RSSLooking back to Spurs and on to Newcastle
A FEW quick thoughts post Spurs and pre Newcastle.
One reader emailed to say how disappointed she was to see so many fans leave White Hart Lane early on Tuesday.
TV pictures were misleading here. Sure, a few people left after the third and fourth goals. But the vast majority of supporters were there til long after 80 minutes.
Those who left a little before the end can hardly be blamed - blending into the crowd as you leave the away exit at WHL can be easier said than done.
I started reading and then gave up reading one internet piece questioning Willam Gallas’ captaincy at WHL. Utter tosh. He had a bad game, but there was nothing wrong with his attitude, he was first on the scene to calm Bendtner and Adebayor, was still desperately trying for a goal long after the game was gone and came over to properly applaud the fans at the end.
Talking of Bendtner and Adebayor, the latter needs to ensure his apology is proper because whatever his grievances, Adebayor’s behaviour was unacceptable.
And Bendtner needs to not sulk and do what he can to shed his reputation as a troublemaker. It’s always debatable whether team spirit breeds success or success breeds team spirit, but either way we’ve had a measure of both this season and should not throw them away.
Looking ahead to Newcastle, injuries and Africans mean the team will inevitably be a mix of first team and fringe players. Were I to take a punt, I’d go for Jens, Clichy, Senderos, Hoyte and either Gallas or Sagna. Then Flamini, Diaby, Rosicky, Eduardo, Adebayor and possibly Bendtner, with Eduardo on the wing.
Alternatively, Adebayor may be kept on the bench, with a front pair of Bendtner and Eduardo, Diaby left, Rosicky right and Gilberto coming in to partner Flamini (which is not a particularly appealing midfield).
You always worry with Arsenal that we’re a couple of defeats away from a crisis, but I really think now is not the time to panic. We were dented by Tuesday, but it needn’t be anything worse if we can get back on track against the Geordies.
Finally for today, you can catch me this morning on the Arsecast over on Arseblog. We talk about Spurs and Newcastle and I’m generally fairly sarcy about the former.
And very finally for today, please don’t click on stupid links on Newsnow that promise you sensational transfer news. It depresses the likes of me. Unless they are newspapers, who have dedicated full-time correspondents paid to get stories, the site will very likely know nothing at all.
Of course, there are blogs (this included) out there who through either scouring foreign press coverage or through contacts of their own will occasionally bring you genuinely new news. They are not the ones who shout: “Arsenal sign three week old new Pele” and such like.
And one final thing: question marks. Trust me on this, if a headline is a question the answer 95% of the time is ‘no’. Otherwise it would not be a question. Rant over.
25 January 2008 at 10:55 am
Amen to the last three paragraphs, sir.
25 January 2008 at 11:07 am
I am over Tuesday - gone. looking forward to tomorrow. I happen to think even if we lose tomorrow we are not in crisis. I would still take 3 points on Tuesday than a win tomorrow.
25 January 2008 at 11:10 am
Please - you cannot justify Gilberto starting under any circumstances. The man’s form has imploded.
To talk about Flamini and Gilberto in the same midfield is also VERY VERY dangerous. Flam has done well but is still just a hustler and cannot create chances.
For me as well Hoyte is an absolute non starter as well because its very simple - not good enough. I felt sorry for AW trying to talk Hoyte up last week.
Please AW field the strongest team tomorrow and lets start to get some rhythm and flow back to our football and start the momentum rolling again.
25 January 2008 at 11:31 am
The newspapers are the worst. See how they keep reporting that there was a headbutt when till now there is no evidence of that. The way they keep reporting that Bendtner had a bloodied nose and blood on his clothes. Disgraceful.
25 January 2008 at 11:43 am
I wouldn’t even say the Newspapers are any good. I think the Daily mail has been trying to take over from Sportingo recently with daily false starters.
You’re right about Bendtner not sulking… Ade embarrassed himself with what he did and Bendtner embarrassed himself with what his Dad said!
I hope whoever e-mailed you was actually at the game, because otherwise they have no right to pass judgement on what people do at a game they paid to see. Its easy to stay till the end when your watching from your arm chair.
Lets look forward to right response tomorrow.
I’m off to find out about this Pele character we’re signing, good work!
25 January 2008 at 11:56 am
Adebeyor………..Give him the ball and he will score…………..when they’ve got four………….then put bendtner on the floor
25 January 2008 at 12:41 pm
Blog Head shut up son. 9 years one pathetic win! Ah ha ha ha. How’s the souvenir MUGS coming along son?
25 January 2008 at 12:56 pm
Hattori Hanzo,
Bendtner needed First Aid-de-bey-or!!!!!!!!!!
25 January 2008 at 1:41 pm
At the end of the day 3pts on tuesday is much more important than a win on saturday.
Bendtner and Ade wont work if must be Dudu and one of them up front.
2-1 to us
25 January 2008 at 2:18 pm
Gazzap, In your comment earlier in sounds like you’re talking to yourself………………………………..5-1
25 January 2008 at 2:55 pm
blog head, i assume you are a spud? thought that first adebayor one was quite good actually…..
25 January 2008 at 4:18 pm
DannyGunner,
Thanks. I’m actually quite proud of that one as well. If you enjoyed that, hears a Hai Ku I’ve been working on for quite some time, it goes something like this -
Saw Robbie Savage
Drew my Gun
Blew him away
25 January 2008 at 5:39 pm
blog head, can you compose a haiku around the nine years it took spuds to beat Arsenal? Also, how about one dealing with the fact that George Graham is the most successful spuds manager of the last 15 years?
25 January 2008 at 5:41 pm
I think that geezer who wrote the post slagging of Gallas repented his haste, Goodplaya.
25 January 2008 at 5:48 pm
Seth,
I have to admit I dont usually do requests, but cos its you seth you big tubby bear you, I’ll give it a go.
Nine year wait
But then one day
Spanked, Thumped, Destroyed
Name George Graham,
Helped us win
Still a prick though.
Hows that Seth? Any other subjects?
……………………….5-1 xxxxxxxxxxxxx
25 January 2008 at 7:28 pm
Not blessed with the best sense of humour are you Bloghead? The last 9 years of hurt shame and misery really has turned you into a pathetic little Arsenal obssesed tragic pervert. Run along cyber geek, by the way how much does your Mum charge? (Is David Pleat your Dad?).
25 January 2008 at 7:33 pm
9 YEARS,
IT ONLY TOOK 9 YEARS,
IT ONLY TOOK 9 YEARS,
IT ONLY TOOK 9 YEARS…
25 January 2008 at 11:17 pm
as a spurs fan it was a great overdue night.
spurs outplayed the goons a few times recently but,as you have pointed out, we funked it up.
u gooners have had to suck it up for the past few days (long may it continue). you have dished it out for years. supporting any club is about loving the great nights and hating the beatings, and the banter at work. ive put my money where my mouth is with gooner mates, and paid up. a lot.
i used to hate eveything about boring arsenal under graham. rivalry means i still want arsenal to lose every game but i admire your football, enjoy watching your players, and think wenger is almost certainly the best manager in football.
wenger is obviously an intelligent man but his after match comments - that it was not a fair result - let him down.
unless wenger and your players learn to take a defeat with class you will not get the respect that your football deserves. & even if you do you will always be cunts:)
5:1
send responses to Wembley on 24.2.
26 January 2008 at 8:49 am
Sorry son I’ll be busy preparing for my trip to the San Siro, might put the tv on to see you mugs crying at the end after losing to Chavski(again). How’s that 4th place(this is going to be our year) season shaping up anyway, 28pts and counting. Anon I had a go on Bloghead’s Mum after winning at the lane in September, she was shit.
26 January 2008 at 12:18 pm
Nigel Winterburn made a great point last night on Arsenal TV. He said the reason that he left Arsenal was because he was only playing once every 4 weeks. This meant that he lost sharpness and awareness. He said this in reponse to a question about Gilberto being over the hill.
The Gilberto situation is slightly different this season because Arsenal press higher up the pitch. But what nutty said was you could only make a judgement on Gilberto after he played 10 consecutive games.
Same has to be said of Senderos in last 2 years he’s hardly had a run in the team.
So whats the solution? Make Bert and Phil play reserve games?
26 January 2008 at 7:27 pm
just back from the grove - cracking atmos there today. The scarves were waving - the boys were bouncing.
Thought wonder of you really teed up a happy atmosphere. didnt like it at first but loving it now.
Eduardo really showed how muc he’s developed today - fantastic touches and always looked threatening. Don’t need to dsay much about Ade - his finishing was fantastic!
26 January 2008 at 10:04 pm
Please let Elvis rest in peace.That song is a dirge.London Calling by the Clash would do for me.After all Joe Strummer did record a song called Tony Adams.
27 January 2008 at 6:20 am
[...] Arsenal still fresh from their 5-1 defeat to Spurs in the Carling Cup semis came up with the goods this time around. [...]
28 January 2008 at 12:11 pm
ozpud, get on to your own spud-supporting forums and join in with the general reach-around masturbation that’s been going on since last Tuesday night. Lots of Gooners gave your little team props for the way you played, but that doesn’t mean Arsene has to. Dawson to replace Robinson in goal?