Arsenal Banter Archive April 06 2014

06 Apr 2014 22:45:30
Serious question and this is not a knee-jerk post.

Is it time for a change?

Brendan Rodgers has took over at Liverpool and they have gone from strength to strength.

Roberto Martinez took over at Everton and its the same result.

Tony Pulis at Palace, same.

Ok, its not all success stories. Tim Sherwood at Spurs. Solskjaer at Cardiff. Pepper pig at WBA (or whatever his name is), Felix Magath at Fulham, to name but a few.

But do we need a change of leader? New man, new ideas?

Did I say this is not a knee-jerk post? lol.

What do you bunch of rabble think? lol

Who knows Dags, I would like to think AW can get past the tome SAF served at Man U but he needs to stop being the bloody accountant, that is HIS problem, DD used to deal with all the money side of things and tell AW it was ok to spend that money, now AW has no-one to back him up.

I am giving him one last transfer window, depending on the activity depends on if I go to watch Arsenal again during the reign of AW.

Too right its time for a change. I would maybe like to see a former player take over from Wenger, my choice is Henry. Untried and untested, sure, but I could see him doing well. Klopp is the other big name I'd like to see, too.

We've needed change for a long time. Or at least Arsene needed to change. He hasn't, he won't, so he has to go. He will go with my thanks for all the wonderful things he has done for this club.

I hate to say it as I've been A true Wenger supporter through and through, but I really think he has lost it, I've never wanted to see him gone before but we really are in danger of slipping far behind the likes of Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Utd will strengthen in the summer and come back stronger, thank AVB made such a mess of the spurs otherwise we could be looking up the arse of them at the moment too.
His stubbornness is stifling the club and no amount of money or big money deals is going to solve it as as he has proved in the past he won't buy if hinders a younger players progress and considering we have all these 'emerging talents' then he isn't going to deviate from this philosophy.
I don't believe there is a team in the league that is scared of us, I don't believe there is a team in the league that doesn't think they can out muscle us or a team that can't score against us and I don't believe there is a defence that is worried when we are running at them.
At times this year we have been light weight, clueless and under prepared! If it wasn't for the training pictures on the Arsenal website I'd struggle to believe these players train together it's been so disjointed.
In January I was thinking if we don't win the league I'd like to see Liverpool get it, 3 months on and I'm thinking if we don't make Europa I'd like to see Southampton get it!
Starting the season with Giroud and Sanogo as your 2 front players was bad enough but not addressing that in January considering the league position we were in and the injuries we had for me showed utter contempt and arrogance.
So with the heaviest of hearts I think yes, football has moved on and maybe it's time that The Arsenal does too.

I think it's time. Tactically inept. I doubt we would of got back into the game, but if we were to have any chance changes needed to be made at half time, but unfortunately Wenger decided to wait until the predictable 65th minute after the third goes in.

I remember when if there was a manager you wanted to spend money on behalf of your club it was wenger. Now I'm not sure I trust him to spend 100m, for one i'm not convinced he'll spend it all, (and it needs to be spent) and secondly if he did spend it all I'm not convinced he'd spend on the quality, established players that we need. If he did and we went into next season with a squad that we're all excited about it still doesn't solve the tactics dilemma.

I repeat again, when Viera (ohh Viera how I miss you) was asked what his biggest strength was, Viera replied "his belief in his players. Then he was asked, what's his biggest weakness? Viera replied "his belief in his players.

It truely saddens me to say, but I believe he doesn't have what it takes now to see us over the line anymore. Yes we may win the f.a cup, ( which i'm still not convinced about) but I see that more of a nice ending for him rather than a exciting beginning.

This comes from someone who loves the man to bits believe it or not, but he looks so bloody depressed. And him trying to do his zip up has been far more entertaining than our football of late.
Thank you dags for asking that question. I needed to get that off my chest.
Flybo

I will ask you a question, how many 60+ managers manage the successful teams in the prem and europe.

Wenger has given you year upon year of Champions League football.

If you had not had some many serious injuries you would be right up there fighting for the title.

If you had signed Suarez you would already be champions.

Man up and support your manager. You don't seem to realise what you have got.

Do you want to risk being like Manchester United because changing manager can be a real risk.

Wenger certainly has his faults but he has earned the right to carry on and go again next season

If you are daft enough to let Wenger go then I hope we get in there and sign Walcott.

07 Apr 2014 07:31:33
Some great replies guys,

Never felt I'd see the day when I no longer know if Arsene is up to the job.

Even if you take our injuries into consideration you can't explain the pathetic transfer windows. Well you can but it just doesn't make sense.

I truly wouldn't now be surprised if we failed to make 70pts and get knocked out by a vibrant Wigan.

I think the team have zero confidence and even the return of Ramsey, Wilshere and Ozil I don't believe will change anything.

The team is on the spiral of doom with little chance of getting out of it.

Was just watching tv and head line comment was Norwich sack premier league strugglers, my other half kindly said, he could of said Arsenal. :-(

In answer to your question Steve, some 68yr old guy called Jupp Heynckes didn't do to badly last season. :-)

What's the alternative! We simply can't carry on with this team of surrender merchants and when all said and done its the team Arsene has built.
I wish it was different I really do, but these players have no respect for Arsene (1000th game) and none for the fans either.

Arsene undoubtedly loves Arsenal and his players pretend and swear they do too but sadly their actions don't match their words.
Its sad its come to it but its time for change

Great replies, a mixed bag.

Tommy, hands off our Theo mate, unless we are talking swapsies with Suarez, lol.

Jenny you got me. Is yupp available for us lol

Jenny you forgot saf, but that was last year, my point is football is moving on and new fresh ideas on how the game should be played. i'm afraid some species are becoming extinct.

07 Apr 2014 14:15:57
Yeah sorry Steve, I know what you mean and new ideas, fresh face, who knows. Can it get any worse right now.

I remember saying 4 years back when barcelona were dominating football, how it has become like basketball.

to win against barcelona, you had to find their weak link, and every team has one.

Pace, height, stamina, space between defense and so on.

i remember when mourinho had his players just kicking the ball out of play in that semi final against barca, he knew it would disrupt their possesion and it ended up costing them 4 mins of game time just going to get the ball and trying to have a throw in.

the way Klopp ensures his side control the holding position, with a striker in that position, then defense clears a freekick or corner, goes to lewandowski and reus and goetze were off to the races before anyone could say, hibijibi.

same way martinez played yesterday with Lukaku just making monreal look like a chile and exposing that side, while the left was overloaded because cazorla could/would not defend. and it meant the defense was dragged towards baines and mirralas while lukaku kept monreal in trouble.

It reminds me a lot of basketball I used to watch back in the 90's when a player was in the wrong spot the ball would go to the player in the post, posting up a smaller player and then just scoring with ease. simple strategy but it means evolving the players to think outside of your own game plan and to react to in game situations.

06 Apr 2014 22:02:48
Some of you will consider this a silly question, but does anybody want Arsenal to finish 5th or 6th this season? I would assume Wenger would finally leave and a new manager would come in; someone who could take the club forwards. If Arsene did stay, maybe finishing outside the top four would give him the reality check he needs, he could really get some quality signing in. Not to mention the Europa league is very much winnable for us, unlike (lets not kid ourself, though I doubt anybody is) the champions league.

It's a mixed bag, there are of course positives and negatives whether or not we finish in the top four or not.

No European football at all will do for me. It has benefited Liverpool hugely this year

Me I want need plead beg and pray ( I've just turned to god ) we finish fourth, we can't finish lower, it would be a disaster. I hope to god we win the fa cup. Then, because of the fact that mr w can't compete with modern managers anymore he bows out this summer with the grace and accolade he deserves and we get a manager with modern tactical awareness.

What top players are we going to attract if we are not in the CL? Not a lot I would say. Backward step for sure.

06 Apr 2014 21:46:31
Would somebody please explain this offside rule to me please.

Cast your memories back. Newcastle at home to Man City. Cheick Tiote has a perfectly good goal disallowed because a newcasle player (offside) was standing in front of Joe Hart and blocking his view.

Today. Lukaku scores even though an Everton player (offside) completely blocked Sczezny's view and the goal is allowed.

Phase 1, phase2, what a load of horse-5hit.

You are either offside or not.

It's like a woman saying she think's she's pregnant. No, you are either pregnant or not pregnant. you can't be both.

Explain please Gooners.

{Ed025's Note - the grapes on the gooner vine seem to be tasting very sour there DG.. :)

Never mind DG at least your second favourite team won at Upton Park though.

Ed025,

pi55 off back to your own page, lol.

(only joking mate)

PS, please don't mention grapes mate because I feel like getting pi55ed but I'm going to stick to a nice cappuccino, lol.

Ed 025,

Being the Gent I am, I did go onto Everton page to congratulate them after the game mate, especially after the 'rows' I had with them during the week, lol.

{Ed025's Note - i know you did mate..and we applaud you for it DG..

The offside was originally introduced to stop goal hangers. Explain it, with sense you cant. You can be offside for being 6 inches inside the opposition half and not offside in the penalty area ( depending on circumstances ) which one is goal hanging. You can stand offside and your mate who wasn't offside can run through and score. Who is the goal hanger there and who can score. So what is offside if it isn't offside. i'm going to bed.

{Ed025's Note - goodnight steve.. :)

Arsenal reserves won at Upton park?

Oi oi that can't be bad mate.

Basically the idea is to stop the first shot getting to the keeper, u will find u conceed a lot less when defenders, defend and dnt watch the ball move over that green thing on the floor. It was offside and should not of counted 100% but, when u defend like that u deserve to get punished for it.

Everton totally deserved the win and score line.

As Paul Scholes said, its u fans I feel sorry for

Totally agree Chris.

I understand the players are to blame, Arteta, Giroud were absolutely useless.

why is cazorla on the wing? he does not make a single cross from there, does wenger know the point of a winger?

Atleast poldi was taking shots, giroud could not hold the ball, could not fight for position and he could not muscle past opponents like lukaku did. if he plays on next year, arsenal are not improving.

Im not worried about everton because they will drop points, their run in is much more difficult to ours.

however with the way we have been playing, I would find it hard to beat a championship team. cue next sat and the time wenger will have to go.

06 Apr 2014 20:23:05
Ok Gent's and Jenny,

Poor poor result today, not to mention the performance.

But we are still there, even though our fall from grace is ridiculous.

It's now out of our hands but Everton still have to play Utd, City and Southampton, so maybe they can do us a big favour.

I'm not even going to talk about todays game but credit where it's due, Everton played us off the park.

Hoping for favours from utd! Has it really come to that DG, we really are in a sorry old state

G62,

keep it under your hat but Ed002 said we got to stop whining and bitching like babies.

So, I'm posting happy post's lol.

Not going to go into injuries but the obvious retort to our injuries is it happens every bloomin year

sorry to say but I feel I need to say it but wenger needs to go

i think he's addicted to betting on us finishing 4th and loves getting the odds this time of season right up there

i've no proof just me being bitter

i've now gone past the what if its worst if we get rid of him i'm kinda set that it has to be now, i'll probably be crying next year but damn i'm crying them this year

06 Apr 2014 19:04:03
Banter please Eds

Liverpool fan here in flaired trousers

I was routing for you guys today! Hard luck guys!

I'm not trying to stir anything, but Dr Wenger's time to leave has come surely?

{Ed002's Note - You do realise putting something like "Banter Please Eds" results in the post going elsewhere. DG should note that as well. If you want to do banter on match days - it had better be about stuff like "our pies are better than your pies" - otherwise it will end up on the "Other" page or the "Bollocks" page. As a woodworker I have the greatest respect for you as a craftsman - I need a new front door if you are interested - at the moment I am looking to import - but if you and your router can help?}

Hi Bennet
I know not everyone shares this view but I think he's already decided to go, I hope so as would hate the alternative

06 Apr 2014 19:22:07
Wow! No problem Ed002, your point has been noted.

Sorry Ed002, I will consider myself told off, lol.

Bennett, you could be right mate. Watch this space, lol.

06 Apr 2014 15:47:02
Hi Ed why are everyone's posts going on the other post page?
Just wondering as it make look like we don't care and this site isn't popular with Arsenal fans and neither are true.
Just asking

{Ed002's Note - Because all whining and moaning posts around game time go there - the same happens on the MU and Liverpool pages as they are prone to constant grizzling - but it is new to Arsenal.}

I noticed this before, I for one am SOOO glad they aren't all put up on the main banter page!

{Ed002's Note - You are right on there - those who bleat at 2-0 down need to hide when the result is 2-4. Those that bleat today need to hide tomorrow. It all looks bad and leads to other "fans" going well beyond banter. It is cyclic, the candyman has been around for a while for Manchester United and Arsenal and now he has stepped away from one club needing a full refresh and one expecting transition but struggling to start it because of ownership.}

Thank you for explaining I understand now

LOL ED

The moaning isn't just around game time, it has been 24 / 7 over the last 4 weeks

good work from yourselves though :)

06 Apr 2014 17:57:59
We will still finish 4th, trust me.

And again it will paper over the cracks .

At least in seasons gone we have raced into 4th place finishing the season with a terrific run.

The last 4 weeks have been as bad as I can ever remember under AW, I hope he sees it that way

We just can't carry on long this, the cracks have been papered over until there is very little wall remaining to cover.
Next season will be even tougher at the top we are in real danger of entering the wilderness years if we do nothing about it.

Banbary we have had some very hard games mate, now its time to see what we do with the slightly less well organised teams, their not at the bottom for nothing

Welsh I understand that, but losing to the 'top' sides isn't good enough, it looks as though Everton have now caught us up

Welshgooner
there can't be any less well organised teams about than us. we need to win every game from now to the end of the season, and we ain't going to do that, the evidence is chilling.

06 Apr 2014 16:18:07
we are basically in stealth bomber street now. when I saw the team sheet I thought feather me were in trouble.
flamini and arteta do not play well together we only need the one as it leaves us with less attacking options. wenger will rue the day he didn't spend in January, this is the kind of performance we get from a team full of half hearted twitter writing divas and free transfers!
i'm just waiting for the twitter accounts to post the players views of "we are sorry we will fight for our team - ""we apologise to our fans for our poor performance blah blah blah! I want to see your talking on the pitch not the effin twitter account!
wenger and his team have seriously lost the plot, this is not a knee jerk reaction its been coming for months - everyman and tim Sherwood could see we were papering over the cracks, and now we are paying for our lacklustre performances. the stoke and Swansea games may come back to haunt us. players had their heads down and our so called motivators in the team were looking for a hiding place, where did our so called leaders go that appear when we beat lower opposition? - if we going to lose at least put up a fight. it wasn't until the ox and ramsey came on that we actually looked like we could compete.

szecs - played well and kept the score down
sagna - how many times does he fail to put a cross in (and he wants a pay rise!), lost possession for 3rd goal
monreal - accident waiting to happen,
verm- accident waiting to happen - why didn't he stick out a foot for the first goals cross and then he was ball watching while lukaku shot - this guy used to be our benchmark in defence- what has happened to him.
merti - lost without koscienly, was left exposed by verms lack of positional play.
arteta - am I the only one that thinks he shouldn't be in the team let alone captain - he is too slow and makes ray Wilkins (yes i'm showing my age!) look like the most penetrative running midfielder ever.
flamini - is better on his own, stupid foul keeps him out for 2 games. looked jaded and lost on who to pick up. please wenger don't pick arteta and flamini together in midfield.
cazorla - it depends on what side of the bed he gets out of - some days he is a world beater and some like today he is pants. if he played like he moaned he would be consistently good.
rosicky - spent more time chasing back than going forward, nothing went right for him.
podolski - for all his enthusiasm on the twitter account (don't get me wrong he seems a good bloke!) he doesn't always deliver on the pitch. for someone with over a hundred caps for Germany he didn't look like he wanted to be up for a fight today.
giroud - man looks like he has other things on his mind - this is not the same man that was getting motm awards at the start of the season for his goals and workrate. another one that needs to practice football in training rather than moaning.

subs - ramsey and ox came on and gave us some bite but the others around them were pants!
sanogo - scored but offside- apart from that showed us why he was a free transfer!

overall we have let our game slip, you can mask it over with the injuries but even with the players in the squad at wengers disposal we should have got a result, the guy kallstrom seems a decent player when he came on against swansea yet wenger keeps him on the bench while he keeps the "rampant" arteta on the pitch. wenger seriously needs to look at his tactics and motivating skills. I don't want to knock him too much yet but we still have an opportunity in the cup and god help us a perennial fourth! don't hide up your own backside and blame everyone else but yourself and give these players that you trust so much a deserved kick up the backside and give us loyal fans a rare treat of a good hard working performance and silverware.

at the end of the day mr wenger the buck stops with you - you pick the team- you motivate the team - you coach the team - you buy the team etc. etc.

Hulk Hogunner (upset)

Sounds like you want a whole new eleven and new manager. I guess it wouldn't be arsenal then - might as well support another team? ;_))

Cangun

Its not about supporting another team its about effort and commitment. are you seriously telling me todays performance or of the last 2 months is what you are proud of, then if it is son then it is you that should be searching for a new team. i'm a proud arsenal supporter that pays good money to see them when I can, I want to see effort not bury my head in the sand and hope it will all go away.

Hulk Hogunner still upset)

Hulk
man we r in 4th place had a lot of injuries, we r in the semi finale of the f a cup
we have money to spend, (well I think so)
we beat the a few weeks back we r above them,
its not all rosy but its not all doom and gloom either

Hi welshgooner

I agree with you It is not all doom and gloom but this starting X1 is not covering themselves in glory, its the performances and the lacklustre fighting spirit that is non existent that upsets me. this is down to either the players attitude and complacency or wengers tactical/coaching wisdom. i'm sorry to say I think it is both. we can use all the excuses of injuries but we had a January window when we were top and had injuries, wenger had the money and support of expectant supporters who were buzzing. but old scrooge decided he wanted a free with a back problem!
look its like this I want a premiership and champions league place and the fa cup like every gooner but you have to ask yourself do certain players share our desire.

we need to build a team around jack ramsey ox theo and gibbs bring in the guile and flair of Europe and Americas but have the fighting spirit at its core. IMO players like sagna monreal vermaelan arteta cazorla giroud podolski bendtner need to take a long hard look at themselves and see if they can produce week in week out, otherwise it would be In everyones interest if they left.

Hulk Hogunner (still slightly upset)

I agree with some of this. Jack is overrated and unreliable though. Verm too. The guys you want to build on are solid as is Mert/kos and sagna.

All of our boys would be just fine but we need a talisman (Ronaldo, Suarez etc) that's why I think we should suck it up and buy one BIG player he will make the rest 10-20% better. Any ideas on who that might be?

06 Apr 2014 16:03:28
Wow, you can't help but laugh, or cry, or both.

06 Apr 2014 13:32:47
DG if Remy gets us 20 plus PL goals next season you will be known as Sir Dags the wise forever BUT! If he ends up making Giroud look prolific you have to go on Britain's got talent and play the spoons while doing 1000 tee ups and produce a recognisable rendition of my old mans a dustman, deal?

Lol G62, Mate I would do it stark naked if I have too lol.

62/dags
im so low now, bring back the Dr dien
he will mend our club.
4th is still ours

I think we're all agreed, this is pretty much entirely welsh's fault, why can't wales have a vote on independence so we can get rid of them at last ;) just joking buddy. in all seriousness, that was worse than watching flybo finishing himself off over olivier on motd as the clip is interrupted by Alan sheerer's monotonous analysis

Welsh mate, whatever happens its not the end of the world, maybe just the Arsenal Arsene years.
Its time to try something new for everyone

Saint bud that made me laff.
62, no mate don't think we need a change, just some luck
just watch handy andy help west ham,
eds thanks for not post my orther messages, I was out of order.
cheers.mind I didn't get a yellow like flybo, lol

Saint arsenal,
With girouds performances of late, and him spending the night with that harlet in a hotel room, I am so over him. He isn't worth a w***.
Flybo

Pass pass pass pass concede.

pass pass pass pass lose the ball.

nothing new.

i refuse to believe Everton have a stronger starting team to ours, they just wanted it more, we seem to be lacklustre.

Arteta is crap, Giroud is probably the worst striker in the EPL, I would have cardiff's or norwich strikers over him.

cazorla is not a winger and adds no depth.

Poldi should start upfront. Wenger has run out of ideas and excuses. good bye monsieur. thank you for not spending.

I still think we will qualify for top 4, considering the run in everton have compared to us. but if we lose another then we are def out of the top 4.

LAKER, top part made sence, but giroud is mot crap, I think he is not our problem, I know a lot on here like poldi, but he not for me .if we looose wenger we have lost a top manager and will go into the unknown, which is not what I want.
bring in dein as a director of footi, let ivan do what he does?
let wenger and dein bring back the good days .
dien loves our club.
Stan look at what's happening, wenger needs help he has got us threw the move, but now sort it out or let the russain in

06 Apr 2014 12:42:55
Pleased to see deleufeu and barkley on bench. A bit of pace missing.

Was always tempting fate really weren't you ;)

In-play analysis are never a good idea, lol.

06 Apr 2014 11:31:40
Well
its a big day for us.the doom and gloom lads are ready for the Arsene out if we loose, LOL
I Think we will get 4th very comfortable .regardless of today.im a bit worried wigan are on a run of good form, always dangerous a side with nothing to loose.
Can someone tell me what has happend to Diaby.
is he going to come back this year as on talkrubbish it said he still thinks he might make the france team, or I drempt it not sure.
Well i'm going for a 2-2
post yr scores
Cheers

3 1 to the Arsenal for me mate

If they play like they did against chelski 3-1. If they play like they did against sheik city 1-3. Talk about sitting on fence.

At present, Diaby still has no return date.

The dream of making the France team is what he is using as his target.

Personally, I think he mean's the 2018 World Cup, lol.

2-1 Everton, sorry just a gut feeling.

06 Apr 2014 09:48:08
I've read that the players want Arsene to stay! Well today we will see how much they mean that.
If we beat Everton away that would not only be a fantastic result but also make top four look a lot more certain.
Lose today and the pressure on Arsene and his own uncertainty will pick up a lot of pace.
Action speaks louder than words so let's see how the players really feel by the effort and result they produce today.

Lets hope they put in more effort than they did for his 1000 game celebration.

Fair point Steve, that has to be the worst I have ever seen a team let their manager down ever.
Like I say actions speak loudest

You lot are makeing me nervous over my double bet,
Steve.it was shocking, do you think everton would settle for a draw, because I think if they come at us we could pick um off

Good post mate.

With him leaving defeuleu and barkley out, yes

I love the positivity lads but come of its against a team in form away

best I reckon we could hope for is a draw, oh how sadly I was mistaken

06 Apr 2014 06:48:53
Arsene Wenger may have found out why we have had so many injuries throughout the years. So from next week the club are going to stop the players being hit with a baseball bat ever time they take a shot, and to take a shower without the healing properties of falling razor blades.
It might help.
Flybo

06 Apr 2014 08:47:24
And why oh why our Physio's wear boxing gloves and knuckle dusters is beyond me :-)