andy Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Thought I would start an Arsenal thread. I am couldn't find one and I find it interesting. (A lot more interesting than Man City !) Over the years I have had no major problem with the club..cant stand them but I mean not to the the proportions of Manure, Spertz, filthy dirty scum Leeds, Septic, and of course the the loveable scousers. It was great to beat them in the CL however.. thanks Bridgey ! and since pretty much dominate them. Got a feeling they really hate us.. which is good ^_^ so now they look like losing Toure, their last half decent defender. What on earth is going on there ? is it simply that they are still skint from the stadium build ? Has Wenger lost it ? Is it just a football cycle thing ? Their fans must be really bemused, I would be upset I think if I was them. It would be if they finish second behind us this season :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I think Wenger lost it ages ago. He has shown a stubborn streak that even the French must find excessive! Whether the finances are that tight we will probably discover very soon. They have cashed in on Adebayor and Toure and if little, or none, of that money is given to Wenger to spend on players then it is safe to assume that the financial pressure brought on by the new stadium has left them more screwed than they are willing to admit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valerie Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) Wasn't Toure booed by his own supporters last season? If so, the supporters aren't probably not that bemused or upset ^_^ Edited July 29, 2009 by Valerie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loz Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 That was Eboue not Toure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valerie Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Oh right. I must have been confused with my own booing of Toure ^_^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I think their financial problems must be a lot worse than they're letting on, otherwise there's simply no way that they would have indulged Wenger's flawed vanity project for as long as they have. Good football or not, clubs are now businesses and so need success and trophies, above all else, to keep the books balenced. Arsenal have clearly gone backwards in recent years and the fact that Wenger is no longer considered an untouchable God by many Gooner fans is testament to that. The fact that the board have tolerated and supported this decline must be a strong sign that they know he is doing his job with his transfer hands tied behind his back, and so are willing to step back and watch the slump into mediocrity. After all, despite his flaws Wenger is the best at getting the most from cheap, young players, and so they must know that no one else would do a better job at slowing the decline and getting them the most money back from a very frugal outlay. Problem is that in past years, CL football and the cash it provides was almost a guarantee, as 4th place or higher was their's by default. With the rise of Everton and Villa, and the cash of City, this year they will have a real problem securing that spot, and the loss of revenue this would mean could be a serious problem. Cashburden Grave looks like being a seriously apt knickname. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted July 29, 2009 Author Share Posted July 29, 2009 I think they do have some cash restrictions however they could have cashed in on Fabregas (spelling) and kept hold of Adebayor (spelling again) and Toure (Psorbaly spelt wrong also) maybe have been a better option ? I think Wenger has lost it is a better explanation. or a mixture of the two. BTW Val saw them home and away last season.. think the whole team where being booed ^_^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valerie Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Awww, what a shame ^_^ Nice thread this is turning out to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivorycoast Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Why the hell don't arsenal just get taken over by some rich bar stewards? They are the last of the top 4 to of been taken over. Are they too expensive or some sh*t? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggy McMuffin Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Why the hell don't arsenal just get taken over by some rich bar stewards? They are the last of the top 4 to of been taken over. Are they too expensive or some sh*t? They won't sell to foreign owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWestwayWonder Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I will first say that I hate Arsenal with a passion, almost as much as the dippers. Sorry, Andy, I cant share your viewpoint. Them selling Toure and Adebayor, even at those prices, is terrible business because, as Tim says, its City who is hunting for the fourth spot. If they get it, Arsenal might be in serious trouble, and become even more of a seller next year. Eventually, the dam is gonna break on the Top 4, and Arsenal will undoubtedly be the first one swept away. I think their financial problems must be a lot worse than they're letting on, otherwise there's simply no way that they would have indulged Wenger's flawed vanity project for as long as they have.Good football or not, clubs are now businesses and so need success and trophies, above all else, to keep the books balenced. Arsenal have clearly gone backwards in recent years and the fact that Wenger is no longer considered an untouchable God by many Gooner fans is testament to that. The fact that the board have tolerated and supported this decline must be a strong sign that they know he is doing his job with his transfer hands tied behind his back, and so are willing to step back and watch the slump into mediocrity. After all, despite his flaws Wenger is the best at getting the most from cheap, young players, and so they must know that no one else would do a better job at slowing the decline and getting them the most money back from a very frugal outlay. Problem is that in past years, CL football and the cash it provides was almost a guarantee, as 4th place or higher was their's by default. With the rise of Everton and Villa, and the cash of City, this year they will have a real problem securing that spot, and the loss of revenue this would mean could be a serious problem. Cashburden Grave looks like being a seriously apt knickname. Pretty much sums it up well from my point of view, tim :( What I find strangest about the Arsenal/Wenger/cash situation is the number of times members of the board have spoken up to the effect of "The manager will have money to spend. We will be reinforcing the team." etc etc. I remember this in the past, and Wenger saying it himself. I know they have to keep up appearances, but I think its cowardly of board room suits to, essentially, make Wenger look like a stubborn bar steward who wont spend a dime. If thats truly the situation I have to really admire the old codger. The fact that he has stayed there forever, and put up with having no money when other, richer clubs were batting their eyelashes at him speaks volumes to the type of character he is. Clearly he is stubborn and loyal beyond all hope. Makes me think if the gunners ever won a major trophy again, he would walk. I would love nothing more than Madrid or Barca to offer him a managerial or director of football position and have him snap that up (and take Fabregas with him!) but thats wishful thinking at this point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Cheers Westway. I agree on the Wenger assessment as well, although it could be that it is not the club he is loyal to, but more his project/vision of how football 'should' be played, and he knows that Arsenal is the one club where he has the power and freedom to indulge it. Madrid would love to have a team that plays like Arsenal, but unless that team actually won stuff year after year, he's be out on his arse pretty quick smartish. Ditto for pretty much any other top team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Even with Toure going to Citeh, I wouldnt want any player citeh have here at Chels ! ...and that includes baby face bobbino. On the other hand, Ars have 3 players I wouldnt mind playing for us (not that I want us to buy them) Fabregas, Arshavin and Rosicky. I still think they will finish above Citeh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coombsie Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I truly believe that the Arse will lose their place in the "Top Four" this season. Any side that is about to rely on Gallas and Silvestre as a starting centre back partnership, and that will also partner Bentner and Van Persie up front, deserves to fail !!!! I am not convinced that selling your top scorer and best centre back to your biggest rival for a ECL spot is a good move either, but the deals have bought in £41m and I think this will be used to ease the debt burden which is clearly affecting the Boards' judgment. Even the most ardent and loyal Arse mates are now starting to question the Clubs' long term aims, and I think that an almost certain mediocre season will be Wenger's last. I think that Eboue has gone too, not that there will be many tears spilt in N5 over that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PloKoon13 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I wouldn't be so ready to dismiss Arsenal. Although they're lacking star names or a talisman (save Fabregas, who isn't exactly an Henry), they still have a team full of high-quality names, who are going to develop a certain level of cohesion if they aren't buying many new names this year. They have a solid, if unspectacular keeper in Almunia who is always improving. They have arguably the best right-back in the Premiership (if we're assuming Ferreira is not going to hit his previous heights of form) in Sagna. Toure has been slowly deteriorating for a couple of seasons now, so getting rid for a pretty hefty sum and selling to a direct rival is a very good idea. Vermaelen (from what I can tell) is a little slow, but good in the air and a good tackler, and is thus a perfect partner for Gallas, who is pacier and slighter of build, and as much as I hate him, he's still a good player. If they can get rid of that liability Clichy, or if he picks up some of his lost form in favour of a better left back (if they could nick Leighton Baines that would be fantastic for them), then they have got a very solid defence. As for backup, well I'm sure they have a couple of wonderkids coming through... :( In midfield, they certainly don't have a dirth of quality. Rosicky, Arshavin and Fabregas are all players who would walk into most teams, and although Nasri isn't quite the finished article, he certainly isn't by any means bad. Depending on what type of midfield they wish to play (i.e. three man or four man), and also depending on the fitness of Rosicky, they could line up in a few ways. I think the beginning would be to keep playing Song in defensive mid. His distribution isn't exactly of Pirlo standard, but he is solid. In front of him they have Rosicky (the distributor) and Arshavin (the pace, flair and guile), and at the head of the diamond Fabregas, who is no second striker, but he can play well linking the attack and defence, and pitching in with a few goals. They'd hope he proves more of a leader than Gallas ever did... I'm probably going to get hounded for this, but I think Bendtner is going to come good. He outshone Adebayor big time last season. His work rate doesn't reflect his boot colour, and is in fact top class; he is just missing a bit of luck and the final touch. He's still a bit rough around the edges, but I think he will become a class target man in time if given a chance. If he's played next to Eduardo, they may not be the perfect partnership, but I think they would be effective. Robin Van Persie could be played, but for me he's too inconsistent, but would be worth a shot if Eduardo starts struggling with injury again. Walcott for me is also not good enough. Someone who can't break down an Andorran defence probably shouldn't be in the Champions League, but his pace is worth using in a super sub role, someone who can run rings around tired legs in the last twenty or so minutes in games. Adebayor is no big loss. They got big bucks for him, he wasn't performing and from what I could tell he was a dressing room cancer. My point is that we shouldn't write off Arsenal. They should, in theory, comfortably finish in the top four. Villa are going backwards, and Man City are nowhere near the finished article (if the finished article is anything above UEFA Cup quality). If Liverpool do self-implode (fingers crossed!) they might even be worth a cheeky bet for third. The main team to watch out for would be Everton, but if Everton do get a big chunk of their best players poached, they might struggle to keep up. If everything works out like how I have described... I'd be scared. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 They will get off to a flier but they will not last the pace. I agree that if they played pretty much their first choice XI every week they would finish in the top 4 Plokoon however I don't believe they have anywhere near enough strength in depth to last out the whole season. One thing which seems to have been overlooked is the two who have gone to Citeh will be missing in January/February because of the ANC but I still don't see why that should have a bearing on the gooners selling them unless they replace them. Bottom line is I couldn't give a flying frig about them mainly because their fans epitomise their blind manager in 'whom they trust' so implicitly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PloKoon13 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 They will get off to a flier but they will not last the pace.I agree that if they played pretty much their first choice XI every week they would finish in the top 4 Plokoon however I don't believe they have anywhere near enough strength in depth to last out the whole season. One thing which seems to have been overlooked is the two who have gone to Citeh will be missing in January/February because of the ANC but I still don't see why that should have a bearing on the gooners selling them unless they replace them. Bottom line is I couldn't give a flying frig about them mainly because their fans epitomise their blind manager in 'whom they trust' so implicitly. Yes, I'm not sure if I addressed this, but I agree that their major falldown is strength in depth. With players like Rosicky and Eduardo who aren't unlikely to miss six months at a time with injuries, it's a bit dangerous to rest all their laurels on one good first xi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChelseaYankee Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Man City might not finish in the top 6 anyway. They need time to gel as a team. They'll also be missing Eto'o, Adebeyor, and Toure as well as some others for ANC. Idealy a team like Everton comes in and takes the 4th spot and Arsenal and Man City are looking back in anger as some crazy Manc once said. Man City did one thing in their favor and took good players from all their nearest rivals for that 4th spot--Everton/Aston Villa/Arsenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUENUT Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 (edited) Yes, I'm not sure if I addressed this, but I agree that their major falldown is strength in depth. With players like Rosicky and Eduardo who aren't unlikely to miss six months at a time with injuries, it's a bit dangerous to rest all their laurels on one good first xi. Judging by their supporters reactions, after leaving Wembley following our 2-1 win, and sitting in the home end for the 4-1 demolition at the'White Elephant-Grove' they're are getting restless and losing patience with Wenger. It's only a matter of time before their supporters turn. Thier season tickets are astronomical, in a stadium which is nice, but noone wanted, all the real supporters prefer Highbury. They're selling all their 1st team players and not reinvesting in top of the range replacements, in fact, they're not even signing replacements! They haven't won a trophy for years, is it any reason they're pissed off? While their neighbours Spurs have reached 2 cup finals in the past 2 years, winning one, and signing players like there's no tomorrow, and Chelsea have long overtaken them as the Capitals top club. I give it 5/6 games until Arsenal fans are either singing 'sack the board' or booing Arsenal and Wenger off the field!!! (Outside be 1st manager sacked/leaving next season - honestly!) And they are another club, who's supporters think they have a god-given right for glory, 'you've got no history', 'you bought this', 'you bought that'....'boring Chelsea', 'at least we play football' (but they always fail to mention the good old 'Graham years') - they're as bad as scousers!! Just get on a tube full of them while wearing a Chelsea shirt if you don't believe me!!! Have you ever seen Chelsea win the league - at least they can't sing that anymore. Deep down, they know - Things aren't well at Arsenal! Ha...Ha...ha hahahahaha Edited July 29, 2009 by BLUENUT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUENUT Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Sorry I take that back, eveything will be OK afterall....... http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport...ick-Vieira.html Their main transfer target for the entire summer...........wayhhaa ha ha ha ha ha ha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruh Buh Juh Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Wenger has to be the definition of a stubborn Frenchman. Managing an English club for this long...and he hasn't picked up the accent AT ALL?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkw Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 saw a graph of season ticket prices yesterday and theirs is incredible, its unbelievable how they can charge that much. their cheapest is almost as expensive as our most expensive, and their most expensive is well over £1500. apparently they have had a drop of around 30% in people renewing their season tickets, mainly due to them having to buy them outright and not having a payment plan. if they miss out on the champions league spot next season (or even if they dont get through the knockout round this season) then they are right in the sh*t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonetti Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Great - lets hope it happens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 They'll also be missing Eto'o, Really? I think they missed him already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLUENUT Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Really? I think they missed him already My dad made an interesting comparison, saying they reminded him of Chelsea when the East stand was being built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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