not being fed to the tigers from the beginning.

Giroud? Again, I agree. Not good enough and too one dimensional. Great hold up player, but he's also holding up our chances of winning something. I love him to bits and he play's his heart out but he needs somebody up there with him.

So Gold's, keep posting, keep speaking from the heart and never be afraid to say what you think of Arsenal because you are a true Gooner.

What eveyone needs to remember is we all want the same but we might have different opinions and that is what these sites are all about. Its great to be able to blow off.

Thanks Dags that was proper mate.

Absolutely Steve

Thanks Steve.

02 Mar 2014 20:40:38
I have no idea why most arsenal fans are worked up.

we buy one 42 million player and we feel we have the divine right to win a title.

chelsea and city have outspent us and out depth us if there is such a word.

at the start we never expected to be where we are, and its still not over.

we are still a team in progress. a team missing two key starters in ramsey and walcott for best part of the season.

luck plays a part and we have never had that for quite some time.

I understand the striker predicament when we could not get a star in jan, but if we do the same in the summer, we have not built on our ambition.

If I was wenger I would trade Ozil for Alexis Sanchez.

not because we don't need ozil, but because we need a striker more.

passing the ball in the middle does not win games, scoring goals does, and teams that do well are those who have that key position covered.

One thing that gets me worked up as you put it, is fans who continue to use the excuse that we are a "team in progress", " a work in progress ".
That to me is denial that there are serious problems.
You say we failed to get a striker in January. We also failed to get a striker of great quality in the summer too when there was 3 months to source a striker.
Chelsea and Man city have out spent us your spot on there but when we have 120mill cash in the bank, new mega sponsorship deals imminently starting there was/is no excuse not to have spent in other playing departments.

Laker, totally agree mate.

Alexis sanchez ain't a striker though. gooooooooooooooood one

Realistically with the spending power Chelsea & City have, we have no right to finish above them. However, we have £120+m in the bank, which we could have spent to add, say 3 top quality players, which may have made all the difference. We entered this season with 1 centre back short, 2 sluggish ageing defensive midfield players and lacking a top notch striker. It is Wenger's stubborn obstinacy that's means we will, in all probability end up in the usual battle for 4th place with the Toot, who are only 6 points behind us, with a home match against us to play. I believe Wenger is going, he clearly didn't like the justified stick he received last season. I don't have a problem with him leaving, as long as a strong quality manager is hired, as we now have a weak board. I would love to see Usmanov, David & Daniel Dein come in. Failing which we will continue to win nothing & only challenge for 4th place.

Rocky,

as I said we are work in progress, its not like we did not try and buy a striker, but again its not like they were there for the taking.

Liverpool have admitted that there was a release clause but they played our bluff.

Ozil was not going to score 20 goals, and walcott and ramsey our two consitent goal threats have been on the treatment table for quite some time.

4 points from the top by no means means we are out of it.

those teams have to go play liverpool.

and with chelsea still in the champions league, the race is far from over.

we play, city, chelsea and spurs so our title charge will be determined then.

i expect us to make a mark in the FA cup, saying that Everton won't be walk overs.

Frustration is one part of it, but resolves nothing. if the drought continues, its upto the manager and the players to do something about it.

thats all I have to say on that front.

02 Mar 2014 19:17:27
My Wife said she is leaving me because of my obsession with TV adverts.

Will she really leave me?

Find out after the break.

02 Mar 2014 19:53:57
Hey Dagenham,

I know I shouldn't like you boys but you have been a great bunch all season but I bet you must be over the moon that Super mac has returned.;-)

Is he by any chance the yang to Wengerisms ying. lol.

No idea why some of you get the hump with Wenger, anyone with a footballing brain can see what he's done for you and now he has the chance for him to get you back on the top you want shot simply because the very minute the purse strings are loosened you want the Champions League, FA Cup and Premiership all in one go.

Get a grip, support the man I'd have loved him at Chelsea with Romans ability to buy the best. I mean it's not like we haven't won stuff but playing his way and winning even more. Would have been awesome.

Look on the brightside, you could be Man United a club on the way down.

Hey Marcellus,

Mate, we all love wenger and we all love what he has done for Arsenal since he joined us in 1996.

The thing is, you either love him or hate him. The first 8 or 9 years was great. He was brilliant and revolutionised Arsenal Football Club.

If you ask Arsenal supporters they will say they want Wenger to stay as manager. However, because the purse-strings have been loosened, the stadium is nearly paid for, massive sponsorship and kit deals have been put into place, we should be spending more money, especially as we were in a very good position to challenge for the league this season (arguably, still are).

Deep down, I'm sure most people do not want Wenger out, just open the cheque-book more than once a year.

Thought that was going to be a vermaelen joke. true to form dagenham, another shockin joke.

I try Jack, I try, lol

02 Mar 2014 17:04:02
Them only slight positive I can take out of city beating Sunderland, is at least Mannone will not be added to the obscenely long list of players who have won a medal since leaving us. God how pathetic have I become.

I'm trying to think of something to put a smile on our faces, so here's a joke.

What do you call a dog with no tongue?
Scruffy Bollox

Flybo

02 Mar 2014 14:44:02
The arguments for and against replacing Arsene are both valid, we al want the same thing of Arsenal being the best again, its just how to achieve it that we disagree.

For me I would stick with Arsene in the belief he will add some quality this summer to what we already have and that will be enough to win things.

The best alternative is Morinho type manager, big spending ruthless shot term but unquestionably successful style, but this would most likely see us say good bye to
Mertascker, Rosicky, Wilshere, poldolski and Giroud who love the club and who in turn some or all are loved by us.
Be it pace, age, lack of consistency or just not fancied by the new manager these player and some others wouldn't survive a bid spending quick fix manager.
I really don't believe we can have it both ways, patience with the likes of Jack and guaranteed success next season.

No body is asking for a big spending big ego manager. The problem is the players you have mentioned whether under wenger or any manager who sees a winning team will keep them if they are good enough and out them if they aren't. Some would also question our tactics if there is any and the ability to change when required. There have been too many games over the last few years lost because of poor tactical awareness by the players and manager. You obviously are a wenger fan and so am I but i'm an arsenal fan first. I want this club to be strong not predictable and weak like we are .

I just can't see Wenger walking away or the board sacking him so the argument for me is pointless.

Not buying a striker and a good one at that in the summer was ridiculous, and not getting one in January was unforgivable and a massive massive mistake as was not buying a good midfield reinforcements rather than an injured one that will probably never wear the shirt.

Given the position we were in in January, knowing the games we had coming up it's very worrying how the board and Wenger reacted to that.
The best chance we've had to win the league in years is slipping away fast due to stubbornness and complacency.

Steve I am 80% in favour of Arsene caring on because I believe we will finish top 3 thus showing improvement.
If that doesn't happen I don't think he will sign his new contract to be honest.
I'm as sick of the word potential as all else its time to move forward now, and I believe we are and will.
Winning the title was always a big ask this season but top 3 was and is a fair expectation and one I think we will achieve dispite yesterday's result and performance.
But if we do replace Wenger the next man won't be given long so he will need to spend big and be ruthless to deliver what is being demanded now!

1404

Absolutely agree

Its not slipping away IT HAS gone!

get real will ya. this guy has lost it!

he has been found out he's yesterdays man - please please please face it now!!

And top 3 is an achievement is it?

what a load of crap!

This is why we are so mediocre. mediocre liberal fans who don't want too much change happy to plod along as the club with the best stadium and most organic bank balance. but no trophies to show. utter madness
worthless rubbish

a players career is short they look back and judge it on trophies and medals won! NOT on 4th places ahieved or 3rd places achieved

we WILL NEVER win the champions league so who cares if we even qualify not me!

I want the league not fa crap or milk cup
nothing else means a jot!!!

Supermac! is that after Malcolm McDonald?
Newcastle legend and excellent Arsenal player.
I wonder what else you would have us share with Newcastle, different manager every season or so, how may years without winning anything millions wasted on high transfers and waves of over rated players wanting one last big pay package and fans with unrealistic demands of success NOW or we protest

02 Mar 2014 13:27:35
I'm not sure about morata he's finishing looks poor on utube and for 15mil seems like a big risk we already have giroud and sonogo who are not good enough in my opinion there finishing is not what you. Call clinical

Another "sano-goals!" in the making

rubbish!

02 Mar 2014 10:28:53
question to all on hear if wenger does not sign a new contract which manager would most likely takeover that fits arsenals playing style

02 Mar 2014 12:20:14
Michael Laudrup or de Boer. Or maybe Bergkamp

Joachim Loew or de Boer with Bergkamp as number 2.

Loew for me all day. Would love guadiolla but think he's out of our league. The mistake was jan window not signing a striker. Giroud is not cutting it at the mo for me & needs to man up to a challenge and not fall on ass and wave hands for free kick. We missed flamini v stokes up and at em tatics. Atid COYG we are The Arsenal

Not a Wenger Out! But if he were to go, Loew and if not him then Simeone

02 Mar 2014 09:05:44
Just reading some of the players tweets. Stoke we're coming

ha ha ha ha ha ha

They must have been shaking in their boots

Bloody hell

02 Mar 2014 08:22:13
Sorry guys and Jenny I'm going to hate what I'm going to say but! I believe what makes a supporter is that you have to be able to take and give criticism aswell as being able to bestow praise on your team. Yesterday's performance. I was ashamed of our performance where did that performance come from? I watched the game live and to be honest I said to my son at half time that I'd had enough Champuons League!? Ha! Forget it . If it wasn't for the money involved I wouldn't even bother sending our team out to Bayern.
I am so dissapointed I don't know where to start here.
I don't know whether Wenger has began to lose the plot again?. We have paid £42 million for a player he misses a penalty but Wenger thinks he needs to sit on the bench for 2 matches to get over it! What sort of CRAP! is that? If we have a player that is that stressed he can't play get rid if him.
And before anyone says he was carrying a bit of an injury of course he wasn't!. Giroud! What in the World is up with him? as simple as that I can't even believe we have even! got a MAIN! striker of his calibre and dare I say it again, forget about TV highlights Sanogo, I've come to the conclusion after reading a few of my mates posts on here maybe it's not his fault, he is a player from the FRENCH SECOND DIVISION thrown into the Champions League after virtually minutes of game time with us and played as the main striker against the best team in Europe what type descision was that? Sorry to all his supporters but he doesn't cut it for me I believe he is way out if his depth at the moment. We should have a squad that reads like the who's who if football after all these years. All this penny pinching to pay for the stadium etc has not done us any good on the pitch over the last 8-9 years. I really don't know whether Wenger is our man truthfully. At this rate we are down to hoping for the FA Cup, pitiful really.
If it carries on like this I'm going to take leave of absence from this site as I don't want to come on here and be negative but my emotions at the way we are being managed is getting the better of me. Stoke City for Gods sake .

Agree GB, the move to the stadium has done no good at all, be were told of this big pot of gold at the end of all the payments.a few years of hardship we were told. I was told I was negative on here but what is the point of posting what people want to hear, I will say again as I did last year, we are punching above our weight and papering over the cracks, until we start taking 4 pts off of our rivals forget it.

You are also right it isn't Sagogogogog's fault, why he isn't out on loam beggers belief, we pay Bendover 52k a week, make him earn it.

As for Ozil, I am not quite sure I understand that either, stress oh FFS it is football, not a life or death, give me stress at that salary, regardless of the job

02 Mar 2014 09:18:01
Got to say, I, like the majority of the Arsenal faithful saw this coming, Sanogo for all his desire and running is still a div 2 player, and for sometime have thought ARSENE WENGER uses Arsenal as a proving ground for French national team players, there is duel purpose to his transfers, ok, we have done very well out of it, but we have also had some stinkers. Yet again we are sputtering, coughing and chugging our way to the finish line, I really feel we have a mountain to climb and yet again we will be without any honours, being out of Europe is a very real threat. I hope I am wrong . Wenger is a hero, we have been lucky to have him and he will always be a legend around Highbury and Emirates, but, I think this is the problem, the difference he brought is no longer enough to separate us from the others, and his top, top scouting methods have deserted him, we do not pick up the diamonds we used to,
Giroud, was bullied off the ball yesterday, he is not top quality, good defenders stop him.
Sanogo is not top quality, or even close to it
Ozil, first season, its tough.
Jack Wheelchair, not tough enough, too weak
Arteta, side ball merchant, and too slow

The offensive spine of our team is too weak, hence the goal scoring issues we have, and we keep getting found out against strong sides because we are not strong enough,

Like most of the last 9 seasons, we are 2 or 3 players short of a competing for silverware side,
I think Wenger, might walk at the end of this season, I'd like Dennis Bergkamp to be our new manager.

You have nothing to apologise for GOLDBOY. It's all very frustrating. It's like watching the movie Groundhog day, but over a 9 year period with a different cast being tried out every year, but not quite good enough to make the improvements needed.

Fans come on here, some are positive, some negative, but we all have one thing in common. We want the Arsenal to win. It's just that some think Wenger is still the man and others don't. Good strong arguments can be used for both sides. So don't apologise mate. I think bearing in mind we pay the most in ticket prices and have won naff all in nearly a decade. The club should be grateful we haven't made life a lot more difficult for the powers that be.

As far as Groundhog day is concerned, he ends up getting the girl. God knows how long it's going to take.

Liverpool fan here. Goldboy you are clearly hurting. We have all been there. We lost 3 ; 1 at Hull earlier this season and we looked absolutely dreadful.

Stoke have beaten Chelski and Man Citeh at their place so whilst it was a bad result for you it is not an easy place to go.

You have a solid defence and plenty of great midfielders.

My advice would be to spend 50 million on Costa next season.

Meanwhile 10 games to go and first business is to secure top 4 then see if we can sneak a bit higher. Have a feeling we can give it a go. If we have a shot at the title then so do you as there is only goal difference in it

Just want to get Spurs off our coat tails and give Manchester United a drubbing then in last 5 or so games see if we can still be in with a shout.

Keep the faith. Wenger is a good manager and you have clearly improved from last season. If Walcott had not been injured I suspect that you would be coasting to the title.

If we can't win it then I hope you do.

Completely agree Golds.

My main criticism would be that it's alright for us to have a squad that can't get results against big teams ONLY if we can win games like Stoke away. With Ramsey and Walcott our only major players out now, there's no excuse.

Our defence was a bit shaky but we managed; our one-dimensional attacking lost us the game. I've defended Sanogo in the past, but clearly he needs to be occasionally started against smaller teams to get 1st team experience - we are missing another attacking option for big games or games we're struggling in. Even someone like Demba Ba or Javier Hernandez coming off the bench on 60 minutes could well have won us the match today. But we don't have that, and I just can't understand why - as you say - Wenger relies on a young player fresh from Ligue 2 as our Plan B, why he didn't strengthen this area properly in the last 2 windows.

I've been trying to hold back negativity this season because 1. we're doing much better than we usually do by March and 2. I want to get behind the team for the whole season and judge the outcome at the end. But you're right - we need to call it how it is and criticise when it's just not good enough. Yesterday was the most disappointing result of the season for me, even worse than the thrashings. If this turns our season into another battle for 4th it will be hard to find positives.

02 Mar 2014 00:05:41
Im not in the wenger out brigade but. If at the end of the season we have not improved from 3rd or 4th and won fa cup. Give wenger a statue because he is a legend and let's get a manager who is actually going to take us to new heights. He is getting very predictable and we are not as tactically astute as we used to be. He seems very comfortable and set in his ways and that's not good. I love him for what he has done but come on how much longer are we supposed to give him. Every thing has an end time and if we are not improving then times up, if we do then that's fine. I personally hope we see an improvement come the end of the season, but if not let's move on.