On Arsenal.com, the reserve team manager Neil Banfield says:
"We are looking for them to have benefited from playing at the sharp end, playing for points when it really does matter - we want to see how they have handled that.
"Also the preparation, because they are playing Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday, how they get over one game and get ready for the next one. It's the mental side of the game. When you're on loan you're playing for points and that really matters.
"They grow up, without a doubt. Maturity is something else we look for because they have seen what it's like [elsewhere], they have experienced different levels of the game. They see how hard it is away from Arsenal because they are well looked after here. They go out on loan and they realise there is another side to it."
It is a shame we cannot suggest new loan deals for Clichy, Sagna, Fabianski, Almunia, Diaby, Denilson, Walcott, Vela, Rosicky, Eboue and Wenger. Maybe they would come back a little more worldly and wise - able to mould new ideas into their game, and learn to fight for points.
Just a thought.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Sunday, 18 April 2010
But is it a crime?
So the players who lacked humility, now lack desire and spirit. They felt they had the game won and made little effort in Wigan's amazing comeback.
I would go so far to say that they looked surprised rather than ashamed or hurt at the final whistle. The surprise is another ingredient of the hubris I mentioned in my last post. The tactical mistakes made by the players and more importantly, the manager are truly upsetting.
Only a few key things to mention. Goal 1. Diaby stopped tracking his player and strolled to the penalty spot as Watson ghosted to the edge of the area. Diaby didn't even get goalside. He veered to the near post where the cut back was coming from. His positioning was so wrong that his body shape was at its most narrow so had he even faced the cut back pass he would have never made contact.
Goal 2. Sagna makes a challenge on Moses that was not needed. Jockey the player and see where he wants to go. "Hmmm? No I will run into his side and dive next to him like he were Jurgen Klinsmann celebrating a goal".
Fabianski. Happy birthday 'great' keeper. If I drive to work really well within the legal speed limit but every day I kill a cat or injure an old lady because I cannot anticipate flotsum from the pavement, I should be bitch slapped by a judge and never allowed to drive. Lukas is that to football. He CAN catch, punch and dive to feet - but not often or consistently. Same as the Spanish Waiter. These two 'great' keepers are surely the most unpopular since George Woods. Wenger must take the blame as Lehmann made 3 mistakes and he was out. These guys have kept their mouths quiet so they can wreck a season that can alter the moods of millions of people. How odd that Arsene would show so much belief in such poor players? It is a massive mistake on his part and a stronger backroom team would call him to task on that. Like Cyrano de Bergerac, nobody dare comment on the size of his nose for fear of losing a bollock.
Goal 3. Clichy against Rodallega. The ball was in his control. No it wasn't. Comic Clichy in crunch time is a cock. Say that ten times quickly and that confusion is what goes through his head at 85-90 in each game. See too many examples for example! Great finish to sap the life from Fabianski like a Repo Man. Wenger must plan the defensive formations based on his 1975 black and white catalogue retrospective of L.S Lowry.
Above, a flat back four trying to defend a two dimensional box of frogs.
So what of Wenger? What of all the blogs suggesting that this is a scandal and he should be sacked? What of the fans suggesting the remaining games are meaningless?
Well they are not. Spurs and City could yet catch us, so we need Song and Arshavin back even half fit. Why didn't RVP come on at 2-0 or 2-1 and scare Wigan. What is Wenger protecting him for? If he is ready, then he is ready.
We threw the title away at Spurs and had it handed back to us. We then threw it away today when we took Eastmond off. I spent the whole game not getting him at all until it dawned on me. He is the annoying player in the playground who will run around all day forcing you into mistakes. He doesn't do much else. He blocks, he runs, he hassles and in the main it worked. To substitute him for RVP was tactical suicide and Wenger knows it.
Arsene did his press conference sans tie so he must have been so angry that he loosened his tie. What rage, what anger, what coolness. What lack of blame on his part. Now to appease Seb I won't call for his head. But he should be held to account for our third defeat on the bounce. Every season we collapse and the only difference this season is it is later than usual. 71 points is a decent haul but we have punched above our weight this season and have been found wanting. Should Wenger have to answer for this, or does his dichotomy of treating the players like responsible, intelligent adults, yet highlighting the collective youth in the side be a contradiction that none of us have to dwell on?
I for one am flummoxed as I feel he has now talked himself into a cul de sac of shite. On the one hand they lack experience, discipline, maturity. On the other, they have such spirit, commitment and belief. On the third tentacle, they have a naivety that needs nipping in the bud, on the fourth there is a desire to be winners and only of the best competitions. On the fifth, is the disdain for the cups that would provide the players with the experience of British pressure in order for them to cut their teeth. On the sixth is a DVD called Sprinting Into Injury volumes 17-250.
There are always two empty hands for the 'flail'. The crowds now imitate his flail. He is a parody of himself as his reasons contradict themselves. He won't pay over the odds but knows the players he needs will not come for the money he is willing to offer. He will not compromise his style and manner of football but when the shit hits the fan we play route one whether Bendtner or Arshavin are the lone frontman. He won't buy English because he doesn't believe in grit, yet we are linked with Kevin Nolan of all people!?! He wants to be on a par with Barcelona but is well known to not practise defending with his team, nor create a game plan based on the opposition.
I have said this in passing so many times that I will now consign it to text. Led Zeppelin's final album was a bunch of self indulgent, utter shite. Led Zeppelin!!! Gods of Rock making shite. They couldn't do anything about it because John Bonham drank himself to death. So before Fabregas hits the booze on a Russian style bender, I would suggest that Wenger cull some of the young, impotent and frankly self-obsessed bulls (who would, like Narcissus, like to do nothing more than stare at their own reflection in the trough) - and instead 'stake' his family holiday money on a couple of bulls, dripping with semen who can like Third Eye on the Bad Boy remix of Supercat's Dolly Me Baby "make fellas jump up and girls get buck naked".
Now you might accuse me of waffling but actually this is a catharsis as I try to let Wenger's plethora of contradictions resonate and settle in my obviously ill informed football mind. Because you see, I want him held to account, taken to task, have to explain himself and prove himself as a decent manager by working to other people's expectations. Doing it all his way makes him a despot and frankly a pain in the Arsene. Myles Palmer calls him the master of spin. Spin means never having to say you are sorry and account for your mistakes.
Farmer Arsene has made some big mistakes and needs to atone. His bulls don't have the balls. I'm not suggesting he mortgage the farm on some earth shattering changes. But before he opts to fuck the cows himself in a rage of responsibility for his herd, he could just pay for a little help.
Cow fucker.
I would go so far to say that they looked surprised rather than ashamed or hurt at the final whistle. The surprise is another ingredient of the hubris I mentioned in my last post. The tactical mistakes made by the players and more importantly, the manager are truly upsetting.
Only a few key things to mention. Goal 1. Diaby stopped tracking his player and strolled to the penalty spot as Watson ghosted to the edge of the area. Diaby didn't even get goalside. He veered to the near post where the cut back was coming from. His positioning was so wrong that his body shape was at its most narrow so had he even faced the cut back pass he would have never made contact.
Goal 2. Sagna makes a challenge on Moses that was not needed. Jockey the player and see where he wants to go. "Hmmm? No I will run into his side and dive next to him like he were Jurgen Klinsmann celebrating a goal".
Fabianski. Happy birthday 'great' keeper. If I drive to work really well within the legal speed limit but every day I kill a cat or injure an old lady because I cannot anticipate flotsum from the pavement, I should be bitch slapped by a judge and never allowed to drive. Lukas is that to football. He CAN catch, punch and dive to feet - but not often or consistently. Same as the Spanish Waiter. These two 'great' keepers are surely the most unpopular since George Woods. Wenger must take the blame as Lehmann made 3 mistakes and he was out. These guys have kept their mouths quiet so they can wreck a season that can alter the moods of millions of people. How odd that Arsene would show so much belief in such poor players? It is a massive mistake on his part and a stronger backroom team would call him to task on that. Like Cyrano de Bergerac, nobody dare comment on the size of his nose for fear of losing a bollock.
Goal 3. Clichy against Rodallega. The ball was in his control. No it wasn't. Comic Clichy in crunch time is a cock. Say that ten times quickly and that confusion is what goes through his head at 85-90 in each game. See too many examples for example! Great finish to sap the life from Fabianski like a Repo Man. Wenger must plan the defensive formations based on his 1975 black and white catalogue retrospective of L.S Lowry.
Above, a flat back four trying to defend a two dimensional box of frogs.
So what of Wenger? What of all the blogs suggesting that this is a scandal and he should be sacked? What of the fans suggesting the remaining games are meaningless?
Well they are not. Spurs and City could yet catch us, so we need Song and Arshavin back even half fit. Why didn't RVP come on at 2-0 or 2-1 and scare Wigan. What is Wenger protecting him for? If he is ready, then he is ready.
We threw the title away at Spurs and had it handed back to us. We then threw it away today when we took Eastmond off. I spent the whole game not getting him at all until it dawned on me. He is the annoying player in the playground who will run around all day forcing you into mistakes. He doesn't do much else. He blocks, he runs, he hassles and in the main it worked. To substitute him for RVP was tactical suicide and Wenger knows it.
Arsene did his press conference sans tie so he must have been so angry that he loosened his tie. What rage, what anger, what coolness. What lack of blame on his part. Now to appease Seb I won't call for his head. But he should be held to account for our third defeat on the bounce. Every season we collapse and the only difference this season is it is later than usual. 71 points is a decent haul but we have punched above our weight this season and have been found wanting. Should Wenger have to answer for this, or does his dichotomy of treating the players like responsible, intelligent adults, yet highlighting the collective youth in the side be a contradiction that none of us have to dwell on?
I for one am flummoxed as I feel he has now talked himself into a cul de sac of shite. On the one hand they lack experience, discipline, maturity. On the other, they have such spirit, commitment and belief. On the third tentacle, they have a naivety that needs nipping in the bud, on the fourth there is a desire to be winners and only of the best competitions. On the fifth, is the disdain for the cups that would provide the players with the experience of British pressure in order for them to cut their teeth. On the sixth is a DVD called Sprinting Into Injury volumes 17-250.
There are always two empty hands for the 'flail'. The crowds now imitate his flail. He is a parody of himself as his reasons contradict themselves. He won't pay over the odds but knows the players he needs will not come for the money he is willing to offer. He will not compromise his style and manner of football but when the shit hits the fan we play route one whether Bendtner or Arshavin are the lone frontman. He won't buy English because he doesn't believe in grit, yet we are linked with Kevin Nolan of all people!?! He wants to be on a par with Barcelona but is well known to not practise defending with his team, nor create a game plan based on the opposition.
I have said this in passing so many times that I will now consign it to text. Led Zeppelin's final album was a bunch of self indulgent, utter shite. Led Zeppelin!!! Gods of Rock making shite. They couldn't do anything about it because John Bonham drank himself to death. So before Fabregas hits the booze on a Russian style bender, I would suggest that Wenger cull some of the young, impotent and frankly self-obsessed bulls (who would, like Narcissus, like to do nothing more than stare at their own reflection in the trough) - and instead 'stake' his family holiday money on a couple of bulls, dripping with semen who can like Third Eye on the Bad Boy remix of Supercat's Dolly Me Baby "make fellas jump up and girls get buck naked".
Now you might accuse me of waffling but actually this is a catharsis as I try to let Wenger's plethora of contradictions resonate and settle in my obviously ill informed football mind. Because you see, I want him held to account, taken to task, have to explain himself and prove himself as a decent manager by working to other people's expectations. Doing it all his way makes him a despot and frankly a pain in the Arsene. Myles Palmer calls him the master of spin. Spin means never having to say you are sorry and account for your mistakes.
Farmer Arsene has made some big mistakes and needs to atone. His bulls don't have the balls. I'm not suggesting he mortgage the farm on some earth shattering changes. But before he opts to fuck the cows himself in a rage of responsibility for his herd, he could just pay for a little help.
Cow fucker.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
Questions
The fallout from last night's defeat to Tottenham had made me want to make observations, or ask questions. Not because I want to be overly critical of Arsenal. Nor do I feel that Arsenal's season is a write off just because we have no silverware. It is mainly because the answers to these observations/questions will provide us with a better team (I feel).
1. Let's start with the Captain - when two teams line up in the tunnel, they stand behind the person who embodies the highest level of skill, strength, commitment, guile, determination, intelligence, desire, spirit, ability (pick as you choose). When the opposition sees Manuel Almunia leading Arsenal, they know they have a good chance to win or draw the game knowing Fabregas isn't there. They see the keeper as a joke and a bloody mystery that he is Deputy Captain.
2. Sol Campbell. If a 35 year old who has done it all and won it all is the only player in an Arsenal shirt showing genuine desire to compete and win, then the other players who refuse to follow his lead or example do not deserve to play. He should get a new contract and be given a coaching role as well so that the essence of what is famous about the Arsenal defence is not lost to some bogus back up players who occasionally play for a French national team in decline. That is no testimony and not reassuring to those who pay their wages.
3. Bacary Sagna. Yesterday he pushed Almunia as the ball fell to Danny Rose. The Spanish waiter punches the ball like he is setting it up for someone else to come and complete the smash. Obviously he is very poor, but to be pushed by your own player at the moment a shot is about to come in is very bad indeed.
For the second goal, Sagna tracked back without once looking across his defensive line. He played everyone onside and made Silvestre look like an idiot. Silvestre does not need help here. Sagna got hauled off because he was not doing his job anywhere near effectively enough. He might have played his last big game for Arsenal.
4. How many players does Wenger really need to buy? When considering this, remember it is a World Cup season and the players who play for any length of time at the World Cup will have an extended holiday, pre season and will not play first team til September. SO we can rule out, Van Persie, Fabregas, Walcott if he goes, Bendtner, Eboue, Djourou, Vela, Song, and then even if they go out first round Gallas (if he stays), Clichy, Sagna, Nasri, Diaby.
This fills me with no enthusiasm and whatever progress Wenger can claim to make this season with a 3rd place or even 2nd oplace finish will be off set by a weak start to 2010/2011 due to a shortage of average,good and very good players.
5. Gael Clichy can do a job but will never score or win us a game. If we sold him for £15 million, we have Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore without spending anything. This money can be spent on new players rather than offering another new contract to Denilson or Eduardo. That could give us a total of £60 million in player sales and David Villa would send a marker to the rest of Europe. Unfortunately, he would want at least £150k a week, would want Wenger to sign a new contract and a motorised pony made of gold for him to practise wheelies on snow. THe regulations of Arsenal's debt state that 75% of this money HAS to be spent on players. Wenger so far has only rewarded existing players and therefore helped create the apathetic mentality that is so pervasive within the squad.
6. Hubris. Excessive pride, presumption or arrogance (originally toward the gods).Unchecked arrogance. This is the smile of Eboue when he should have shot, the rounded back of Vela when he gets mugged, the rounded mouth of Arshavin after another errant pass, the post-sneeze, Stephen K Amos' ugly father look of Diaby every time someone goes round him, the title of this blog as Wenger gives another press conference, the hollow eyes of Sagna, the smile of Bendtner after more miscontrol. They believe they are too good and will not compromise their ideals in the name of progression or regression. Their trust in Wenger is all that is needed - but what happens when he questions their maturity as he did last night. Knee jerk from Wenger but he will calm down and cuddle them all again soon enough.
7. 4-3-3 works against little clubs. We don't have the players to make it work at crunch time. Walcott cannot cope, Nasri is compensation for Denilson and Diaby who cannot cope, Rosicky cannot cope, Eduardo cannot play. We need wingers and strength - time to switch to 4-4-2 or 5-3-2. Fabregas and Song can handle centre midfield now. Van Persie, Bendtner and Chamakh need crosses. Let's try Nasri and Arshavin and if they don't like it, buy someone who does.
8. Wenger said in last year's AGM that we would win a trophy this season. He will point to the progress made in the league. He will avoid or skirt around the fact that we reached the semi final of the CL last season (someone has to play Barca), we reached the semi of the FA Cup. We have lost the same amount of league games but have converted more draws to wins. So the progress is only against the lesser teams which is a start. But it brings no experience of winning anything to a bunch of green youths who compared to earlier in the season, have forgotten that most of the work needed to win games is done ON the pitch and OFF the ball.
9. Spurs ran through us. Mainly because they didn't give Denilson a ball to intercept (they know he cannot tackle) and they took Diaby on from the front so he could not turn or match the break for pace. It was smart. After the first half power play, Redknapp told them to get at our flanks. It was easy. King and Dawson were excellent and only Kaboul looked like he was off the pace. Did we try to exploit it? No.
10. Is it all doom and gloom? No. But I return to my point about it being a World Cup season. Our team is so conditioned that where the most dull of teams will start the new season full of hope and determination, Wenger will encourage his players to hold back and control their dreams of winning so they do not injure their psyche. We must take it one game at a time and know that without all of the above players at the WC, we need to take our time for find a new rhythm until we play. Well Tony Adams on the 1998 season review tape said something along the lines of 'I don't believe in transition, it is just an excuse'.
Who will really come good? Would the team lose out if Vela, Rosicky, Eduardo, Senderos, Denilson, Merida, Silvestre, Fabianski, Almunia all left. I truly doubt it. The players who we already have would come in would try as them and have very similar stats.
11. It is no admission of failure to sell players who have not achieved the standards we once hoped for them. Vela and Eduardo are no Francis Jeffers and Denilson is so much better than Garde, Grimandi, et al but they don't play well together. Llungberg was poor for Sweden because they could not accommodate him. Wiltord could not play for France without boos. Sagna is better than Lauren. Clichy is better than Sylvinho. But Seaman and Lehmann are like Gods compared to our current keepers. Campbell, Adams, Keown and Toure (2002-4) are considerably better than Gallas and even Vermaelen (though he will probably be great soon enough). Why did we sell Pires?
Fabregas is a great but not better than Vieira in his prime. Van Persie is no Henry in his pomp. How many of the current crop would get into the 2002 or 2004 sides?
Let's pretend that the AGM is the Council Planning/Construction Committee. And let's pretend that Wenger is asking to build the most wonderful eco-house. Let's believe that he has sourced all the best materials and workers. Arsene has presented the council with evidence of his (vast) surplus of funds, and his budget is relatively tiny. He has shown some pretty drawings and everyone approves. He even wins some design accolades for his intentions and working methods and fair trade policy. The staff are all well briefed and paid.
But then rain, illness, cold weather, misunderstanding of building techniques, windows overlooking existing windows, fences encroaching on land which doesn't belong to them, neighbours deciding to burn these beautiful new fences, more neighbours complain about the building not honoring the architecture methods used in the area. Another wealthy neighbour is successful in turning the existing hood into a conservation area and claiming this new eco-house is in violation of this. The council try to appease all parties but suggest to Wenger that he move some of his windows and reign his fences in. Wenger is appalled and appeals to the councils' sense of aesthetic and design. Everyone tells him to fuck off and rebuild or knock it down.
Wenger is left with 3 choices, rebuild the pieces that will emancipate his project, knock the whole thing down and walk away, or walk in to the next planning meeting with Steve Harrison and shit into a paper cup for all that he cares what the council and public think. Fuck us all is one answer - but not the one I am looking for to all my questions and points.
1. Let's start with the Captain - when two teams line up in the tunnel, they stand behind the person who embodies the highest level of skill, strength, commitment, guile, determination, intelligence, desire, spirit, ability (pick as you choose). When the opposition sees Manuel Almunia leading Arsenal, they know they have a good chance to win or draw the game knowing Fabregas isn't there. They see the keeper as a joke and a bloody mystery that he is Deputy Captain.
2. Sol Campbell. If a 35 year old who has done it all and won it all is the only player in an Arsenal shirt showing genuine desire to compete and win, then the other players who refuse to follow his lead or example do not deserve to play. He should get a new contract and be given a coaching role as well so that the essence of what is famous about the Arsenal defence is not lost to some bogus back up players who occasionally play for a French national team in decline. That is no testimony and not reassuring to those who pay their wages.
3. Bacary Sagna. Yesterday he pushed Almunia as the ball fell to Danny Rose. The Spanish waiter punches the ball like he is setting it up for someone else to come and complete the smash. Obviously he is very poor, but to be pushed by your own player at the moment a shot is about to come in is very bad indeed.
For the second goal, Sagna tracked back without once looking across his defensive line. He played everyone onside and made Silvestre look like an idiot. Silvestre does not need help here. Sagna got hauled off because he was not doing his job anywhere near effectively enough. He might have played his last big game for Arsenal.
4. How many players does Wenger really need to buy? When considering this, remember it is a World Cup season and the players who play for any length of time at the World Cup will have an extended holiday, pre season and will not play first team til September. SO we can rule out, Van Persie, Fabregas, Walcott if he goes, Bendtner, Eboue, Djourou, Vela, Song, and then even if they go out first round Gallas (if he stays), Clichy, Sagna, Nasri, Diaby.
This fills me with no enthusiasm and whatever progress Wenger can claim to make this season with a 3rd place or even 2nd oplace finish will be off set by a weak start to 2010/2011 due to a shortage of average,good and very good players.
5. Gael Clichy can do a job but will never score or win us a game. If we sold him for £15 million, we have Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore without spending anything. This money can be spent on new players rather than offering another new contract to Denilson or Eduardo. That could give us a total of £60 million in player sales and David Villa would send a marker to the rest of Europe. Unfortunately, he would want at least £150k a week, would want Wenger to sign a new contract and a motorised pony made of gold for him to practise wheelies on snow. THe regulations of Arsenal's debt state that 75% of this money HAS to be spent on players. Wenger so far has only rewarded existing players and therefore helped create the apathetic mentality that is so pervasive within the squad.
6. Hubris. Excessive pride, presumption or arrogance (originally toward the gods).Unchecked arrogance. This is the smile of Eboue when he should have shot, the rounded back of Vela when he gets mugged, the rounded mouth of Arshavin after another errant pass, the post-sneeze, Stephen K Amos' ugly father look of Diaby every time someone goes round him, the title of this blog as Wenger gives another press conference, the hollow eyes of Sagna, the smile of Bendtner after more miscontrol. They believe they are too good and will not compromise their ideals in the name of progression or regression. Their trust in Wenger is all that is needed - but what happens when he questions their maturity as he did last night. Knee jerk from Wenger but he will calm down and cuddle them all again soon enough.
7. 4-3-3 works against little clubs. We don't have the players to make it work at crunch time. Walcott cannot cope, Nasri is compensation for Denilson and Diaby who cannot cope, Rosicky cannot cope, Eduardo cannot play. We need wingers and strength - time to switch to 4-4-2 or 5-3-2. Fabregas and Song can handle centre midfield now. Van Persie, Bendtner and Chamakh need crosses. Let's try Nasri and Arshavin and if they don't like it, buy someone who does.
8. Wenger said in last year's AGM that we would win a trophy this season. He will point to the progress made in the league. He will avoid or skirt around the fact that we reached the semi final of the CL last season (someone has to play Barca), we reached the semi of the FA Cup. We have lost the same amount of league games but have converted more draws to wins. So the progress is only against the lesser teams which is a start. But it brings no experience of winning anything to a bunch of green youths who compared to earlier in the season, have forgotten that most of the work needed to win games is done ON the pitch and OFF the ball.
9. Spurs ran through us. Mainly because they didn't give Denilson a ball to intercept (they know he cannot tackle) and they took Diaby on from the front so he could not turn or match the break for pace. It was smart. After the first half power play, Redknapp told them to get at our flanks. It was easy. King and Dawson were excellent and only Kaboul looked like he was off the pace. Did we try to exploit it? No.
10. Is it all doom and gloom? No. But I return to my point about it being a World Cup season. Our team is so conditioned that where the most dull of teams will start the new season full of hope and determination, Wenger will encourage his players to hold back and control their dreams of winning so they do not injure their psyche. We must take it one game at a time and know that without all of the above players at the WC, we need to take our time for find a new rhythm until we play. Well Tony Adams on the 1998 season review tape said something along the lines of 'I don't believe in transition, it is just an excuse'.
Who will really come good? Would the team lose out if Vela, Rosicky, Eduardo, Senderos, Denilson, Merida, Silvestre, Fabianski, Almunia all left. I truly doubt it. The players who we already have would come in would try as them and have very similar stats.
11. It is no admission of failure to sell players who have not achieved the standards we once hoped for them. Vela and Eduardo are no Francis Jeffers and Denilson is so much better than Garde, Grimandi, et al but they don't play well together. Llungberg was poor for Sweden because they could not accommodate him. Wiltord could not play for France without boos. Sagna is better than Lauren. Clichy is better than Sylvinho. But Seaman and Lehmann are like Gods compared to our current keepers. Campbell, Adams, Keown and Toure (2002-4) are considerably better than Gallas and even Vermaelen (though he will probably be great soon enough). Why did we sell Pires?
Fabregas is a great but not better than Vieira in his prime. Van Persie is no Henry in his pomp. How many of the current crop would get into the 2002 or 2004 sides?
Let's pretend that the AGM is the Council Planning/Construction Committee. And let's pretend that Wenger is asking to build the most wonderful eco-house. Let's believe that he has sourced all the best materials and workers. Arsene has presented the council with evidence of his (vast) surplus of funds, and his budget is relatively tiny. He has shown some pretty drawings and everyone approves. He even wins some design accolades for his intentions and working methods and fair trade policy. The staff are all well briefed and paid.
But then rain, illness, cold weather, misunderstanding of building techniques, windows overlooking existing windows, fences encroaching on land which doesn't belong to them, neighbours deciding to burn these beautiful new fences, more neighbours complain about the building not honoring the architecture methods used in the area. Another wealthy neighbour is successful in turning the existing hood into a conservation area and claiming this new eco-house is in violation of this. The council try to appease all parties but suggest to Wenger that he move some of his windows and reign his fences in. Wenger is appalled and appeals to the councils' sense of aesthetic and design. Everyone tells him to fuck off and rebuild or knock it down.
Wenger is left with 3 choices, rebuild the pieces that will emancipate his project, knock the whole thing down and walk away, or walk in to the next planning meeting with Steve Harrison and shit into a paper cup for all that he cares what the council and public think. Fuck us all is one answer - but not the one I am looking for to all my questions and points.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Barcelona, Tottenham and takeovers/leftovers
I have not written since before the Barca game. Mainly because I have had too much to do. But also, I tried not to follow my general knee-jerk tendencies, (as I had much to say after the 4-1 defeat, but no way of making sense).
There was a feeling shared among many Arsenal fans after that defeat which suggested a defeatism to bury this season. I declared that I didn't want Arsenal to win the league as they were beaten by the best all season without properly competing. Then again, football is a game based on consistency. The EPL is a 38 game marathon and the CL is a 17 game half-marathon that you are meant to run at the same time. I think Arsenal have done a Paula Radcliffe by having a dump during the race and then pulling a hamstring chasing the pacemakers. Either way, you cannot poo your way to the title, (even though Chelsea try once in a while - sometimes they cannot help but play good football).
What did I think of the Barca return match? Well everything I said and thought has been churned out with thousands of words in all areas of the media since. It is obvious that the way that Barca press in two's and three's is an unbelievable demand on fitness and organisation. But they didn't create this method of playing football (Ajax did), and it is 'cup-football' that a quality team plays against a 'footballing' side. Barca do not play like this every game. They adapt to the opposition's strengths and weaknesses. So against Madrid, they toughed it out. Against Rubin Kazan, they forgot to play their formation and expected to win. They are guilty of a complacency that any good side can experience - but their complacency is limited to once or twice a season. This makes them champions because they work to win rather than winning because other teams threw it away.
Football is odd in that way. With a very good defence, you don't need great attackers to win the league. We saw this under George Graham and also Wenger's first years with 18 year old Anelka and Christopher Wreh. They were not exactly setting the world alight but with the pressing midfield and dominant defence, they knew that few teams would be able to complete more than 50% of their passes and the turnover rate of possession meant that we would get many opportunities to create and score. At worst we would draw and we still had a pretty poor attack.
So why not now? Why don't we have that mentality? Is our midfield weak, or our defence less organised? It is surely the latter. The midfield is creative and a goldmine of goals. But with half the season relying on a 5'5" Russian to hold the ball up, it is such an odd situation that we are even capable of winning the league now. (Not that I believe we will).
The defence and keeper have real issues and this is where our midfield get sloppy. Denilson, Diaby and Walcott play like they have Alves, Puyol, Xavi, Pique and Valdes behind them. Then they look surprised when they see Silvestre, Campbell, (Clichy ahead of them) and generally see each other.
Many of them play like we used to in the playground when we get the ball and shout 'Dalglish' or 'Nicholas' when we took a shot and imagine we were 'them'. Obviously the Arsenal players don't shout 'Zidane' but they bloody well think it. And then they stare at the ball, their boots, the ground, the kit, the crowd, the manager, the quality of air, the thickness of their gloves, the content of their Lucozade bottle when they miss the pass/shot/tackle.
Why? Psychology. Wenger trains them to believe that they are among the elite. They play as the best play. The work rate is good and to stick to their pace. Don't change the game and get desperate. Maintain a work ethic and the skill will out. And that is why we have beaten most of the lesser teams this season. We can await the errant passes and make the gaps with pretty off-ball running. But gimme a fucking break. So what?!?!
Faced by Chelsea, players are overcome by stage fright. They know they are better than Chelsea because Wenger told them so. They don't have to go and earn it because as long as they maintain their pace, the skill will out. Erm, no it won't. You see Chelsea can play and run because they compete for everything. They might lose occasionally, Inter out Chelsea'd them and use skill too - but generally they win or draw the games that matter. Why can't we? Well everyone has read about Arsenal's lack of plan B or Wenger's tactical limitations. I am not sure that any analysis needs to go beyond the defence and keepers. 3 new defenders and a new number 1 would change Arsharvin, Diaby, Walcott, Fabregas and Van Persie's game for the better. They would add new dimensions to their game.
Clichy needs to see how Ashley Cole plays percentages. Why does he not get caught out as often? How come when he slips and falls, the ball goes out of play or gets cleared? Because the defence play a tight unit and work for each other. They clear the ball and it is as good as scoring. Job done well. Our defence concentrates on passing nicely. This is why Toure looked more and more out place at the Arse. He had his natural tendencies stunted. Now he is deluded and crap.
Barca, played us the way they should have done. A high line, tempting us and waiting for Arsenal (of all teams), to show their weakness in their passing and compensation. It worked well. Messi was not that good. No better than Arsharvin was against Liverpool. He just keeps doing it and it is his consistency that makes him the best. Not just his skill and pace. Lucio will take him out and challenge Xavi and Iniesta to win the game. Messi won't have a chance because he has not come up against the best as yet. When he meets someone as big, quick and skilful as Lucio, he will dive, roll and cheat - but not as much as Lucio. Swan fucking Lake.
So will Wenger learn from the Barca game? Will Silvestre play for us again? Will Gallas? Will Denilson and Walcott be dropped and used only from the bench? Will Sagna be sold to Inter so we can pay for someone who can cross? Will we defend from the front in order to lessen the spate of injuries? Will anyone believe Colin Lewin that we suffer more because we sprint too much? Will Arsharvin or Fab leave? Do I care? Not really.
With the advent of Lady Nina's shares going up for sale, and Kronke's reaction seeming to be to place his eggs in his St Louis project, either he will try to buy us out using the debt of his American ventures and run the club like the Glazer and Hick/Gillett method. Or he will opt out, sell up and we will get the criminal. This bodes badly and the money/amounts discussed cannot disguise the fact that bad trouble lies ahead. Gazides is only there because of Kronke. If he reneges on his desire to buy out Arsenal, then is it because he has foreseen a shrinkage of TV money from the OFT ruling on Sky? Has he felt that Wenger has too much power and with him in charge, it is too risky to demand marquee players yet knows that change tempts a destruction of the quite solid foundations? These players play for Wenger, not for the shirt. Maybe Vermaelen and Arshavin could survive AW's departure. But can you imagine the French or Almunia? Good Lord?!?
Against Spurs, we will draw. It is so likely I can almost not watch in comfort. They will raise their game to a new level after Wembley and even without their toughest players and form of Defoe a bit worrying, they will churn it out. They will then lose by 3 to Chelsea and 2 to Man U and come fifth moaning about injuries.
We may well come 2nd but it will still be an odd season. Wenger will see this all like progress. Cesc will attract attention over the close season. Arsharvin will probably move somewhere that pays him more, unless the Tories first act is to abolish the rate of 50% tax on top earners. But then Man City will be the perfect place for his amateur Dostoyevsky website. Moron.
I can say much more but this is probably quite boring. In short, we need to learn to embrace defending like it is fun and realise that it does not detract from pretty football. We need to bully teams more - Chamakh will help with that if he comes. We need to stop surrounding the ref with every foul and instead learn to foul in European manner. (Bayern were so good at this against Man U that I actually found it skilful!). We need to surround the houses of Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce and burn a cross on their lawns. Ok maybe not, but they need to be kept in check. Pulis will need a loan soon. He will come to us and will do a Bolton with his fucking tail between his legs. Or he will choose not to, let his team suffer, dice with relegation next season, get sacked and when Strachan or whoever takes his place, they will come in for the loan and stop attacking Arsenal. This might be Wenger's politicking behind the scenes. Weirdo.
If we beat Spurs, and they give Chelsea and Man U a game, I will be impressed and excited. But I still don't think we can or should win the league. even though our marathon credentials are good (barring poo), this season. We just are not good enough.
When Bergkamp slotted the ball through for Ljungberg to make it 2-0 against Bolton in 2002 at the Reebok, I knew we would win the league and that we were so good that our previous defeats that season would be forgotten. That just doesn't seem to be the case this season. Why?
I could answer that in the next blog. But I will do it here.
We are seasoned, bitter fans. We are not stupid either. We know that we are a feeder club for the bigger teams who will pay more. Our players get tempted and leave and the ability to win back to back titles is something Wenger doesn't have in him. He cannot recreate the winning mentality when he loses key players and he doesn't seem to realise that we cannot afford to lose key players. But we are Arsenal. We are a glamorous Millwall. We are not Barca or Real and we do not pay like Chelsea. We cannot afford our good players and pay the weak ones too much. We are John Lewis playing against Tesco, Wall Mart and Harvey Nichols.
Kronke can change this, so can Usmanov, but Wenger cannot cope with his project coming to an end and no trophies to show for it. So the pissing contest begins and the side who manages to convince the media of their pissing skills and distance, while distracting media/public perception from the fact that this is piss and it is yucky - they will win the hearts and minds for 6 - 12 months.
Somewhere among this, football gets played and not much changes but trophies are unlikely.
Still, we aren't Liverpool.
There was a feeling shared among many Arsenal fans after that defeat which suggested a defeatism to bury this season. I declared that I didn't want Arsenal to win the league as they were beaten by the best all season without properly competing. Then again, football is a game based on consistency. The EPL is a 38 game marathon and the CL is a 17 game half-marathon that you are meant to run at the same time. I think Arsenal have done a Paula Radcliffe by having a dump during the race and then pulling a hamstring chasing the pacemakers. Either way, you cannot poo your way to the title, (even though Chelsea try once in a while - sometimes they cannot help but play good football).
What did I think of the Barca return match? Well everything I said and thought has been churned out with thousands of words in all areas of the media since. It is obvious that the way that Barca press in two's and three's is an unbelievable demand on fitness and organisation. But they didn't create this method of playing football (Ajax did), and it is 'cup-football' that a quality team plays against a 'footballing' side. Barca do not play like this every game. They adapt to the opposition's strengths and weaknesses. So against Madrid, they toughed it out. Against Rubin Kazan, they forgot to play their formation and expected to win. They are guilty of a complacency that any good side can experience - but their complacency is limited to once or twice a season. This makes them champions because they work to win rather than winning because other teams threw it away.
Football is odd in that way. With a very good defence, you don't need great attackers to win the league. We saw this under George Graham and also Wenger's first years with 18 year old Anelka and Christopher Wreh. They were not exactly setting the world alight but with the pressing midfield and dominant defence, they knew that few teams would be able to complete more than 50% of their passes and the turnover rate of possession meant that we would get many opportunities to create and score. At worst we would draw and we still had a pretty poor attack.
So why not now? Why don't we have that mentality? Is our midfield weak, or our defence less organised? It is surely the latter. The midfield is creative and a goldmine of goals. But with half the season relying on a 5'5" Russian to hold the ball up, it is such an odd situation that we are even capable of winning the league now. (Not that I believe we will).
The defence and keeper have real issues and this is where our midfield get sloppy. Denilson, Diaby and Walcott play like they have Alves, Puyol, Xavi, Pique and Valdes behind them. Then they look surprised when they see Silvestre, Campbell, (Clichy ahead of them) and generally see each other.
Many of them play like we used to in the playground when we get the ball and shout 'Dalglish' or 'Nicholas' when we took a shot and imagine we were 'them'. Obviously the Arsenal players don't shout 'Zidane' but they bloody well think it. And then they stare at the ball, their boots, the ground, the kit, the crowd, the manager, the quality of air, the thickness of their gloves, the content of their Lucozade bottle when they miss the pass/shot/tackle.
Why? Psychology. Wenger trains them to believe that they are among the elite. They play as the best play. The work rate is good and to stick to their pace. Don't change the game and get desperate. Maintain a work ethic and the skill will out. And that is why we have beaten most of the lesser teams this season. We can await the errant passes and make the gaps with pretty off-ball running. But gimme a fucking break. So what?!?!
Faced by Chelsea, players are overcome by stage fright. They know they are better than Chelsea because Wenger told them so. They don't have to go and earn it because as long as they maintain their pace, the skill will out. Erm, no it won't. You see Chelsea can play and run because they compete for everything. They might lose occasionally, Inter out Chelsea'd them and use skill too - but generally they win or draw the games that matter. Why can't we? Well everyone has read about Arsenal's lack of plan B or Wenger's tactical limitations. I am not sure that any analysis needs to go beyond the defence and keepers. 3 new defenders and a new number 1 would change Arsharvin, Diaby, Walcott, Fabregas and Van Persie's game for the better. They would add new dimensions to their game.
Clichy needs to see how Ashley Cole plays percentages. Why does he not get caught out as often? How come when he slips and falls, the ball goes out of play or gets cleared? Because the defence play a tight unit and work for each other. They clear the ball and it is as good as scoring. Job done well. Our defence concentrates on passing nicely. This is why Toure looked more and more out place at the Arse. He had his natural tendencies stunted. Now he is deluded and crap.
Barca, played us the way they should have done. A high line, tempting us and waiting for Arsenal (of all teams), to show their weakness in their passing and compensation. It worked well. Messi was not that good. No better than Arsharvin was against Liverpool. He just keeps doing it and it is his consistency that makes him the best. Not just his skill and pace. Lucio will take him out and challenge Xavi and Iniesta to win the game. Messi won't have a chance because he has not come up against the best as yet. When he meets someone as big, quick and skilful as Lucio, he will dive, roll and cheat - but not as much as Lucio. Swan fucking Lake.
So will Wenger learn from the Barca game? Will Silvestre play for us again? Will Gallas? Will Denilson and Walcott be dropped and used only from the bench? Will Sagna be sold to Inter so we can pay for someone who can cross? Will we defend from the front in order to lessen the spate of injuries? Will anyone believe Colin Lewin that we suffer more because we sprint too much? Will Arsharvin or Fab leave? Do I care? Not really.
With the advent of Lady Nina's shares going up for sale, and Kronke's reaction seeming to be to place his eggs in his St Louis project, either he will try to buy us out using the debt of his American ventures and run the club like the Glazer and Hick/Gillett method. Or he will opt out, sell up and we will get the criminal. This bodes badly and the money/amounts discussed cannot disguise the fact that bad trouble lies ahead. Gazides is only there because of Kronke. If he reneges on his desire to buy out Arsenal, then is it because he has foreseen a shrinkage of TV money from the OFT ruling on Sky? Has he felt that Wenger has too much power and with him in charge, it is too risky to demand marquee players yet knows that change tempts a destruction of the quite solid foundations? These players play for Wenger, not for the shirt. Maybe Vermaelen and Arshavin could survive AW's departure. But can you imagine the French or Almunia? Good Lord?!?
Against Spurs, we will draw. It is so likely I can almost not watch in comfort. They will raise their game to a new level after Wembley and even without their toughest players and form of Defoe a bit worrying, they will churn it out. They will then lose by 3 to Chelsea and 2 to Man U and come fifth moaning about injuries.
We may well come 2nd but it will still be an odd season. Wenger will see this all like progress. Cesc will attract attention over the close season. Arsharvin will probably move somewhere that pays him more, unless the Tories first act is to abolish the rate of 50% tax on top earners. But then Man City will be the perfect place for his amateur Dostoyevsky website. Moron.
I can say much more but this is probably quite boring. In short, we need to learn to embrace defending like it is fun and realise that it does not detract from pretty football. We need to bully teams more - Chamakh will help with that if he comes. We need to stop surrounding the ref with every foul and instead learn to foul in European manner. (Bayern were so good at this against Man U that I actually found it skilful!). We need to surround the houses of Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce and burn a cross on their lawns. Ok maybe not, but they need to be kept in check. Pulis will need a loan soon. He will come to us and will do a Bolton with his fucking tail between his legs. Or he will choose not to, let his team suffer, dice with relegation next season, get sacked and when Strachan or whoever takes his place, they will come in for the loan and stop attacking Arsenal. This might be Wenger's politicking behind the scenes. Weirdo.
If we beat Spurs, and they give Chelsea and Man U a game, I will be impressed and excited. But I still don't think we can or should win the league. even though our marathon credentials are good (barring poo), this season. We just are not good enough.
When Bergkamp slotted the ball through for Ljungberg to make it 2-0 against Bolton in 2002 at the Reebok, I knew we would win the league and that we were so good that our previous defeats that season would be forgotten. That just doesn't seem to be the case this season. Why?
I could answer that in the next blog. But I will do it here.
We are seasoned, bitter fans. We are not stupid either. We know that we are a feeder club for the bigger teams who will pay more. Our players get tempted and leave and the ability to win back to back titles is something Wenger doesn't have in him. He cannot recreate the winning mentality when he loses key players and he doesn't seem to realise that we cannot afford to lose key players. But we are Arsenal. We are a glamorous Millwall. We are not Barca or Real and we do not pay like Chelsea. We cannot afford our good players and pay the weak ones too much. We are John Lewis playing against Tesco, Wall Mart and Harvey Nichols.
Kronke can change this, so can Usmanov, but Wenger cannot cope with his project coming to an end and no trophies to show for it. So the pissing contest begins and the side who manages to convince the media of their pissing skills and distance, while distracting media/public perception from the fact that this is piss and it is yucky - they will win the hearts and minds for 6 - 12 months.
Somewhere among this, football gets played and not much changes but trophies are unlikely.
Still, we aren't Liverpool.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Hospitalised - sorry about mistakes (written on phone)
So much to say and so little time.
First, a very good piece on football365.com about British tackling becoming and old fashioned thing of the past. It was argued that Barcelona don't hurl themselves around playing a game of chance with huge tackles to rouse a crowd. Instead they play a percentage game by stretching the pitch in possession and narrowing it when they've lost the ball. They use interception as the new tackle as it is much easier, more intelligent and less risk of injury. It is so true having witnessed it at first hand. The off the ball running is staggering. But I also believes they peaked in the first half and neither side will provide such stiff opposition in the return game. It will be open but with mistakes.
The next thing is that it could be argued that the reason Barca can play like that is because Arsenal can wholly appreciate their tactical genius. This is true and they can do this to the best teams. But when they fall short, the smaller teams have pressed them into mistakes from deep and it has worked each time.
Myles Palmer on Arsenal News Review again slagged off Wenger claiming this is his last hurrah. Maybe but I feel he is writing for the Sun in a non profit, under subscribed sensationalist blog. He needs to go back and re read himself. It is so bitter he sounds as if he is jealous of Wenger and wants to manage Arsenal himself. Oddball.
Lastly (as I'd like to keep it brief today), wolves can be a real threat. Ha ha. No seriously, in our team of confidence players with one eye on Barca and the other on Spurs - our season could end today because the players got full on the starter and forgot to leave room for the main course. That is something we need to worry about. Nasri and Theo have to step up. Also a great point I heard about Denilson (a player I have usually no time for), he is the most barca like player we have. Leads the EPL on interceptions and read the game better than most. Can't tackle for toffee and pulls out of anything painful. How odd that he is possibly the purest form of a genuine Wenger player but might be totally the wrong thing for the Premier League? What doyou do with a player like that? Save him only for Europe? What a dumb luxury!
We need to win and show that the players in hospital won't wreck our chances. Unlikely, but then we must believe.
Time to play flexi- percentage football. Please Arsenal be smart.
First, a very good piece on football365.com about British tackling becoming and old fashioned thing of the past. It was argued that Barcelona don't hurl themselves around playing a game of chance with huge tackles to rouse a crowd. Instead they play a percentage game by stretching the pitch in possession and narrowing it when they've lost the ball. They use interception as the new tackle as it is much easier, more intelligent and less risk of injury. It is so true having witnessed it at first hand. The off the ball running is staggering. But I also believes they peaked in the first half and neither side will provide such stiff opposition in the return game. It will be open but with mistakes.
The next thing is that it could be argued that the reason Barca can play like that is because Arsenal can wholly appreciate their tactical genius. This is true and they can do this to the best teams. But when they fall short, the smaller teams have pressed them into mistakes from deep and it has worked each time.
Myles Palmer on Arsenal News Review again slagged off Wenger claiming this is his last hurrah. Maybe but I feel he is writing for the Sun in a non profit, under subscribed sensationalist blog. He needs to go back and re read himself. It is so bitter he sounds as if he is jealous of Wenger and wants to manage Arsenal himself. Oddball.
Lastly (as I'd like to keep it brief today), wolves can be a real threat. Ha ha. No seriously, in our team of confidence players with one eye on Barca and the other on Spurs - our season could end today because the players got full on the starter and forgot to leave room for the main course. That is something we need to worry about. Nasri and Theo have to step up. Also a great point I heard about Denilson (a player I have usually no time for), he is the most barca like player we have. Leads the EPL on interceptions and read the game better than most. Can't tackle for toffee and pulls out of anything painful. How odd that he is possibly the purest form of a genuine Wenger player but might be totally the wrong thing for the Premier League? What doyou do with a player like that? Save him only for Europe? What a dumb luxury!
We need to win and show that the players in hospital won't wreck our chances. Unlikely, but then we must believe.
Time to play flexi- percentage football. Please Arsenal be smart.
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