As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
usual thread starter… I guess arsene could argue that if we still had Vieira, pires and henry that the core of the team would be getting old and we’d have even more trouble evolving than we have done already. But you know, what, if I was told this trio were coming back in the summer I’d be turning cartwheels. But hell, it’s like ex-girlfriends. A little bit of you would always make the two-backed beast with them again, despite the fallout, just for old times’ sake
Ade's purple patch flattered to deceive. At least we went down fighting and played with some hope. My lingering question - why didn't AW start with Theo? There were so many openings on the right flank in the first 30 mins and Eboue and Adebayor took turns in screwing them up. I think we all know what's needed for next season and hopefully, also, Arsene knows. I'm looking forward to the 10 against Derby...
"Lehmann, Hoyte, Senderos and Flamini are near certs to go. Hleb might depart if the price is right. Good as he is, he can’t score goals. Gilberto will remain because he wants British citizenship and Flamini’s off. If he gets a run in the team, the Brazilian’s form might actually return to that of last season. Unfortunately, I am afraid we are saddled with Eboue."
Kevin,
I think Flamini will stay, I think he is angling for a good wage and using his legal mind to do so.
I think the club will sell Gilberto, he did well today but just is not fast enough any more and would benefit from a move abroad. If he wants to stay in UK for his passport then maybe Villa or Reading could use him?
Senderos is a half empty half full.
Could well be the lcub move him on, and definitely can see Hoyte and Lehmann going.
Eboue is interesting. Wengerr keeps playing him so suggests he has faith in him, but surely makes sense to get money for him while we can?
I think the decision will be made once we know what Hleb is up to. He is the one who may well go, that "ice cream" business in Milan is still on my mind!
selsdon wrote:However, the one thing I have gradually grown weary of this season is waste of possession in attack by Gael Clichy.
Please tell me this is a joke?!?
Where in the world is there a better left back? Who in the team has a better attitude? Who epitomises the Arsenal spirit better than this young lad?
Loss of possesion and therefore breaking down of moves: Eboue? Adebayor?
Absolutely sensational rubbish by the author.
i do qualify this by talking about his good points, but i've seen it happen too often. he either doesn't beat the first man or his crosses rarely find a team-mate. he can play it short ok, but the way arsenal play, the full backs need to be able to find players in the centre. granted, clichy's a defender, but going forward he's not all that. you can shoot me down for this, but if you want an example of a better left back, look at man utd's on sunday. sorry but don't be blind to the faults of a player, no matter how spot on his attitude.
Don't have a problem with Clichy. He's looked tired recently - hence the mistakes perhaps - but yesterday he must have run more than twice the distance of anyone else on the pitch. Eboue seems to have little talent and no football brain.
For all Clichy's getting into good positions, too few of his crosses are actually good. Defensively, when not giving the ball away and on form, there are few better but would say Evra has been better this season
Can I just say that this can't be one of Kevin's genuine editorials because it doesn't use the phrase "bottom line" which I thought was compulsory in anything he writes.
Seriously, I agree with the piece. We've now got four months to re-group. I think the attitude of the board may be interesting. They've generally not interfered. But having carved out a large pot for AW to spend, and seen us fail for three years running, they may start putting pressure on him to make a few purchases.
Graham Wilkinson wrote:Can I just say that this can't be one of Kevin's genuine editorials because it doesn't use the phrase "bottom line" which I thought was compulsory in anything he writes.
- sorry i do have my favourite expressions. i'll start getting a complex now.
Does TH14 want to come back. Read article yesterday in Sun Telegraph by Patrick Barclay - also on Sunday Supplement - and Theirry seems distinctly unsettled and restricyed by his role. But that was always on the cards before he left - Eto'o, Messi, Ronaldinho and now Bojan. But would he fit in? Possibly, with what must be a significantly diminished ego...
