Arsenal Banter Archive January 04 2015

04 Jan 2015 21:25:07
The club should do all it can to sign Spyder and Hummel's or similar in January, we should beg steal borrow persuade pressure kick scream and shout to get them and most importantly of all IMO BE SEEN TO DO SO.
I think even if we fail to sign what we need it would give everyone a lift to know beyond question 100% the club did everything it could possibly do and more to make it happen.

04 Jan 2015 22:05:37
I think you have hit the nail on the head G62.

We all know Jan is not the best time to buy, but at least if we can see the club is making an effort, it gives the supporters, and more importantly, the players, a lift.

I think for the club and most importantly Arsene to show beyond question or any possible doubt they and he are aware prepared and totally committed to getting what the whole football world knows we need would go a very long way to unite us all again.
We are very split between those who still trust and those who have lost complete trust in Arsene's ability to compete in the modern game.
Success is not as important as very serious honest intent in a very important window for us

04 Jan 2015 20:08:38
Message to Red Dog 81.

Re, your earlier post ( the long one).

If there was an award on here for post of the year, you have just won it hands down.

You all know me. I'm Pro Wenger (but wavering slightly).

For those of you that bleat/moan and slag Wenger off constantly, from the state of the team to your half time cuppa being too cold, take a long hard read of Red Dog's post.

Its spoken from the heart but written with a logical viewpoint.

He is not sugar coating things or putting pretty bows on them, but offering logical reasons for our poor form this season.

It is critical, yet constructive.

Have always respected your views Red.

But that post is beyond brilliant.

Ps, my post is not knocking all you anti-Wenger boys.
I understand where you are coming from and I agree with a lot of what you say.

We are all entitled to our opinions, that's what this site is all about.

I once said all the things red dog said. All be it that ended about three years ago. And know I see that the people I used to argue with about wWenger were right

To say Cahill is over rated is crazy. He was 12mill? I'm sorry its a bargain. Not sure what begovic moved for but he's a class goalie and Stoke won't replace him

Nice goal from benteke today people. We really could do a lot worse than that brute of a man

Its a good job you put that bit in at the end, I was about to send the boys round. Grrrrrrrr

04 Jan 2015 22:09:44
Agree Derby, we should have Bolton's arms off to get Cahill.
I rate him highly.

Steve, I always put a disclaimer at the end of my posts, lol.

Like I said, I'm pro Wenger, but only by my fingertips at the moment.

04 Jan 2015 22:31:58
Thanks Dags,

Like I said, many differing opinions, people want Wenger gone and truly believe that he's lost it, no manager will come in and win the league with our current best 11, additions have to be made. I'm not trying to change others opinions, I'm sure they get as exasperated with mine as I do theirs but that's life. :-)

Wenger will be here and we all hope he makes the additions to take us to that level, there is little doubt that if they are brought in that this team can do things. Some of our football against Hull, despite there limitations, was real quality but the steel is needed to make sure what we do up top is not simply lost by shortcomings at the back.

I remain of the opinion Wenger can win another title, providing he fills the gaps.

Even now though it just seems crazy that even though we are through to the 4th round that there is so much pointless negative stuff.

Derby,

Cahill showed in the World Cup his limitations, I take it you missed the spurs ripping him and Terry a couple of new ones, is he better than Mertesacker, yep, can we do better, yep. We have yet to see Ospina have a run of games but right now he looks better than Szczesny, Begovic is good but he is not going to get better and is he better than Ospina, have you even waited to find out.

As for your love of every striker in the premiership not wearing an Arsenal shirt, well that's something that may cost you prison time. ;-)

Like I said too Derby, two windows.

Red. how many more windows do you want wenger to have mate. he's not going to fill the gaps we need i'm sorry

my love for strikers well two. benteke and bony who I believe will have great careers. they carry there teams.

you slate bony but his goal record speaks for itself mate. aston villa only benteke has scored for them since december the 7th I believe.

begovic I have seen many many times and he is an excellent keeper/ miles better than either of ours. ospina is ok but I don't think he will ever be our number one.

i also believe remy given a run in our team would of been very very good. nice goal for chelsea yesterday

every defender can have a bad game./ but over his time at chelsea cahill has been immense. its not even an argument. we are signing players for premiership I am not bathed about world cup form mate. ronaldo and messi weren't great in my view last summer

05 Jan 2015 10:47:54
Derby the argument is simple, Bony, Benteke, Cahill, Begovic, are not World beaters.

If that is your idea of a spine then we will remain proper phucked.

Like you would have Arsene up his game, you need to up yours on player selection mate.

All good players but simply not good enough. :-)

I know the type of players he buys tho.

lets see who he buys if any then we can evaluate

begovic for me though is a world class goalie. still only 27 mate

benteke has just turned 24

wanyama is 23

all three will only get better my friend.

Omg cahill was 7million. wow. bargain that . I thought it was 12mill for some reason. can't see a better defender signing in the prem over the last decade for that cheap apart from kompany of course

04 Jan 2015 19:40:14
Welcome back Theo, sorely missed.

Good performance, albeit against a very weakened team.

Don't know why people rave about Sanchez, thought he was average today.

Sanchez looked very tired to me, should have given him a day off.
Theo's going to be deadly when he remembers how to finish!

04 Jan 2015 19:24:14
Comfortable win for us in the end

Good shout Dags


Now here is one

For me Sanchez has been the best signing we have made . in terms of value for money from day one.

Stunning player, impeccable attitude, I just hope we can keep hold of him

04 Jan 2015 20:15:34
I'm on fire mate lol.

04 Jan 2015 18:46:48
no new defenders will arrive this month. All defenders fit with Gibbs and Nacho at LB, Per and Kos - CB, Debuchy and Calum at RB + Bellerin and Carl coming back from loan can not see AW signing 9th defender so We can forget about that formation. In the midfield as well a lot of injured players coming back - no signing there neither. Possible reinforcements in the summer specially that Arteta and Flamini will be leaving (contracts expiring) so a possible move for a players like Schneiderlin (hard to get if Saints got 4th place) or Bender but only in the summer. Can not see signing any players up front. Joel Campbell and Sanogo will fill the gap after Poldi departure (Akpom coming thru the ranks too)
Summary no player will sign unless some teenage prodigy

04 Jan 2015 19:36:58
Unfortunately, agree with you.

Would love to see Winston Reid or Van Dijk signed, just to bolster the defence.

One signing to replace Podolski, that's it.

Nothing shocks me with wenger. clueless

04 Jan 2015 18:07:09
Good goal from Per - header from a corner!

Forgot how quick Theo was - great to see him back

With both eyes wide shut :-)

05 Jan 2015 00:22:55
Easy to see why he gets beaten when trying to defend crosses if he shuts his eyes - joke

04 Jan 2015 16:49:50
The obvious thing about the January transfer window, which everyone knows but don't seem to take seriously, is that there aren't many players available because a team will have to find a replacement in a short amount of time. And even if an offer is accepted its way over the top of anyone's valuation of the player. For example Torres (50mil), Carrol (35mil) and maybe mata (40mil, worth a lot less imo).

So I completely understand why Wenger doesn't spend in January. And I bet if we bought a cdm and cb, for like £30-40mil each and one or both flops, everyone would just blame him for that too, and not the fact that he panic bought in January.

Our unrealistic options are:
Schneiderlin - 30-40
Carvalho - 30-40
Hummels - 50-60 (would probs go united anyway)
Cavani - 60-70
and there are so many reasons why these players wouldn't come to us even if we matched the price.

More realistic:
Tiote
Wanyama
Sissoko (not even an out n out cdm)
ried
van dijk

all imo would only maybe do a better job than arteta/flamini or chambers/mertesacker but wouldn't drastically improve us and would be more of a very expensive, half season, filler player and are not good enough to take the club forward.

However if he buy in Jan (panic buy) then he's lost most fans anyway. So really you would think Wenger has nothing to lose at the moment. So I would have guessed we would sign 1 or 2 players this window, no matter the quality of player.

I do agree, obviously, that he should have strengthened these positions in the summer, but right now I don't think a January transfer window will solve anything

04 Jan 2015 19:42:48
Have posted earlier, would be happy with Reid or Van Dijk and Sissoko.

Would definitely strengthen us.

If wanyama is available I'd jump at the chance. Power house

04 Jan 2015 12:55:53
No mention of podolski leaving on arsenal.com or twitter feed. Yet poldi himself has goodbye messages and pictures with Mancini at inter ect. Am I being too much of an old romantic to believe they are not officially announcing it as they are waiting to announce a big money replacement at the same time?? Step forward mr cavani.

04 Jan 2015 15:10:12
Italian transfer window opens tomorrow. :-)

{Ed002's Note - Correct.}

04 Jan 2015 15:24:37
Red dog. You broke the man's heart in 5 words. That's talent :P

04 Jan 2015 15:39:37
I know Sheeny, I did feel bad but then we'd all jump for joy if that miracle happened.

Pogba and Higuian would do it for me! Lol. ;-)

In the summer eh Red Dog

04 Jan 2015 16:52:09
Banbury you and I know that ain't ever happening. ;-)

04 Jan 2015 12:07:26
The five reasons why Arsenal have failed to mount any serious title charge in recent times are.

Over to you guys, would love to get your input

Naive tactics
Lack of discipline
Lack of DM
Lack of real leaders
Far too predictable pattern of play

04 Jan 2015 12:46:59
Wenger
Wenger
Wenger
Wenger
Wenger

62
Amazed you never went for the Biggest reason INJURIES
1= Injuries
2=Repaying the new ground
3= Russians and sheiks money
4=Loss of key players to our rivals (and not replacing them)
5= Missing a mid field war horse, a real leader, Vieira was that
=========
And bad luck at the wrong time

04 Jan 2015 13:00:06
1 -Arsene Wenger
2 -Arsene Wenger
3 -Arsene Wenger
4- Unambitious board
5- Greedy owners

Like it or not: The number and quality of players we had, would have certainly produced much better results under a good tactician.
Hell. even big Sam would have got us at least one or two positions above where we ended up.

Welsh mate you are all lovely bloke and Arsene is very lucky to have you, everyone should be as lucky as Arsene and have a friend as loyal as you.
It must be a welsh thing as my aunt who is from Bangor still insists every teacher at my school was wrong and I was right, she drove my poor old mum and dad nuts with her total and unwavering defence of me.
No not Johny bach:-)

04 Jan 2015 13:33:27
1. injuries have killed us this season. Even if TV5 was still here it would have made no difference.

Impact of iNjuries have been made worse thru:

2. Organisation of defending - got to blame players and Wenger AND Bouldie. This covers pressing up front and the attacking fullbacks etc.

3. Depth is squad.

This has not been helped at all by :

4.External money funding football clubs
5. Our financial position over past 6 years or so

Then throw in

Some big names just not turning up this season and some bad luck.

SPANNER

You are spot on mate

04 Jan 2015 15:34:48
The goal posts are too large on our end and too small on the oppositions end
We should never have to play a midday kick off were night owls
Nicklas Bendtner - how much success have we had since his departure? Re-sign immediately!
Other teams use tactics. That is completely unfair and every manager should have to take a regular "chess test" to ensure dope-ing
(Insert fifth flippant reason here)

1. Too many small, technical players.
2. Over-reliance on tippy tappy football.
3. Weak squad.
4. Lack of rotation.
5. Unwillingness to sign top quality players to fill gaps in the squad.

04 Jan 2015 19:46:11
Think RobbieG has got it spot on.

04 Jan 2015 11:17:20
Missed the S'hampton this week, but followed in the papers.

Question on Wenger (who I have always supported) there are many aspects to being a good manager, recruiting and keeping players, tactics and inspiration (Fergie was great at all of the above)- Wenger is great with the players and loyalty he gets but he seems to be a bit off on the tactics and inspiration these days - when we lose sometimes its luck but S'hampton and Dortmund have both played us off the park this year with inferior squads, we are probably better at 7-8 positions. That to me is a problem - should a superior manager not be able to win with an inferior squad (Jose with inter comes to mind). I say this because every tome we lose the board fills up with how many players we need (I like most of our players), so does that mean Arsene is a great manager but can only win if we are superior in 11 out of 11 positions in the team.

I would like to think we could compete with any given team on the day and that we are 1-2 players short that can lift the rest - not sure that I see it.

Sorry for the long one.

04 Jan 2015 12:00:45
Red unfortunately Defeatism is rife from people who want the team to provide the opposite. Clutching at the straws of any and every mediocre player linked with us from the nothing special Cahill to the nothing special Begovic. I loved Wizzy's assumption that those that wanted Wenger to stay are a Myopic few. That's how blinkered those that want him out are. But each to there own and that's exactly what the site is for.

If we talk of players on form who else could put out an interchangeable front three of Sanchez, Welbeck and Walcott, speed and goal potential right across the front, no one else has that, who else has the best No10 in the world, who else has Aaron Ramsey. No one.

Those players backed up by a top drawer DM and a top drawer CB next to Koscielny make a team of outfield players to challenge.

Is Ospina the right GK, we don't know, but Szczesny is still making the mistakes that cost us games. But let's just go and buy a keeper. Unreal.

Tactics, Arsene plays our first choice back four with Chambers and Coquelin in front of them, is that not a change of tactic, does he have to factor in Szcz being a jar head, does he have to factor in an injury to Welbeck and Giroud being a klutz. Also ignore the fact Koscielny is getting up and running just back from injury. If there is the hint of a stick then just beat Wenger with it.

Mourinho plays his best team, his failed invincible team, yet is getting pasted 3-1 at half time, players running through the donkeys that are Cahill and Terry. Brings on the game changer Willian for the 2nd half and gets done 5-3. Tactical genius, doesn't even have the decency to say one nice thing about the opposition but bleats on about refs with a bucket of lemons in his festering mouth. He has a great 1st team but not the depth that people think, He truly is an embarrassing clown.

Wenger plays the defensive role ala Mourinho against better teams and because Szcz is a knuckle head and Foster pulls off some great saves, that makes Wenger clueless.

Perhaps there are those that can map out who should have played, where specifically and what tactics with players available would have got a different result, surely that's easy isn't it? I mean Klopp is a managerial wizard, oh his players aren't playing to potential, but that's fine. Are we 2nd from bottom.

We are still playing with players from the buy cheap buy twice era and expecting them to beat every team in front of us, daily calls go up for any player with even the remotest link to us and that Wenger is to blame for something else.

This constant carp that Wenger has had 10 years to get it right against managers with open cheque books, unphuckingbelievable ignorance.

Flamini is every bodies whipping boy, then questions are asked about where he is, people want Podolski in the team, yep he can finish, yep he was on the periphery of a World Cup winning team but if you don't want to put the hard yards in, then jog on to Milan permanently. Sanogo for all his perceived faults puts more effort in than he does.

We are crying out for top drawer players at CB and DM, so are United, you can say Liverpool are too, Everton need better CB's, how good are the Spurs CB's and DM.

It is no easy task to find them, we need them, there is competition to buy them, United with all their financial clout did not fill either of those positions in the summer and are now looking to pay huge, huge money for a DM that left for free.

It's not good to watch, it doesn't fill me with joy, I hate it when we lose but I'm not like I've said before going to post defeatist 5h1te about my team.

I look at it straight on, no blinkers, see exactly what we need, the difference that will make and what will come back to us when it happens.

Replace Mertesacker, Arteta and unless he bucks up Szczesny and that may prove to be Ospina then we can at least compete. Wilshere, Giroud, Chamberlain, Chambers, Gnabry, Monreal, Cazorla and Rosicky on the bench until we upgrade in those latter positions is not a poor squad.

In the inference that Wenger is on his way out if we don't finish fourth is way wide of the mark. Whether people like it or not he will be here till end of term.

He has two important windows to make a mark, it's down to him.

04 Jan 2015 12:50:58
Don't forget saints best player was suspended against us and we still lost midfield battle

Fair Play Red Dog, diversity in opinion is what makes this site what it is. But however, if we can't blame the manager, if we can't blame the players nor our finances, then who or what is to blame? Are you implying that everything that has happened boils down to fate? Someone has to be answerable. We have had managerial stability for 17 years and we are a big club. Fighting for scraps with the likes of Tottenham and Swansea etc on a regular basis is surely unacceptable for a "big" club like us. Or maybe we are no longer a big club on the pitch maybe?

04 Jan 2015 15:18:00
Of course you can blame Wenger for certain aspects, you can't be manager of any club and avoid criticism for everything but by the same token you can't lay everything at his feet which so many do.

The simplistic thing though is to hold him accountable for everything as he runs the club. :-)

Ignore any other factor but blame Wenger, fail to see we have the basis of a great squad which few seem to believe he will fill with the parts needed.

Two windows time we'll know for sure. In the mean time, every day, hour by hour we will see the same posts. :-(

To slate Cahill is shocking. He'd walk into our team. So would begavic.

One day in the near future red dog you will look back and think Jesus I really did back Wenger abit too much.

04 Jan 2015 08:11:38
Am I the only one worried about the possible team selection today. With Sonogo up front, Monreal centre back & with Campbell and Walcott on the wings. Walcott will be having his first game back so it will be interesting to see how ready he is.
We know from the cup final that Hull are not going to give this up easily.

I'm not worried at all

Hull will probably make changes too and after a hectic festive schedule we need to rotate a bit. I would also like to see ospina get a chance