Sunday, February 17, 2013

Be Afraid, be very afraid.


Danny Baker@prodnose
"BBC: Health Authorities allay public fears stating there is no evidence that any domestic football competitions contain traces of Arsenal"
 
Having watched Bayern Munich twice over the last week I would have to think that things aren't going to be pretty this week for any Gooners when their team meets the side currently ranked second in Europe behind Barcelona.  Bayern are playing like a team that doesn't even recognise their is any opposition on the field at the moment and the front four who played against Wolfsburg: Ribery, Muller, Kroos and Mandzukic are running teams ragged with their movement and interplay, and that is even without the sulky Arjen Robben in the side.
 
Robben is expected to play in the tie against Arsenal this week and before I found out that Monreal was cup-tied I would have said this gave Arsenal a good chance of a result. Robben makes only a token effort to get back and help Philip Lahm and a concerted effort by Arsenal down their left would have given them a decent go, however the idea that Arsenal will have to play one of their reserve centre halfs at left back indicates to me that Robben will be selected and will have a field day (or night). If Bayern come to London in the mood it could get very embarassing, however as we all know football has a funny way of biting you on the arse when you least expect it.
 
The knives appear to be out now for Arsene Wenger. I think he has grossly under estimated the intelligence of football supporters in recent weeks with some of his statements favourably comparing the current squad with his own invincibles. Even yesterday after yet another humiliating defeat against lower league opposition he sough to placate the people who pay his £7 million a year salary with words such as, "we haven't been beaten by a lower league club for sixteen years in the F.A Cup which is a record," "the players out there cared, there were 11 internationals on the pitch." Both statements should have been qualified by the words, "yes but we haven't won anything since 2005 whilst players who have left have won 53 trophies between them in the same period" and "yes but Arteta, Carzola, Podolski and Giroud" wouldn't get anywhere near their countries first teams if all options were available."
 
Wenger, as I have said before, has been great for the game in England, he has transformed so many aspects of the professional approach in addition to which a recent survey has revealed that Arsenal are actually 18 points a season better off than they should be based on net transfer spend. All that said he looks like a dead man walking, he talks about financial prudence whilst managing a club that has over £150 million in cash at its disposal, of growing players on, whilst he puts out a side that contains only one player not signed from another club, and of the current team being comparable with one that went a whole Premier League season unbeaten. Arsenal fans will point to an impressive record but it is one that ended in 2005 in the pursuit of trophies. Sir Alf Ramsey was sacked as manager of England seven years after winning the biggest trophy possible, how as Wenger managed to stay in his job for so long?


6 comments:

Span Ows said...

My will is crumbling: I have said time and again that he is still the best Arsenal manager ever and is still the most successful manager in the EPL after Ferguson but now my voice is strained and the words lack conviction. The Blackburn and Bradford defeats this year have really pissed me off, far more than other years. I am really really hoping for a bite in the bum (for you...) but I'm afraid the flying pigs have already been minced into horse burgers.

Paul said...

I can't believe the amount and level of the vitriol, didn't see the Blackburn game but The Times said that the booing was from a majority of fans which is new. Apparently there has also been trouble at away games with sections of the pro Wenger fans and anti-Wenger fans getting into fights. I thought it was just us West Ham supporters who fought our own.

A Northern Bloke said...

Get a sense of perspective! Think of what it would be like supporting Sunderland... ... ... ...

Span Ows said...

Lol! I agree shy, I don't mind losing when there's a good reason like the opposition are brilliant and we're shit but the level of commitment needs looking at. I think AW needs a helping hand from some sort of inspirational coach to get the players motivated, by which I mean a slap and shouting at to get the fuck out ther and win the fucking game or you're all fucking fucked. :-)

oakleyses said...

north face, nike air max uk, sac hermes, hollister uk, nike air force, louboutin pas cher, michael kors, oakley pas cher, converse pas cher, abercrombie and fitch uk, hollister pas cher, nike free run, jordan pas cher, nike tn, burberry pas cher, longchamp pas cher, timberland pas cher, nike air max, polo ralph lauren, nike roshe, lululemon canada, ralph lauren uk, true religion outlet, guess pas cher, vans pas cher, sac longchamp pas cher, nike air max uk, true religion jeans, hogan outlet, north face uk, new balance, air max, ray ban pas cher, nike free uk, true religion outlet, nike blazer pas cher, sac vanessa bruno, michael kors pas cher, ray ban uk, polo lacoste, michael kors outlet, mulberry uk

oakleyses said...

hollister clothing, giuseppe zanotti outlet, lululemon, wedding dresses, abercrombie and fitch, hermes belt, asics running shoes, bottega veneta, celine handbags, soccer shoes, valentino shoes, ferragamo shoes, vans outlet, mcm handbags, timberland boots, nike roshe run uk, longchamp uk, nike air max, north face outlet, p90x workout, new balance shoes, insanity workout, iphone 6 cases, herve leger, instyler, oakley, hollister, nike huaraches, soccer jerseys, nike trainers uk, babyliss, chi flat iron, ghd hair, baseball bats, jimmy choo outlet, mont blanc pens, north face outlet, mac cosmetics, beats by dre, nfl jerseys, reebok outlet, nike roshe run