BOULDY THE NEW PAT RICE??

[A dallying Gus Caesar]

I heard this report on Five Live on Monday.

I trust David Ornstein on this. Wenger is a for putting his own interests ahead of that of everyone else.
Nasty individual. I wish him the worst.

In any other walk of life this would surely be a dismissal offence.. but not at our club apparently.

Quite right. Sums up what a shambles and embarrassment we are.

[SteveO 35]

The body language between the two of them is fucking terrible and the world can see it

The real answer to this question is that it will never be allowed to work.

Our defence was sound for the first few weeks of the season but Overall I Believe That couldn't stand the fact we might win games 1-0, so decided we'd open the floodgates once more

Can anyone seriously believe that Uncle Bouldie....coached as part of the best back 5 continuously for years would oversee that shite at WHL last Sunday without taking action

[franksav63]

The body language between the two of them is fucking terrible and the world can see it

The real answer to this question is that it will never be allowed to work.

Our defence was sound for the first few weeks of the season but Overall I Believe That couldn't stand the fact we might win games 1-0, so decided we'd open the floodgates once more

Can anyone seriously believe that Uncle Bouldie....coached as part of the best back 5 continuously for years would oversee that shite at WHL last Sunday without taking action

It's been rotten way before the shit seen at the swamp, the only action Bouldie should do now is to tell the senile old fucker to shove his job up his French crack.

[Top Londoner]

I read somewhere today that he is on a one year contract. Strange if true.
I'd actually enjoy hearing him humiliate Wenger upon his leaving, but that isn't going to happen.

[franksav63]

I read somewhere today that he is on a one year contract. Strange if true.
I'd actually enjoy hearing him humiliate Wenger upon his leaving, but that isn't going to happen.

He'll probably end up with a gagging clause... (not a Hash Kads one that is), and end up by saying on the Wenger subject, ''be careful what you wish for...'' everytime the question of should Wenger get sacked crops up...

[1989]

Looks to me like Wenger let Bould work on the defence again, because he surely couldn't coach us to becoming this solid at the back. Our defense has been phenomenal during the run in. Apparently Mertesacker and Koscielny haven't conceded in open play for something like 12 games and are unbeaten as a partnership.

[Chippy]

Not convinced. There was a game about 3 months ago where the team were so embarrassed that they had some internal meetings to sort shit out. Someone on here will remember, but when you get to my age................

[QuartzGooner]

Yeah, there was an internal meeting.

Also, as a friend texted me just before, dropping Vermaelen seems to have been a pivotal moment in our season.

What will become of him next season, and the captaincy?

Transfer?
Defensive midfield?

[1989]

Yeah, there was an internal meeting.

Also, as a friend texted me just before, dropping Vermaelen seems to have been a pivotal moment in our season.

What will become of him next season, and the captaincy?

Transfer?
Defensive midfield?

Captaincy will go to Mertesacker.

Vermaelen will either be happy to play back up or sold. Can't see him being converted into a DM, he's never played there before.

[Top Londoner]

Yeah, there was an internal meeting.

Also, as a friend texted me just before, dropping Vermaelen seems to have been a pivotal moment in our season.

What will become of him next season, and the captaincy?

Transfer?
Defensive midfield?

Perhaps his head was turned by the tabloid speculation of him going to the Barcawhores.
Tbh, they can have him, unless,,,,,,,, and this will sound crazy, but,,,,unless we try him as a cdm? Worth a try imo, and no need to tamper with Kos/Mert pairing.
Captaincy? Koscielny,,,,,no brainer.
Then, what do I know?

[1989]

Yeah, there was an internal meeting.

Also, as a friend texted me just before, dropping Vermaelen seems to have been a pivotal moment in our season.

What will become of him next season, and the captaincy?

Transfer?
Defensive midfield?

Perhaps his head was turned by the tabloid speculation of him going to the Barcawhores.
Tbh, they can have him, unless,,,,,,,, and this will sound crazy, but,,,,unless we try him as a cdm? Worth a try imo, and no need to tamper with Kos/Mert pairing.
Captaincy? Koscielny,,,,,no brainer.
Then, what do I know?

Mertesacker had the armband on today, and Koscielny as immense as he is does not communicate much on the pitch and is not a leader imo. I think he's someone who needs a dominant authoritative type CB next to him to be at his best.

[Brady's left peg]

Yeah, there was an internal meeting.

Also, as a friend texted me just before, dropping Vermaelen seems to have been a pivotal moment in our season.

What will become of him next season, and the captaincy?

Transfer?
Defensive midfield?

Agreed.... the dropping of vermaelen did seem to make the difference.

[Top Londoner]

Yeah, there was an internal meeting.

Also, as a friend texted me just before, dropping Vermaelen seems to have been a pivotal moment in our season.

What will become of him next season, and the captaincy?

Transfer?
Defensive midfield?

Perhaps his head was turned by the tabloid speculation of him going to the Barcawhores.
Tbh, they can have him, unless,,,,,,,, and this will sound crazy, but,,,,unless we try him as a cdm? Worth a try imo, and no need to tamper with Kos/Mert pairing.
Captaincy? Koscielny,,,,,no brainer.
Then, what do I know?

Mertesacker had the armband on today, and Koscielny as immense as he is does not communicate much on the pitch and is not a leader imo. I think he's someone who needs a dominant authoritative type CB next to him to be at his best.

Sure, but leadership is also by setting an example, not just being vociferous. Merts is far too hesitant imo.

[northbank123]

Hard to disagree that we've improved defensively since dropping Vermaelen. Seems a bit tough on him given that he's been our best CB over the past few years before this season but the other two have just been considerably better than him.

The feeling I get with Vermaelen is that he is too instinctive and will always make far too many rash mistakes. His game isn't really damaged as much as most people's would be by having to play in a disorganised defence because he'll happily go chasing the ball and backing himself to react effectively to what's happening in front of him.

The other two both have their faults: Koscielny still struggles with some of the physical aspects and gets particularly panicky against strikers with their back to goal in the box, and Mertesacker is always going to be slow and has a tendency to be a bit hesitant. But they've formed a good partnership and now that our team shape has looked by and large a bit more stable they really appear to have prospered and their weaknesses are largely covered up.

As for the captain question, imo there's two types of 'leaders'. You have those who demonstrate great professionalism and do their job the right way whatever the circumstances - I guess you could call it leading by example - I would probably put Arteta and at a stretch the centre-halves. Then you've got the leaders in the true sense of the word - those who make sure everyone else is doing their job, who know when to encourage and when to bollock regardless of how they're playing. It's been a long time since we've had one of these - and people like Fabregas willing to do a little fist pump here and there don't really cut the mustard when you're throwing away 4 goal leads etc.

Taking the captaincy off Vermaelen would be a huge statement but at the end of the day why bother pretending he's been playing well enough to justify his place in the team let alone the captaincy? I personally would give it to Arteta as barring a huge shift in circumstances he'll still be first choice next year and has been one of our most consistent performers over the last two seasons. I guess I'd probably choose Mertesacker as vice for his experience and calming influence but at the end of the day I think beyond the designated club captain not actually wearing the armband on the pitch doesn't prevent you from displaying some leadership.

[1989]

As for the captain question, imo there's two types of 'leaders'. You have those who demonstrate great professionalism and do their job the right way whatever the circumstances - I guess you could call it leading by example - I would probably put Arteta and at a stretch the centre-halves. Then you've got the leaders in the true sense of the word - those who make sure everyone else is doing their job, who know when to encourage and when to bollock regardless of how they're playing. It's been a long time since we've had one of these - and people like Fabregas willing to do a little fist pump here and there don't really cut the mustard when you're throwing away 4 goal leads etc.

IMO Mertesacker falls in this category of leaders.