Up the Arse! Goons thread. :)

[Darealrath]

We need 3-4 experienced players.

Hleb would be a big loss. I really hope that isn't true.

 

[bus24]

Quaresma

Would like to know peoples opinions on Quaresma.

His name is always linked to the biggest clubs in the business, but is he really good enough to play at a club like Arsenal/Chelsea/insert big team here?

He's already bottled it at a big club and personally, I'm not sure if he would be a good investment. Especially, for the price that is generally suggested.

Plenty of tricks etc., but does he have the substance required?

 

[DB10]

Who says Quaresma bottled it at Barcelona?

That's not the reason he left. He left because Rijkaard hardly ever played him and he didn't like the guy.

 

[Embers]

Please tell me Walcott is starting tonight. If hes not ill cry.

 

[Benno_900]

For me, Walcott's selection depends on the CB pairings. If we had it our way, Walcott would certainly start but it is Wenger who loves Eboue ...

Senderos will get murdered by the midget strikers. Hope he doesn't start. Eboue will be at RB with Toure at CB. Walcott will start because of a lack of options really.

If Senderos starts, Wenger will start Eboue ahead of Walcott.

 

[youngsaint]

Would like to know peoples opinions on Quaresma.

His name is always linked to the biggest clubs in the business, but is he really good enough to play at a club like Arsenal/Chelsea/insert big team here?

He's already bottled it at a big club and personally, I'm not sure if he would be a good investment. Especially, for the price that is generally suggested.

Plenty of tricks etc., but does he have the substance required?

I think he is further developed then what Ronaldo was when he went to Man U but whether or not Wegner could do what Sir Alex has done with C-Ron is another question...

Even bigger question is will you faulk out the doe.... Highly unprobable

 

[Arsene Wenger]

Typical. Dominating possession...

Can guarantee you we will cop it 2 zip tho.

WTF is Song doing on the park... and Eboue again...

 

[A Bit High]

What a free kick!! Owen thats SPECIAL!!

3 years without a trophy, surely the message must now get thru to Wenger?? Me thinks Hansens famous quote that "You dont win trophies with kids" may have been a dozen years to early.

 

[NMFCMUFC]

You can win it with kids... you just need kids who can fight for titles.

Arsenal's lack of depth just caught up with them this season, it was unfortunate for them, but just like United's kids needed to fight for a title in 05/06 before a challenge in 06/07, same with Chelsea in 03/04, perhaps Arsenal can use this season as a stepping stone.

And besides, not many thought they were good enough for a sustained title challenge, and being out of it with 5 matches to go, that's a decent go in my eyes.

 

[Corrosion]

Such a disappointing fall from the top of the ladder....that is all I have to say.

 

[Benno_900]

"If we can add one player we will do it - not in each department - just one experienced player."

Hope it's a striker. Eduardo was a great signing, exactly what we needed. Need another striker or two of the same type on top of Vela. Bendtner could leave and RVP/Eduardo will be injured next season.

Unfortunately I don't think Wenger will sell Eboue. He sees him as a different player to everyone else. So he might not sign another winger. He will probably also stick with Denilson/Diaby to replace Gilberto as well as CMs.

 

[moomba]

How much would you think you'd be asking for Bendtner if he does leave? I get the feeling he might be on the way out too.

 

[Corrosion]

3-5 million bracket, I'd reckon.

 

[NMFCMUFC]

Low expectations there

 

[Hawthorn United]

Maybe Eboue has been pretty impressive in training. Only reason you can think of as to why Arsene would continually play him ahead of Walcott.

Or he doesn't believe Theo is ready to play 90mins and is more effective coming on to attack the tiring players?

 

[Benno_900]

Admittedly, Walcott is more effective as an impact player coming off the bench. He probably thought Eboue would be more effective in helping out Toure defensively in dealing with Ronaldo as well.

But playing Eboue is as if we are playing with 10 men against 12; he gives the ball away in promising positions almost every single time. So Walcott should obviously be playing instead (by default). These Rosicky injuries are a big problem.

 

[bus24]

3-5 million bracket, I'd reckon.

Jeez, we're looking for decent fullbacks, I'm sure we'd give up more than 5m

But seriously, if he goes, he's a decent player, and IMO would do really well for a side outside the top 4.

Reckon you could get 7-8 for him.

 

[A Bit High]

What do you gunner fans think of the lack of natural leaders in your team?? Your all talking about buying this and that from a positional point of view but from where I sit you have no leadership group. This is of course due to the youth in the side but there is no age barrier when it come to leadership. Wenger needs to buy someone who can marshall his troops on the park when things aren't going right or more importantly for you guys just after you score....Any thoughts?

 

[Vieira]

This was forwarded to me by a mate. Thought it was amusing...

"Arsene Around"

The bloke who not very long ago turned up at the Blue Bell with a
copy of the Geordie testament ‘The Bible According to St James's' has
furnished me an exclusive preview of the Wenger Diaries – a look into
the mind and thoughts of Premiership football's most complex mind.

It’s so bang up to date, some of this stuff hadn’t happened yet!

Monday 14 April
‘Wake up early. I set my alarm clock for later but, naturellement,
someone has been in my room during the night and adjusted the time. I
will not say who – we will let others judge.

I trip over the rug in my bedroom. The rug is not penalised in any
way. If furnishings are allowed to keep getting away with these
travesties of justice then it is the end for Arsene.
I am waiting for a package but my postman – who seemed to get himself
in a good position - fails to deliver. Is my postman Emmanuel Eboue?

For sure it has not been the best of starts for me but I am working
hard to make sure that nothing bothers me anymore but getting on with
the job. I have lunch with my friend William at Pizza Express.

I have a Pizza a la Noci, but William doesn’t want anything off the
children’s menu. I try to tell him he must have something and he goes
out the door and sits on a traffic island for the next three hours.
He is an excellent role model to my young team.

Next I meet Phillipe Senderos on a street corner. It is good to see
him. However as soon as we leave that corner I lose him very easily
and he spends the rest of the afternoon about ten yards away from me
at all times. It is very frustrating.

I return to my car to find that a penalty fine has been given against
me. Strange how all the other cars on the street have not been given
tickets and yet they are all parked too.

The traffic warden tells me they are not parked on double yellow
lines like mine. I tell him that I know what is going on, I am not
stupid. He asks me what I mean and I smile and say ‘Let us think our
own thoughts, mon ami.’

It takes me an age to get to the training ground. All the traffic
lights are against me. Red and yellow lights everywhere, but only for
me.

Finally I arrive and I’m greeted by my squad of wonderful players.
Adebayor and Bendtner are holding hands and laughing and joking as
usual.

Jens Lehmann is giving everyone fine words of encouragement as befits
his status as our senior professional. Young Theo is coming on leaps
and bounds with his French A-levels.

I call the boys together and tell them they are all winners. They
play the best football. Then we play my favourite practising game
‘Twenty Passes Before You Can Score.’

Hoyte is terrible at this. Adebayor suggests we practise our free-
kicks and corners – then every one falls about laughing! He is a
funny guy.

It is great that humour can break the tension. I tell them another
joke – that Alex Ferguson is going to buy van Persie for 10 million
euros. Why does Robin not laugh?

Then I get serious with the boys. I tell them not to listen to the
voices in their head that tell them to be paranoid. I tell them not
to be neurotic – just leave that to me.

I tell them not to be concerned for my mental state. I may be a bit
wobbly right now but I’m not Tom Hicks. I tell them that we will come
back stronger, fitter and better than ever.

Cesc, le petit Espagnol, asks if I will be able to buy anyone in the
summer to bolster the squad. I smile and nod. He need not worry. I
have my eye on two Malian goat-herders as we speak plus a fine
central defender from the Finnish second division.

In five years, I tell him, they will be football Gods comme Cygan et
Stepanovs, especially the girl from Helsinki.

During training the boys look sad and tired. Moi aussi. Staying
positive in this situation is about as feasible as winning a penalty
at Old Trafford.

Sometimes, I think to myself that I am the only one who understood
Eric Cantona’s sardines and trawler story. I too have been charting
new territory in my elegant vessel the SS Arsenal (it would have been
a 747 liner but we had to keep Bergkamp with us in the early years.)

Many have followed us with delight, but many others have tried to
peck out the eyes of my vision. There have been stormy waters and
troubled times. We were les Invincibles and maintenant, we are les
Miserables.

My seagulls are not journalists and reporters. They are the sight-
forsaken Rileys and Wileys of this world. These men of selective
vision (and I know how that works, believe me!) People accuse me of
having a persecution complex but these people are just out to get me.

I am a man of principle. There are ways to play le beau jeu but I
know only one. I will not change. And we shall not crumble like an
Englishman on the last day of a major golf tournament. And if it
never succeeds again then it won’t be my fault.

Because I tell you this, mes amis:
Non, Je ne regrette rien!*
*Except picking Senderos. And moving Toure to right-back. Oh and
selling Diarra.’

Well it’s fascinating stuff, eh? Personally I hope le professeur does
come back stronger next season cos he still manages my second
favourite team. Unlucky, Gooners.

 

[Embers]

I see Eboue is scapegoat number 13567

He was good on Sunday. He created alot more then Hleb who had to run over to the right and receive a pass from Eboue just to touch the thing. Eboue should start most games regardless and should of played right back with Toure in the centre.

 

[Arsene Wenger]

I see Eboue is scapegoat number 13567

He was good on Sunday. He created alot more then Hleb who had to run over to the right and receive a pass from Eboue just to touch the thing. Eboue should start most games regardless and should of played right back with Toure in the centre.

Hleb was probably our best player on saturday.

He create two great openings for Adebayor...

 

[DB10]

Eboue is ****ing awful and should never be allowed near the team again tbh.

Bring back Nelson Vivas.

 

[Darealrath]

What do you gunner fans think of the lack of natural leaders in your team?? Your all talking about buying this and that from a positional point of view but from where I sit you have no leadership group. This is of course due to the youth in the side but there is no age barrier when it come to leadership. Wenger needs to buy someone who can marshall his troops on the park when things aren't going right or more importantly for you guys just after you score....Any thoughts?

Our leadership and mental strength have been fine.

Depth has been one problem. A horror run of "luck" has been the other.

 

[Benno_900]

With Chelsea dropping points this morning, do you guys think we can still finish second?

Our leadership and mental strength have been fine.

Depth has been one problem. A horror run of "luck" has been the other.

I'm beginning to doubt our 'mental strength' lately. We shouldn't be conceding so soon after scoring. When was the last time we kept a clean sheet anyway?

I see Eboue is scapegoat number 13567

He was good on Sunday. He created alot more then Hleb who had to run over to the right and receive a pass from Eboue just to touch the thing. Eboue should start most games regardless and should of played right back with Toure in the centre.

Hahahah, even the commentators were bagging him (that 'hot potato' remark).

Get on the phone to Curbs. He is all yours.

 

[Darealrath]

I'm beginning to doubt our 'mental strength' lately. We shouldn't be conceding so soon after scoring. When was the last time we kept a clean sheet anyway?

The reason I think our mental strength has been good is because despite falling away we've still played at a high level. We've collapsed results wise but not play wise.

The conceding goals, especially when we have a lead, is a problem but I don't think it's one of mental strength.

I really hope we get second. Be a shame to have performed so well and slip to 3rd.