Thierry Still Confident
Mornin' guys and girls, sorry for the lack of updates over the weekend - but I've been on a bit of a bender - and have only just recovered!!!
I can't really be arsed talking about the game on Sunday, the only thing I will say is that on the whole we played the better football but Chel$ki were just too solid at the back.
I'm not confident about the impending season....
Thierry on the other hand, is....
"We have to be confident otherwise I might as well go home," said Titi.
"If you look at the Charity Shield and the Community Shield record in the past it does not really affect the rest of the season.
"We won against Manchester United last year but it did not stop us losing twice in the league to them.
"You cannot take anything from this into the season, in England the season is really long.
"I am not that disappointed, we have to concentrate on the positive and I like to think that we had Chelsea in trouble at times."
Our skipper is also backing Gilberto and Cesc to overcome the loss of Patrick Vieira;
"I think Cesc Fabregas played really well against Chelsea and Gilberto came back really late from the Confederations Cup so he has been short."
"But if you saw the way he played when he came on he played really well and looked really great. I would like to think that he will help us cope with the departure of Patrick.''
Are we good enough to win the league as we are, or do we still need to make a signing or two?
I know what I think....how 'bout you?
posted by NyssietheGooner at 9:32 AM
46 Comments:
what about goalkeeper
“Certainly I will bring in another goalkeeper,” said Wenger. “That should be decided tomorrow or Friday.
I think we need another forward, but something different, good in the air and very physical. Once Chelski were in front we could not get in behind them and we cannot walk it in without space behind.
I think we need another option so we can get crosses in and unsettle big defences if we need to, change it up a bit. I personally think this is what Baptista would have been used for had he signed !!
Personally I think you shouldn't talk so much about being on benders and arses and concentrate on football.
Also, I felt far more upbeat coming out of the ground on Sunday than going in as I thought we were the better team for most of the game.
My biggest concern was that Henry spent so much time trying to create openings for others that he wasn't often where he is most dangerous.
Chelsea wont be able to play in that sitting back manner in the league at Stamford Bridge because the onus will be on them to win the game and a draw would be a good result for us.
i firmly believe we must make 2 or 3 signings. Ideally i would like Cygan to be replaced at the back, but i doubt Wenger will give Christanval the chance. We need a keeper, which seems imminent and looks like being Seba Viera. We need a physical box to box midfielder. Diarra would be perfect, but damn with the season closing in i would take bloody Jermaine Jenas now as the boss clearly really admires him. If the boss admires him, then thats good enough for me. Up front we need something different. Someone like Drogba, someone who offers us a different mode of attack, someone who can head the ball and offer us a threat at set pieces. There are without a doubt going to be times when our passing through the eye of a needle style will fail, like today, and we MUST have an alternative.
Right now, we look 3rd best in the title race.
i agree with the gun and anonymous. we do score plenty of goals but we need another option when passing the ball in doesn't work. we had countless corners and free kicks around the box all last season but no one to get on the end of them. yes we did play better than chelsea but if we can't get through them, how will we score? are play is good enough to score against most teams but i feel when we come up against this sort of organised defence which we will do against chelsea and also top european teams we need another option. still, very encouraged by sunday and am looking forward to another season.
We have needed a different outlet up front for years, regardless of the amount of goals we get. I think we'd actually CONCEDE far less if we had somebody big and imposing to take the pressure off if we are under the cosh and get back for set pieces.
One thing Sunday did highlight is that we still have the same old problems trying to break good teams down when we are behind and a different approach could be beneficial (remember the amount of times Kanu came on to equalise or win games late on)??.
Personally, i think this season is doomed for failure. no midfield cover, no defence cover and attacking cover. we'll be lucky to get in the top 6 as far as i'm concerned. its all very well saving money because of a new stadium but whats the ppoint in the new stadium when we'll have a crap team and probably be in the UEFA cup. it shames me to say it but not only are we behing chelsea now, but i think come May we'll be behind Spurs. its very upsetting, but i feel its true
I think you are going a bit far Derek in sayin we will be behind Spurs. Pains me to say that i think spurs are now a top 6 club, but we are still good enough for the top 3. Spurs, unbelievebly, have greater squad depth than us but man on man, 11 v 11, we are better.
what are you on Derek? behind spurs? your having a laugh aren't you? all this moaning as usual and we'll still end up having at least a half decent season. how u can criticise wenger i'll never know. remember where we were when he took over? 12th in 1994/95 season and just made it into uefa cup the next. he's turned us into a world class team that has won countless trophies since he's been around. and he's pushed for the new stadium as well which will only increase our position. grow up derek and stop acting like a child
Shearer's out on Sunday and maybe Shay Given aswell.
Given was their man of the match when they last came to Highbury....we won 1-0, but it could have been 7-0 if it wasn't for him.
I agree with leicester gooner. I believe Benni would be a fine addition to the squad as he is a complete striker in my books and also he would not cost much more than £5 million. He is a terrific header of the ball and can hold the ball up well - the sort of player we need to give us a new angle of attack.
In midfield I now would be open to the idea of signing Jenas. Jenas, Cesc and Gilberto with Flamini as cover would make us look so much more solid in midfield. Jenas can play defensively or as an attacking midfielder and can also fill in on the right wing. He is not yet the finished article which is what makes him the perfect Wenger signing. He can turn him into a world class performer I have no doubts. If AW rates him then thats enough for me. And with his prospective fee seemingly dropping all the time (20 mill to 15 mill to 10 mill?) maybe we can get him for around £12 mill which isnt bad for a young english talent.
This summer AW for some reason out of the normal, has often spoken out about transfers and has consistently told us that decisions would be made about players on a specific day and yet nothing has happened. I for one would like to know whats happening with messyrs Song, Christanval and Viera. Personally i think we need Viera and could do with Christanval NOW. Song could be one for the future.
Its OBVIOUS we need cover for CB, CM, CF and possibly a GK...
so basically, what we are looking at is the whole spine of our team!
This is unbelievable!
I think with our first 11 staying injury free we can fight for 2nd place but a couple of injuries and there WILL be BIG problems!
I cant believe we have been SO quiet in the transfer market at a time when we need to make signings to ensure Chelski dont get any further ahead.
With our first XI i think we looked alright against chelsea but im SO worried about injuries ...and abit concerned about Senderos' distinct lack of place!
Oh and can i just say... i cringe every time i see Cygan warming up to come on - this is getting beyond a joke.
Jenas, maybe Owen, and a good centre back would give us SO much more options.
**** place???? that was meant to be PACE!
Wasnt Viera in goal on fans day?
Also, Wenger has said he likes Benni, so i wouldnt be suprised to see a move for him.
Also.
Arsenal are still a hell of a lot better than Spurs.
Also.
Have a little faith in the kids, they will do us proud.
WELL SAID AMBROSE
thank you sir.
i do not worry about the kids, but i do worry about injuries. If we have the same injuries as last year, we are now in an even worse position to cope. Last year when PV4 was out, we had Cesc to call on, now we are actually relying on the 18 year old. What happens if he gets injured? who have we got then? Please dont say Pires is a viable option. What if Gilberto gets injured? What if we lose 2 of our 4 centre backs at one time? Cygan will have to play. What if god forbid Henry gets injured for a couple of months? We do not have another proven goalscorer.
What if Lemon gets injured? He is already somewhat of a liability, if we do not sign Viera then we must call upon Almoronia or rookies Howard and Mannone.
We have got to get very, very lucky injuries wise if we are to cope. Unfortunately it is inevitable that injuries will happen to all the top clubs and we are in the worst position to cope.
AW we need signings and the clock is ticking.
At the end of the day, if we dont strengthen in a few areas - we WONT win the league - SIMPLE.
Im sure Wenger knows this, and in the back of my mind im hoping he's going to suprise everyone and enveil about 2 or 3 new signings! ...like what he done wit sol a few years ago!
...fingers crossed!
The way it's going our first game at Ashburton Grove is gonna be a CL qualifier - at best!
I agree Nyssie. Something that never dawned on me. That would be a terrible shame. In a way when Chelsea went 2-0 up on Sunday i hoped they would add a couple more to point it out to AW that signings were needed. For a few minutes after the 2nd goal Chelsea looked as if they could get a 3rd, but then we were let in at the other end thanks to a mistake and only lost 2-1.
That would have been nice Gilio for us pricks that travelled up there. Having Chelsea gloating even more would have really topped the day off. What would a hammering done for the confidence of the youngsters. After reading your previous intelligent input that is a fucking stupid comment and one I'm surprised you have made.
You are all fair weather arsenal supporters. How the fuck can you be so negative? If your going to talk like that go and support another team. You watch, if arsenal do really well you'll all say their great. Fair weather thru and thru. And you Nyssie, you call yourself an Arsenal fan? Any true fan would know to trust the one man who created Arsenal as we know it, Wenger. CUNTS!!!
TRUE....fuckin pesimists
well said the last two anonymous'. and westsidegooner too. we're all supposed to be arsenal through and through and people like derek shouldn't be allowed to write on this site. if spurs are soooo good, go and support them. i'm sure your comments would be welcome on their site. as for getting stuffed, i'm sure yuo would've been really happy had that happened you idiot gilio. remember where we were and where we are now. AW doesn't need anything pointed out to him other then the fact he's the greatest manager we've ever had and that he's the best thing ever to have happend to our club
True jack, well said we are all ther to support the team we love not to dis them......And nyssie is a true gooner. I SHOULD KNOW HE SITS NEXT TO ME IN THE WEST UPPER.....
Anon at 12:23 - I know Wenger is the bollocks and has done wonders for this club - and we are still a great team. But you my friend are being blindly optimistic. The trouble is that Chel$ki are now also a great team BUT they have an infinitely stronger squad than ours, and we HAVE to compete with them. The way our squad is now we don't stand a chance. I'm not being pessimistic, i'm being realistic. I know the thought of us not doing well is shit.
But you gotta grow up, wake up and smell the coffee.
I disagree with alot of things said. Yes, Arsenal played the passing but we weren't at our best. Getting another striker like Drogba will be a waste of money. Drogba is a rubbish player to me anyway. Well upfront, we have Van Persie and it seems alot of people have forgotten that this guy is one of the best players in the air, he can contol the long balls. If we get someone like Drogba, do you think Arsene will change his game to high balls, I doubt it. Arsene believes in the passing game which is beautiful and very effective. This is one of the reasons why Arsenal's fan base is getting bigger.
Guys, imagine, if we did not lose that game against Man Utd, 50th game. I believe we would have won the premiership comfortably and people will say we are the best team in the world. What I am saying is this, the season will be long. Anything can happen. Yesterday I was not very happy because Henry was very ineffective and Arsenal were not at their best. Fabrigas on the other hand did the job of the box to box player, which is what people want Arsene to buy. He got the ball from defence, pushed forward and in during the game he scored a goal. This was a game that I thought that Arsenal weren't at their best against a very defensive team like West Brom, the only difference being that they defended with 10 men. They had two good chances and they took it. Just 2.
I will agree with some people however to get a defender like Sol, not just to make the defence better but also to push these young players to play well when they have their chance. Afterall Senderos, and other young players are the future of Arsenal.
I am not worried about Man Utd, they lose too many games for their own good to small team, who are the bottom, few at the middle, and a couple at the top. Arsenal on the other hardly lose games to the bottom teams, rarely to middle and a couple to the top teams. At worse Arsenal will be second and at best win the premiership. I think this is what Arsene wants, a challenge, and I will be watching biting my nails too.
By the way the three goals that were scored were from sloppy defending especially the second and third goal. The first we could just say Drogba out smarted Senderos, not that he did that the last time they met. Senderos misjudge the fight of the ball.
and a goal keeper
I praised Cesc the other day and said that one day he could become the captain. Everytime he plays, he fights for the team.
What's happening to the signing of Viera?
My team
Viera
Lauren/? Toure Senderos/Sol Asley
Lunberg Cesc Gilberto Hleb/Pires
Henry Van Persie/Dennis
Westsidegooner, i apologise, it was a thoughtless comment i must admit. What i was meaning to say is that Wenger clearly believes he has enough to get by this season, which i think we all know to not be the truth. Obviously i did not want us to get whooped by Chelsea, but maybe it will take a few defeats to make AW see the light. If Chelsea had gone on to get another couple of goals i think AW would have HAD to make signings and maybe that would have been no bad thing. To lose badly would have been shit, but maybe the repurcussions could have been good. If you know what i mean. Didnt mean to disrespect those who made the journey to Cardiff though.
NyssietheSOCALLEDGooner you are far too negative. So what if our first game at The Grove is a CL qualifier. We've been spoilt wrotten for 9 years under Sir AW. Who else would have won what he has under that budget? The filth have had far more than us and won nothing worth mentioning. At the end of the day I felt Sunday was quite encouraging. We CAN cope without PV just like at the start of last season when we played the best football of all time. If we had Sol on Sunday we would have won and if Arsene brings a couple in before Sept 1 we'll be challenging come May just like most seasons under Sir AW. But please Arsene do buy one or two. A striker is needed for Europe and Mickey Owen is a bargain.
Understood and accepted Gilio.
We're gonna have to agree to disagree sarge. I'm being real...not wildly optimistic just because it's MY team or we've been up there for almost a decade.
It can happen, teams can fuck up...look at united now, liverpool etc. They're NOTHING to what they were. I hope you're all right and we do win the league and/or CL, in fact i'll take you for a beer, but i don't think with our current resources we are capable of that at the moment.
don't really know what your on about nyssie. how can you say we're not capable at the moment with'our current resources'? we haven't had the same resources as the rest for ages now and we seem to have done alright. i'm with sarge on this one. don't complain till something actually goes wrong. we're the FA Cup holders and finished 2nd to a team with unlimited resources. 5 out of the last ten seasons our points total would have been good enough
We're going round i circles. I don't think we're good enough to win the league. You lot do. As i said I hope you're right...we'll stop there.
I think that there is some truth to both sides of this argument. Our first XI is extremely strong - the best attacking team in the Prem by a mile we all know that.
However, as has been stated many times before we don't have the depth of numbers and experience of our rivals and that could hurt us this season. We have some vastly promising young players but some are only on the brink of realising their potential and we can't expect them to be the complete player at the age of 20.
People are correct about AW - he has more than earned our trust and without him things would be so much worse. He believes in the younger players to come through but it will have to be a case of wait and see.
I predict a transitional season - the younger players will get their chance. If we can remain relatively injury free we'll be pushing for the title. I think that 2nd or 3rd is more realistic for this season though. We have become so spoilt with success we have to accept that some seasons won't go as well.
EXACTLY MY POINT LEGRANDE!!! We are a great side....BUT.....we lack DEPTH! With a season consisting of 50 odd games INJURIES ARE A FACT!!!
Do you think that AW accepts that this is his squad for this season? He is an intelligent man who knows his football far better than I do and he seems convinced that we have enough here to do the job. Like you say Nyssie injuries are a fact in a heavily conjested season. Our
AW always seems to be planning for the future, it is how he can fight the financial clout of the Russian. Think in 3 years how Fab, Send, RVP et al will be. This is a long term strategy of AW and I think he is prepared to accept short term sacrifices while they develop - ie not signing expensive players over the hill or approaching it (Davids anyone?). In the short term we won't be as strong but will it pay off long term? Or have I got this completely wrong?!
That thought had crossed my mind....suffer a little now for the 'greater good' or some shit like that!!!
I totally agree with Nyssie. Call me pessimistic, i dont care. I think im being realistic. We DO LACK DEPTH, especially in midfield and i just hope AW can see this.
At the moment we are a good side and a good squad, 2 or 3 signings can make us great. Another striker will give us more options and prevent TH from burning out midseason which i really fear. Might also give us a PLAN B to crack Europe.
We need a keeper, we need rid of Cygan, we need a central midfielder and Jenas looks like the only target. If so AW, sign him up ASAP.
I agree why not go for Owen. His current price would be a bargain for a player of his calibre. Allowing him to join United would be a bad, bad move. That said if we went for Benni and got him cheap that would be a fantastic acquisition!
There is still 3 weeks until the closing of the market, i really hope we sign 3 players. Then we can win the league, and if we get the RIGHT PLAYERS, you never know we could do well for once in europe.
BTW legrand, the problem with a transitional season is i thought last year was transitional and now it seems were getting another one. I can actually see us not competing for the title, and in my eyes that is as bad for us as it would be for Wigan to be relegated.
Arsenal, down to AW's brilliance are now a top club who should contend EVERY year. We cannot afford transitional years.
Look the bottom line is if it wasn't for the Russian Fraudster down the Kings Road AW would be 'getting away' with what he's doing. We would have walked the league last year and prob this year aswell. The bottom line is he's here to stay and we can't go bankrupt trying to compete with him. This is the way forward unfortunately and we've got to live with it. We are only 2 players away from winning the league I think (goalkeeper and midfielder) and 3 from a push at Europe (GK, midfielder and Owen). Lets just sit back and watch AW do the business as he always does. Somehow I don't think the moaners who I sit with in the East Upper will agree with me!
Hehehe!!! I hope you're right sarge - there is nothing more i'd love to be singing on the last day at Highbury than; "We've got our trophy back!!!"
Apparently Seba Viera has failed his Arsenal medical which just adds to our pre-season woes. Wenger said he was just one keeping option, but i doubt we will buy a keeper now. Major mistake i would say.
I still think that the midfield is light, defence fragile and a joke of a goalkeeper. Wish le Boss would spend some money. Can't believe we sold Viera with no replacement lined up.
AW is the problem. A new manager is required.
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