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1. Westlower

   Mar 21, 2014, 8:48 #47800

   Story in Daily Telegraph that David Cameron & Barack Obama have been urged to take financial action against Chelsea owner Roman Abromovich for his close links with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the annexation of Crimea. Maybe Chelsea's run of good fortune is nearing it's natural end? Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of .........

2. Ozzie

   Mar 21, 2014, 7:03 #47792

   JUST KNOW THIS ONE FACT MARCUS: CHELSEA'S CUPS WERE ALL "BOUGHT" ON AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD AND WILL ALWAYS BE TAINTED. IRRESPECTIVE OF 'METAL CUPS' CHEL$EA ARE A MID TABLE CLUB WITHOUT SOUL AND WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN THE SHADOWS OF THE GREAT ARSENAL FC. BY THE WAY, MILLIONS OF RUSSIANS STARVE WHILE THE LIKES OF ABRAMOVICH AND HIS ILK FLEECE THE PEOPLE OF THEIR COMMON WEALTH. THAT'S WHERE CHEL$EA'S CUPS COME FROM.

3. maguiresbridge gooner

   Mar 20, 2014, 12:50 #47756

   marcus, yes when you think about it, it is a joke but not one of those funny ones but some would have you believe a fact/stat like that and trophies is not important.

4. marcus

   Mar 20, 2014, 12:32 #47753

   JUST KNOW THIS ONE FACT FELLOW ARSENAL FANS. DROGBA WON 12 TROPHIES WITH CHELSEA WHILST ARSENAL IN THAT PERIOD WON ZERO HMMMM. WHAT A JOKE

5. jjetplane

   Mar 20, 2014, 11:33 #47749

   RK - Last bit on grounds doing their bit for 'anarcho-syndicalism' - nice stuff. Remember reading Mr Blair's Homage to Catalonia just after the 71 double and travelling to meet brother in Plymouth and just going straight past the bleedin' place and spending a night in Penzance. Kinda realised when I got there it was Plymouth I should have been in. Got me supporting Plymouth for a month little knowing many moons later I would be an Exeter supporter for much more than a month. Of course there is always Arsenal.

6. Radfordkennedy

   Mar 20, 2014, 10:30 #47743

   Morning all...Ron I tend to believe only in things that I can see or feel,which makes the gut feeling I have for saturday so unsettling for reasons which I can't fathom ito think we are going to sneak a result,similar to sundays I feel,,,Badarse you mentioned the spanish civil war and various writers,my favourie being Antony Beevor who wrote an excellent book on the subject,also on a politics-football note I don't know if you're aware but quite a few spanish clubs obviously not the ones prefixed with 'Real'have a corner of the ground or murals dedicated to the international brigades.

7. Westlower

   Mar 20, 2014, 8:42 #47730

   @Badarse, I'm not sure there is a definitive answer to your question re 'Fool on the Hill.' You take out of it what you regard as relevant to your own life. Some might say it's a just a bag of liquorice allsorts! To me it's about challenging the status quo of perceived standards/beliefs. Swimming against the tide doesn't sadden me as I find it invigorating. I better stop there as I'm preaching again. Talking of which I was going to save 'Hello, Goodbye' for Bard when we next had a difference of opinion: 'You say yes & I say no, you say stop & I say go, oh no, you say goodbye & I say hello, you say high & I say low. Hello, Goodbye!'

8. Ron

   Mar 20, 2014, 7:51 #47726

   DW - There s truth in what you say and only the most blinkered wouldn't see or accept it.Hes human though and theres not a Coach in history whos not open to having his achilles heel torn open. However, managing in the 30s was a different animal. HC was a visionary. he was an intellect too but it was different conditions, a different society, football was at quite early stage of its evolution esp in the South where little to nothing had by then been registered on the footballing richter scale, society was different, measures of sporting pursuits were different, men were different, ownership was different. The pressures were different. There was no wall to wall media and every fan on every site having a view and an opinion didnt exist. He managed in a capsule. Fantastically great man was HC, but comparing Coaches from the era s is a futile exercise as the variables are all too widely spaced and unique. For instance and as a small eg Billy wright was deemed an unmitigated 'failure', yet take a look. 7-8 of his lads won a league and Cup double 5 years after he was gone. So was he a failure really? or was he a visionary whose time just hadn't come? We ll never know but we can all only venture our opinions. Enjoy digesting our history matey. Its very unique and one that most fans of most Clubs would love to have.

9. BADARSE

   Mar 20, 2014, 7:40 #47725

   Good morning gentlemen and ladies. Big it up for Charles Darwin guys. They have just discovered a new species of dinosaur in the USA. A cross between a large bird and a lizard. Must have been wearing a Spud shirt because they have named it, 'The chicken from hell'. Am I the only one posting? Was it something I said? Please come back, even you jeff.

10. DW Thomas

    Mar 19, 2014, 23:58 #47724

    Bard! Love the mediocrity comment. This series of comments has been fun to follow. Just started Chapmans book last night, life and times. What a man and manager. Wenger, had he won the CL in 2006 would still have gone 7 years without a trophy. A long time as well. I think i judge him moreon his recent failures to what looks to me tobe due to his own arrogant ways! Many times the last puzzle piece was waiting to be added but monsieur I Do It My Way did not budge. Shame or he might be seen as the modern times version of Chapman.

11. BADARSE

    Mar 19, 2014, 21:47 #47723

    Bobby Tambling was also a great goalscorer Ron, and you are right, he always scored against us. What about Charlie Cooke? So talented, perhaps their most talented ever? Though Ken Bates was a bit special, ha ha. Class? Not a chance!

12. Ron

    Mar 19, 2014, 21:35 #47722

    BADARSE - You got it mate. Big Raddy used to sort Chelsea out from about 1968 as well didn't he. The end of the Bobby Tambling years were upon us weren't they!I hated Tambling. He used to score hatfuls for fun against us didn't he.Bloody good side Chelsea from the mid 60s to early 70s. Osgood, Mc Creadie, Shellito, harris, Tambling. George Graham too don't forget. Barry Bridges , Bonnetti et al. Top team, always the bridesmaids though werent they.

13. BADARSE

    Mar 19, 2014, 21:25 #47721

    Hi Ron. Yeah went to both S/F legs. Big Raddy scored in the last minute of the first leg to give us a 1-0 lead. Got to WHL late that night and dived into the first turnstile. I found myself amongst the Totts. It was like being in a real life scene of 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'. They seemed to have their own language, lots of 'f***ing and blinding', and exchanges littered with grunts and snuffles. Greavsie tied it up, then Big Raddy scored. Remember one lad nearby whining, he may have been crying, he said, 'That f***ing Radford, he always does it to us!' And do you know what? He did, ha ha. Another great hero of mine. Had to keep the lid on being a Gooner because they may have just eaten me... no evidence to the crime then, see? That season 68-9 we did the double over them. So to you young Guns, when someone says the Totts were good in the sixties, you correct them and say, 'Oh you mean the early sixties.' Good old Arsenal.

14. Ron

    Mar 19, 2014, 21:10 #47720

    Westie - Bear in mind though mate, all of my predictions this season have gone down in flames thus far. Just a gut feeling buddy. BADARSE - i know Greavsie was top notch mate. You know me though, the old blinkers are on when it comes to JHB. Joe and his buddies makes me think of me Dad anyway, so there an added impetus where hes concerned. How he used to wax lyrical about Drake, Joe Hulme, Bastin, Hapgood and Co who he worshipped as a kid. He d be telling me all about them in the mid 60s and i used to think 'why cant we be that good now'. it didn't used to seem fair then. All of a sudden the late 60s opened up. No more thrashings from the spuds. 1969. the spuds beaten in the old league Cup semis. Bliss!!!Can you recall that two legged semi? I know Swindon followed soon after but soon it was THAT night in 1970. I cdt go but ill never forget it. Nor will any of us will we. I was at Anfield in 89. 1970 was better for me. Close, but better. R/K - Yes, welcome back mate. Hope your horse backing was more sophisticated than mine ie liking the name of whatever horse runs at 6-7/1.

15. smithy

    Mar 19, 2014, 21:00 #47719

    Abou Diaby returns to full training on April 1st- says it all really!

16. BADARSE

    Mar 19, 2014, 20:57 #47718

    julesd and westlower just spotted your posts on the previous article, well said Gooners. What an indomitable team you make. julesd your birthday wishes take on a greater relevance now, thank you. Now westlower, this Magical Mystery Tour CD-The Fool on the Hill. I don't get it. What's it all about? What are we supposed to learn from these antiquated lyrics, deep awareness or something? The crazy hurdy-gurdy existence of people not taking time to reflect or to weigh. Don't get it. Is it something to do with compassion, or moving to higher ground because of the flooding? Is it measuring the insignificance of one individual, or is it a recognition that the person knows he will die alone despite love all around him throughout his life? Is it the unbearable lightness of being that Milan Kundera touched upon, and teasingly played with. The sadness in the soul that comes when a person realises he swims in the opposite direction to the rest, ah, something to do with George Harrison then? Or is it to do with Maltesers? Love the tune though. Right now I am being 'bossed' by Springsteen. 'Everybody's got a hungry heart...'. Have perfected the ability to dance whilst typing, cool.

17. BADARSE

    Mar 19, 2014, 20:26 #47717

    Today George Osborne in his velvet drawers has pledged umpteen millions to flood relief. Just to put your mind at rest JAMIE, he vowed that not a penny would be wasted on swamps, or swamp-dwellers, so it looks like a 'wellie' job again next season, when you visit WHL. @Bard, where is your compassion for Abou? Oh, I forgot you refuse to recognise it, yet you love passion! Mmmm, is it a latent objection to com,? coms? Got it, commies! Let me talk you through the Spanish Civil War fella. I can get you to love Abou. Ron and I certainly agree on this point, I too think Diaby is a wonderfully talented footballer. Think I may upset you a little with this rendition though Ron. Greaves was a remarkable finisher, perhaps the best. His instinct, anticipation and judgement was superb. Without the booze he may have become...who knows what. Great, great goalscorer. Now Joe Baker, he was rubbish. Only kidding Ron. You know I admired him. He was this young Arsenal fan's hero. Green Hut, he was amazingly spectacular too. So just under the surface lurked an incredible athlete. He could spin and hit a ball, dive at feet to head a goal, and had special acceleration, which separated him from mortals. He was a feisty guy, but seemed a smashing bloke. What child couldn't take him as a hero? You missed a wonderful Arsenal player buddy, but think of who you have had...Charlie George for one. Still guarding his eternal flame Ron? Don't dare let it go out! radfordkennedy, welcome home.

18. BADARSE

    Mar 19, 2014, 19:54 #47716

    Good evening gentlemen and ladies. Been busy trying to get the gardening club off the ground, looks like we are aiming for a Tony Robinson-style dig at maguiresbridge's first week in July. He supplies the Guinness. jjetplane, I have already declared my love for you, it is unconditional and I cannot be upset. Seriously dude, I only get riled when people try to bully me, I cannot abide bullies and react whether I am under attack or others...I 'stood up and spoke out' in a pub once-dangerous!!! so I roll with it and enjoy exchanges as with dear old jeff wright. Ah, jeff, do you know of the placebo trials conducted recently? They have been sought for ages by the medical profession and have revealed startlingly positive results, even from patients who knew they were taking a placebo, I guess you might say, 'Spooky!' Have had too many arguments about tommy rot in my life, like astrology, religion, flag-flying, and all things cosmic-but not to do with the cosmos. Ironic really because the only Yogi I admire is my all-time favourite, Yogi Bear. Just for good measure my favourite American actress is still Lisa Simpson. Is that enough material to work on buddy, or is Amos getting all your attention, green eyes showing here!

19. Westlower

    Mar 19, 2014, 18:22 #47715

    @R/K, You did well not giving your Thursdays winning back on Friday as it was a bloodbath for punters. A friend of a friend backed all 6 winners on Thursday. Probably won't back another winner for weeks. Looking forward to the flat starting on the 29th.

20. radfordkennedy

    Mar 19, 2014, 18:06 #47714

    Westie hello mate yes I had a great thursday spring heeled brought home the bacon mate however friday was such a strange day with the jockeys sick bay at the course looking like our one at london colney it threw me a curved ball with regards to me backing Ruby Walsh I think I ended up a tenner in front but overall 3 legs of a lucky 15 on the thursday ensured there would be honey for tea...good to hear from you mate

21. Arsene Morrell (Class of 1913)

    Mar 19, 2014, 18:02 #47713

    Sometimes I feel like it has been a long time but the spirit/s of some players is amazing. You can look at Bendtner if you want ......

22. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:53 #47712

    I wasn't at all embarrassed Green Hut, nor were my figures wrong, but though precision such as yours isn't always fully appreciated here I'm happy to acknowledge its accuracy. However, while such precision shouldn't be needed to appreciate Chapman's achievements it is essential when understanding historical decades and calculating player's ages. I'm grateful that you're willing to reinforce that principle. :)

23. Westlower

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:53 #47711

    @SGRB, The historical stats went up on the Arsenal site today. AFC didn't become a league side until 1893. I guess the other years not counted were during the World War periods. I was just responding to your post with a reply intended to be more uplifting, sorry it didn't work for you. @Ron, I had the same dream 1-2 at the Bridge. We both can't be wrong can we?

24. Stroud Green Road Boy

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:53 #47710

    @Green Hut, ironic that Amos suddenly seems less interested in precision and clarification, isn't it. Gregorian calendar, anyone?

25. maguiresbridge gooner

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:52 #47709

    Bard, maybe there's a Trophy for that? but i suspect only a bonus.

26. jeff wright

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:49 #47708

    Amos, for someone who demands pedantic perfection from others your own attitude to detail regarding your own figures that you post is rather amusing.

27. Green Hut

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:46 #47707

    Amos- Certainly a small point but also an important one of principle. Apologies for clearly embarrassing you, but you really shouldn't indulge in practices that you find so disappointing in others. People may begin to distrust other figures you post.

28. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:32 #47706

    Thank heavens you cleared that up Green Hut (though I was aware of it)! Still the whole point was in danger of failing without that clarification! So 8.5 seasons and 3.5 trophies it is for Chapman then. He's a much better manager now - but did anyone really need any convincing about his contribution? If only your source of info had used the less dodgy Gregorian calendar, as the rest of the western world does jeff, there would have been less confusion about Diaby's age. :)

29. jeff wright

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:24 #47705

    Amos, I fail to see any correlation between Wenger’s 16 years ,just 4 seasons in which he has won anything , and Chapman’s 8 year tenure that was cut short . Tbh, if Wenger goes at the end of the season any new manager will have to clear up the mess that he will leave behind - rather than inheriting a title winning side that is poised to dominate English football - and a club that is the most famous in the world, as was the case when Herbert prematurely left the building. 9 years at the Emirates and just an FAC won by Wenger will not on the other hand be such a big ask for any new man to emulate. Not that he would have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting anywhere near such a time span to win something in of course.

30. Green Hut

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:17 #47704

    Amos- As jeff wright has alluded to, and I'm sure it's a fact that you are aware of, Herbert Chapman died just a few days into 1934 and managed The Arsenal for 8 full seasons rather than the misleading '9 years' that you stated. Alternatively, you could have given him the credit for the 1933-34 title to make it 4 trophies won. But you can't have it both ways, as much as you'd like to.

31. jeff wright

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:13 #47703

    SGRB yes 9 years without a trophy is an unprecedented time for the manager of any club to boast of. Wenger’s been fortunate that he is judged by different criteria to mere mortals who would have been shown the door anywhere else years ago. Amos rewriting history and changing the calendar doesn’t change that fact. Those Gregorians did some mean chanting though . Shame about their dodgy calendars. Westie's produced these irrelevant ratio stats before out of desperation when the facts about Wenger's 9 years of failure to win anything are commented on.

32. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:11 #47702

    No need for Chapman to enhance his CV jeff, any Arsenal supporter, or even mere follower, will fully understand that Chapman's achievements, in the environment he operated in, go far beyond the trophies he won. A similarly rational appraisal of Wenger's tenure is also possible by some. Arsenal supporters complaining about Wenger are like sailors complaining about the sea.

33. Stroud Green Road Boy

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:08 #47701

    @Westlower, pretty sure AFC is not 109 but 128, isn't it? 1886 to 2014, so far. Was responding to Jeff's post about trophyless periods, so I'm struggling to see the relevance of your win ratio stat, the 'failure in specialist' term or indeed the stuff about top 4 Amos has thrown in, to this particular debate. Was trying to save you guys the bother with my in parenthesis sentence in the last comment, but as the standard response has been pre-empted and thus denied you, the urge had to be sublimated into elsewhere, it seems.

34. jeff wright

    Mar 19, 2014, 17:00 #47700

    Of course Amos there is the little matter that Herbert died before he had time to enhance his CV with the titles and cups that were won by his successors . They benefited from the squad that he had built - and the innovative training methods and the the tactics that he had invented. They brought about that success. Wenger's lack of success in Europe leaves him exposed as not being the great manager that it's claimed that he is. After 16 years ,and with great experience of the Champions League , he was unable to even finish in the last 8 this season having cocked-it up against Napoli in a game he only needed to draw ,but lost to Rafa and that striker whom he should have signed instead of thw ex-postman. Now this is simply not good enough for a manager who prioritizes Europe above everything else . An open door to a another face saving FAC awaits instead ,but that is not fooling anyone ,least of all Wenger himself. Although, if judging the wild celebs that followed finishing 4th in the Preem last season are anything to go by, then he will probably celebrate it doing the hokey pokey with the cup on top of his head! Is this really worth awarding him 8m a year for is the question because he still looks a million years away from winning the Prem or the Champions League . At least Stan according to your criteria will be able to start doing a Malcolm and paying himself a dividend on the basis that success has finally arrived. This presumes of course that Arsene actually does win the cup.

35. Ron

    Mar 19, 2014, 16:51 #47699

    Lads , calm down . Imagine how good we ll all feel on Saturday evening. Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2. Ive condidered how it goes too. Arsenal take the lead through a pen resulting from a Terry foul on Chamberlain (23 mins). Hazard replies. He skins Sagna after the latter slips, drives into the box, crosses low from the bye line and it deflects in off the BFG shin as he lunges to try and turn it away for a corner (38 mins). The winner comes from Koschielny header from close in. Cahill fails to track him (68 mins). Bookings - Terry (lunging last ditch tackle on Rosicky in which he hurts himself, falls and twists badly and eats dirt), Torres (the usual fairy footed dive) and Chamberlain (a muscular shoulder charge on Hazard - unlucky and appealable. You heard it all here first guys!!

36. Bard

    Mar 19, 2014, 16:46 #47698

    We've also sold more shirts in Ecuador than any other team with the letter A at the beginning of the name. Get a grip you stats men. It's trophies won nothing else. To date zilch in 9 years. All the other crap is a justification for the support of mediocrity.

37. Ron

    Mar 19, 2014, 16:32 #47697

    Henry - Always an afterthought for me mate. The London press are the sole reason the Club has any profile at all. The three players theyve had though who i always detested though were as follows: 1. Alan Mullery 2. Darren Anderton. Justin Edinburgh. No rational reason but always seemed to capture spuddism at its worst. Sort of represented a mixture of spud envy and bitterness towards Arsenal, spud powderpuffism (though every team theyve ever fielded have always held oodles of that!) and spudphoneyism. In fact,Id have given anything to have played against Anderton and given him a real reason to fall over and miss the next 35 games as was his periodic want. What an absolute pansy he was.

38. Westlower

    Mar 19, 2014, 16:23 #47696

    @SGRB, This season, AFC is achieving the best win to games ratio of 66.7% in the clubs 109 year history. Of course this stat has very little to do with 'failure specialist' Wenger.

39. Stroud Green Road Boy

    Mar 19, 2014, 16:22 #47695

    Correction: 2013 not 1913. It just feels that long...

40. Stroud Green Road Boy

    Mar 19, 2014, 16:08 #47694

    @jeff, Wenger is already the longest single serving manager without a trophy in AFC's history - he passed that landmark in summer 1913. The previous longest was George Morrell between 1908-15. This is also the second longest longest trophy drought since AFC first won a trophy in 1930, the longest being 1953-70. (To save others the bother, I'll place the above facts in their 'proper context' - Wenger has never finished outside the top 4, Man C and Chelsea are fuelled by petro-dollars, and AFC moved stadium in 2006.)

41. Henry Root

    Mar 19, 2014, 16:03 #47693

    Nice article that I think underplays Wenger's achievement simply because in recent years Tottenham have improved and have thrown serious money at trying to overhaul us. The very sinister-looking Mr. Levy, who looks like he should be stroking a cat as he describes to Wenger how he will die if he doesn't reveal the secret of eternal CL qualification is lauded as a genius but frankly he has blown an awful lot of money and while improving the side hasn't improved it enough. When the tiny Totts do emerge temporarily above us it is utterly obnoxious isn't it!? So be thankful for a manager who has made them an afterthought and made serious profits into the bargain. Wenger has his faults but being worse than any of the last ELEVEN Sp***s managers isn't one of them!

42. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 15:55 #47692

    It can be misleading to judge managers only on time frames and trophies won jeff. That way the meagre 3 trophies that Chapman won in 9 years (1925-1934) might give the impression he was less successful than some others. Most would understand his contribution was much greater than that though.

43. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 15:43 #47691

    It has already had an airing elsewhere in this thread courtesy of Badarse and Ron, SGRB - but it's good that the point seems to have stuck with you. Reward enough I think. The plan (but more aspiration really) would have been to win something on an enduring basis rather than a specific time frame - which successive Arsenal administrations, including the current, have continued to pursue. Quietly reassuring don't you think?

44. jeff wright

    Mar 19, 2014, 15:35 #47690

    Amos, we did not win any trophies in the 1960s and that is the only historical fact that counts . I was referring to individual managers and not periods of time per see.

45. Stroud Green Road Boy

    Mar 19, 2014, 15:34 #47689

    @jeff, good luck in your imminent debate with Amos about the Gregorian calendar. I suspect mischief from Amos there, he fancies giving that argument one more airing. He must really have a lot of time on his hands ... almost as much as those 'long term planners' at AFC back in the 1920s who decided to plan for a trophy in every (Gregorian) decade.

46. maguiresbridge gooner

    Mar 19, 2014, 15:26 #47688

    So there's talk of yet another Diaby comeback, that might explain the strange lights and shape that were reported hovering high over London Colney recently.

47. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 15:24 #47687

    The 7th historical decade of the last century started in 1961 and ended in 1970 jeff. Hence that memorable Fairs Cup victory was the trophy we won in the 7th decade. There have been far longer trophy droughts than the current one of course so even if we don't win one this season Wenger wouldn't be presiding over the longest barren spell in the club's history - though of course there are other achievements to celebrate during his tenure.

48. jeff wright

    Mar 19, 2014, 15:09 #47686

    Amos, that's not how I recall things when I was a kid back in the 60s we didn't win any trophies in the 60s . I was at two LC finals that we lost and remember them well - as I do the night at Highbury when we won the Fairs Cup in 1970 after donkeys years of failure. Interesting time span here between GG and AW regarding their trophy successes - and I do believe that Wenger needs to win a trophy this term to avoid the dubious distinction of presiding over the longest trophyless period of any manager at AFC. Graham (1986–1995) 9 years, 2 titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 league cups, 1 european cup winners cup. Wenger (1996–) 16 years, 3 titles, 4 FA Cups.

49. Westlower

    Mar 19, 2014, 14:44 #47685

    @Badarse, Magical Mystery tour CD arrived in post today & I know now a few more words: Nobody wants to know him, they can see he's just a fool, he never gives an answer but the fool on the hill sees the sun going down...well on the way, head in a cloud, the man of a thousand voices talking perfectly loud but nobody ever hears him or the sound he appears to make, and he never seems to notice, the fool on the hill but he sees the sun going down ....and nobody seems to like him, they can tell what he wants to do and he never shows his feelings but the fool on the hill sees the sun going down...., he never listens to them, he knows that they are the fools, and they don't like him, the fool on the hill...

50. Westlower

    Mar 19, 2014, 14:23 #47684

    Diaby was born May 11th 1986, which makes him 27 years old. @Jeff, I have until the flat starts on March 29th before I wave goodbye for awhile. Can't afford to be distracted as I've got a living to earn. I don't mind backing odds on as it can be real value sometimes.

51. maguiresbridge gooner

    Mar 19, 2014, 14:20 #47683

    JAMIE, yes there's nothing like seeing the spuds humiliated (especially when we do it ourselves)and having a good laugh at their expense to bring gooners together, and there are other examples too, but one that jumps out at me is when we were docked three points for the brawl with man yoo way back in 90, with the song that was sung in unison to the FA and indeed any body else after it, you can stick your f*****g two points up your arse.

52. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 14:08 #47682

    Who knows? I guess Abou Diaby would know jeff and I would hope the club know enough to have given his DoB correctly on the official site. Maybe you might wish to reconsider whether your sources of info are reliable enough? Then you would be 'in the know' too. Of course I imagined that you must have been joking about amortised wages but just in case your sources weren't wholly reliable thought it worth clarifying. In a way I hope your sources of info and predictions of doom prove right about ManU but they are still a massive revenue generating machine and net debt is still falling very nicely at present. Long term plans also pay off - which maybe the reason we're the only club to win a trophy in each of the last 9 consecutive historical decades.

53. jeff wright

    Mar 19, 2014, 13:34 #47681

    Amos,my source of info says that Abu is 29 but who knows eh! I was only jesting about the amortised wages , Badarse thinks that this is something that Arthur Scargill won for the miners ! Anyway , short term financial dealings are always better in football,if they are conducted properly, than long-term plans are. History says so. The Glazers though have been milking United for millions and thought that this could go on forever , now they are facing demands from disgruntled supporters to put their hands in their own pockets to try and rectify the mess that they have created. Moyes says that United will under him rise again,but as the master pointed out to little grasshopper only Jesus Christ could raise the dead . Bard yes our medical centre is even under threat now from Inspector Clueless himself,he said last week that something could be amiss with the medical treatment and possible training regime as well, now who would ever have thought that... Westie,I would say welcome back if you had been away !Wenger surely must win the FAC he's odds on to do so.I never back at odds on ,no fun and it can be costly .. Wenger won his last FAC and trophy on a penalty shoot out this time around it should be a bit easier. Anything less than 4 points from Chelsea and City will make 4th place in the Prem about as good as it gets.

54. Ron

    Mar 19, 2014, 13:28 #47680

    Diaby's ijuries are frustrating. Always loathe to mention him in a bad light. He can really play football can Diaby. If he was fit for his often March - May cameos, he would be one hell of a useful player right now. Id happliy lose Cazorla for Diaby for the run in.

55. Spaced

    Mar 19, 2014, 13:21 #47679

    Even when not commenting on this forum any longer, I love the way CanadaGooner still manages a moan! Hehehe. Keep the odds coming Westie, always informative...

56. jjetplane

    Mar 19, 2014, 13:16 #47678

    Great post WESTIE and IF we have a Nutter/KANU type day (if Stoke and Villa can) then beat Swansea it will be because the crossing game has gone to pot in the PL with Kos and Sags and almost getting to the point of ahhhh Adoration. The joiman's alright too and in a certain light with his lankiness reminds me of ...... your royal lankiness himself! Let's hope Maureen and his silly team are bogged down in dreams of that silly cup that has forever featured Handel's worst moment! The concerto grossos are so much better. Happy days?

57. Bard

    Mar 19, 2014, 13:01 #47677

    Jeff wright. I read that story as well. I had a momentary blissful feeling at the thought of Abu ploughing his way up and down the midfield. It seems he's learnt one good lesson. Keep away from the Arsenal medical room, once you get there you never get out. It's like an episode of the 60s hit the Prisoner.

58. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 12:58 #47676

    ManU have certainly made some poor short term decisions that will inhibit them in the short term jeff. Are already doing so in fact. Fortunately Kroenke and co are a little more far sighted. We've renewed contracts yesterday for 29 year old, 23 year old and a 17 year old. Looking after today and tomorrow eh! However, just to clear up any confusion you may have about financial practices at either club wages are not usually amortised (they are normally paid in arrears)in the same way that transfer fees are. As for Abou Diaby then there would be less time on his side if, as you say, he were 29 but as he's not yet 28 then he has just a little more time than you thought. Maybe he'll take some heart from 33 year old Rosicky eh?

59. Westlower

    Mar 19, 2014, 12:57 #47675

    @JJ, Betfair are offering 3/1 any sending off at OT, 1/3 no red cards. @Jeff, Re Diaby returning to training, apart from Theo we look like having a full compliment to pick from for FA Cup final & the last few league games. With any normal luck with injuries we could have been contenders, but wait a moment, we f****ing well are anyway!!!! Regarding the Lilywhites being as pure white as snow, what's those yellow patches I spy outside the Lane? Must be where the Arsenal p*ssed all over them - again! 53 years and counting........

60. Ron

    Mar 19, 2014, 12:50 #47674

    Amos - Im still of the view that RVP s sale to MU was a bit of good business. He won the title with his goals of course, but we werent going to win it with him anyway. It didnt take a rocket scientist to deduce either that his injury free run probably wouldnt last much longer. His decline has happened at an alarming rate hasnt it, although i think he is playing his face over Moyes methods as well.Im glad we re not lumbered with him now. His value? 12-14 Million tops now i guess with not many buyers who would want him now, certainly not among the recognised top Clubs. There was nt many out there when we sold him. Man U might have to take the hit.

61. jeff wright

    Mar 19, 2014, 12:46 #47673

    Amos, yes things are looking rather messy at United with the Glazers luck having run out and things will get even worse It's just as well then that Stan and Ivan avoid getting handcuffed with costly amortised wages paid to duff players... Speaking of which Abu Diaby says that he is about to return and assures us that it will be like Wenger signing a new player... yes Abu is gearing up to help us finish the season on a high and he reveals that he shuns the overcrowded casualty centre at AFC and prefers instead to do his own rehabilitation on his lonesome in France using Badarse type transcendental meditation and homeopathic natural healing processes ... this self treatment regime by Abu with him having only played a dozen games in the last 5 seasons obviously needs working on... give him more time though and he might make it work although at 29 time is not on his side.

62. Westlower

    Mar 19, 2014, 12:42 #47672

    @JJ, You're spot on, Jules is a far tougher opponent than me. She means it, whereas I'm the wimp of the family who does as he's told. Don't mess with a fiery female! @R/K, You haven't been sighted since Cheltenham, did you do your B***ocks?

63. jjetplane

    Mar 19, 2014, 12:03 #47671

    Here BADARSE you old Neitszchean! Was not calling you Do Donne Donne but asking you to consult the fevered spirits - there are many on here. Just nicked that pic on Brady and the lads (see above right) for the desktop background. Heres to the Tavernas of Trafford running free with ouzo and a Rooney sending off tonight/tomorrow. What are the odds on that Westie (welcome home - thought Julesd a tougher opponent). Maybe CG has got a bet attached to it? Todays writer - Lautremont (French again!)....

64. JAMIE

    Mar 19, 2014, 11:45 #47670

    I love these tiny totts discussions always brings out the best in Arsenal fans, a relief from folk just moaning about Wenger. If you want a real laugh go on Youtube and watch 'Football rivalries Arsenal v Tottenham'. The guy who represents the spuds(specky dude) who apparently is the chairman of their supporters club is typical of many of their fans. One of his many quotes is 'Tottenham play in white because white represents purity.' Also notice how the makers big up the sixties to make the Spuds seem on an even par.

65. Amos

    Mar 19, 2014, 10:01 #47669

    What are the odds on RvP joing spuds next year? Pretty low I'd guess. He's on a reported £10m a year with 2 years still left. Under PL (not Uefa) FFP rules clubs spending more than £52m a year on wages are only allowed to increase wages by £4m a year (unless revenues outside broadcasting increase). RvP isn't going to take a wage cut and ManU will still have £12m of his transfer fee on their books which they need to recover or write down. The problem for both ManU and RvP is that financially they're handcuffed together for the next couple of years - unless one or the other is prepared to write off an awful lot of money.

66. Ozzie

    Mar 19, 2014, 9:50 #47668

    Ron, love your post. For a name change, how about Cottonham Totspurr? By the way, had Spurs not done their business re Berbatov & Bale their squad would be even less inspiring. (Why the hell didn't Wenger sign Bale earlier in the piece?) Anyone want odds on Herr Von Pursie joining the spuds next year?

67. Bard

    Mar 19, 2014, 9:50 #47667

    You see what CG is missing, it's not all betting odds. Yes Hazard. Those with longer memories will remember that we were in for him but oddly enough weren't prepared to pay the going price. He like Suarez now looks a snip at 30m. Still looking forward to seeing Kallstrom ripping up trees in the coming weeks along with the Anelka look alike Sanogo.

68. Westlower

    Mar 19, 2014, 8:46 #47664

    @Sputnik, I think it'll be mathematically decided on April 19th when we visit Hull. The most points the Spuds will get is 70 & AFC will get 80+. The bookies think the Lillywhites are most likely to finish 6th. Latest betting on the exchanges is: Top 4, AFC 1/18, TH 16/1; Top 5, AFC 1/100, TH 15/8; Top 6, AFC, no offers, TH 4/9. Except for the top 4 teams all others are 1000/1 to win PL. AFC are 40/85 to win FA Cup & 2/11 to reach final.

69. BADARSE

    Mar 19, 2014, 6:58 #47662

    Good morning gentlemen and ladies. @Paul, do you see all of life in such simplistic terms, or do you restrict it to football? I am not having a dig, just asking. I have met 'greybeards' in their 20's and those who behave like children who are older than myself. Western world attitudes are pretty superficial, this site is a glowing example of it in operation. People, particularly the young, get a baptism of two-dimensional logic-it is unhelpful at best, dangerous at worst. For this, every older head should be hung in shame for such a cowardly act of abdication. Here is an analogy. I used to run, and run fast-earning a number of plaudits. Too many football-related injuries and 'old father time', put the brakes on this fleet-footed individual. Should I be judged now quite so stringently as the younger me? When circumstances alter the dynamics change and the expectations should be adjusted accordingly. That is not defeatism, it's realism. I boldly reject your over-simplification of the PL comparison between us and Chelsea. They have had a new remit for a decade-us too. Times change. If you do not take on board that these obvious differences bring an altered vista you are in peril of becoming a dinosaur in your summary and comprehension. Apologies to the reverend westlower as here endeth the sermon on the mount, (are you giving away more candlesticks?). Oh and it's the same one that JAMIE sits upon. 'Day after day, alone on the hill, the man with the foolish grin...'. Incidentally, there is plenty of room atop this place for everyone.

70. Paul

    Mar 19, 2014, 6:10 #47661

    In the last 10 years Wenger has been manager when Chelsea have become London's top team.Its 10 trophies to one in their favour.Nothing to be proud of.How far have we fallen when we judge success as finishing above Spurs.That is the benchmark for the AKB's

71. Sputnik

    Mar 19, 2014, 3:46 #47659

    Putting together the themes of betting and yet another victory over Spuds, has anyone given much thought to this years' St. Totteringham's Day? I refer, of course, to that wonderful event that reliably comes around each year when it is mathematically impossible for Spuds to catch Arsenal in the Premier league. In a good year, St. Totteringham's Day can occur when there is still frost on the ground. Last year, it was very late - perhaps more of a summer festival. This year, while hoping for an earlier date, I am going for Tue 15th Apr when beating Westam will leave us 10 points clear with only 3 matches to play. What odds do Gooner Betting experts have?

72. BADARSE

    Mar 18, 2014, 22:03 #47657

    Oh jjetplane, you grow stronger, yet stronger still. Thought the Myth of Sisyphus was to do with Mott the Hoople. John Donne BADARSE, mmm, been called worse, but be careful gentlemen, it tolls for thee. Loved the Hemingway book, Robert Jordan-Spanish Civil War ranked high on my agenda. and jjetplane, that's Da Doo Ron Donne. Is the answer in the soil?

73. lee afc

    Mar 18, 2014, 21:27 #47656

    Sorry Ron.....you old eff and see

74. jjetplane

    Mar 18, 2014, 21:26 #47655

    Rave on RON Donne!

75. Ron

    Mar 18, 2014, 21:07 #47654

    JJ. Ha. I've oft thought our Badarse bless him is a descendant of old JD,or maybe i shd i say with Seasons end in mind, 'is thou badarsest thy harbinger of arse woven joys and wondrest hopes for thy seasonal spring pleasures pray'!!

76. jjetplane

    Mar 18, 2014, 20:48 #47653

    RON Just thinking that on Hazard. Playing at the wrong club. If they win nothing, Maureen goes and err Martinez (with Arsene's permission) is given 50m or 30m and chuck in dear old Ozil (would he notice he's moved! ha ha) and Hazard and Walnutt, Mozart and Ramsay and we could win the .... world cup?! Ahh you cannot beat a bit of fever. Ask John Donne BADARSE.

77. Ron

    Mar 18, 2014, 20:41 #47652

    lee - Oh dear. Grow up you silly young arse.

78. lee afc

    Mar 18, 2014, 20:32 #47651

    Ron...not at any stage did I mention whether CG was pro or anti Wenger..I merely stated that he is genuinely honest in his opinions. I fully appreciate that not everyone is still in love with Mr Wenger but there are plenty of gooners unlike yourself and Jeffrey still worship 'the arsenal'

79. Ron

    Mar 18, 2014, 20:13 #47650

    Guys,that lad Hazard would have made a great Gunners player.What do you reckon? Imagine him with a class Club in an expansive team.Hes surely cut out for better than them.

80. jjetplane

    Mar 18, 2014, 20:00 #47649

    BADARSE Now you're talking Algerian goalkeepers who smoked too much and got hot and bothered at the wrong funerals. He certainly got on Satre's tits though. The French - ya just can't beat them (see Myth of Sisyphus). See also Myth of T.......m.

81. Ron

    Mar 18, 2014, 19:54 #47648

    Jamie lad, i think i'm falling in love you my boy!Take it as given mate, Joseph Henry Baker could have played in any team in any era. Skill, spite, poise, great shot, good head, power, brave, built well and pretty quick too.And yes, miles better than Greaves. Joe played in an entertaining team that leaked goals quicker than he could score em. Aided greatly by Eastham and Strong. He was brilliant. The best striker Arsenal FC have ever had. Look at his figures, but Joe was far more than his stats. I even went to see Joe after he left and went to Forest. My hero mate. None since. Before my time, but my Dad reckoned Ted Drake ran him close. Dad saw TD score his 7 v Villa. It took only 8 or 9 attempts on goal. R.I.P Joe. I loved you fella. Thank you for making me a Gunners fan. Missed and never, ever to be forgotten.

82. Ron

    Mar 18, 2014, 19:44 #47647

    Westie - Get offa yer horse and drink yer milk and clean up that dog muck yr leaving everywhere!!I knew we d flush you out, you old bugger!Good to hear you matey. Dead on pal. They had about 5-6 years tops as the better team though always a ramshackle club. My best to 'julesd' fella.

83. JAMIE

    Mar 18, 2014, 19:43 #47646

    Greaves who in my opinion is the only world class player ever to turn out for the Spuds said in his column in some tabloid back in the 90's that if Arsenal would have come in for him he would have been off like a rocket. Even though b4 my time I don't think Arsenal would have signed him because they had Joe Baker who scored 100 goals in 156 games and what I've seen of that guy he could have played today and wouldn't look out of place.

84. Green Hut

    Mar 18, 2014, 19:39 #47645

    Ron- Re Greaves, I wasn't referring specifically to the double mate, I would assume they regard their best period to be 61-63 and he arrived halfway through that. Never saw Joe Baker play, but after reading the last few months of posts on here there is no doubt that he was better! Gaz- The first half of your post is a question that I suspect many will be asking if we manage to land the big prize this season.

85. BADARSE

    Mar 18, 2014, 19:36 #47644

    jjetplane, now I understand why you are as you are. Kerouac and Mann! Hats off to you pal, red and white ones with fluffy bobbles on the end. No Satre or Albert Camus? or do you read them in braille with the lights out, just to make the read a little more challenging? Impressed Gooner.

86. jjetplane

    Mar 18, 2014, 19:24 #47643

    Ha ha Sorry WESTIE as I was playing the game with that Odds on Canada moniker. Got you off your horse and all that though! And look at us now - another double on the way!!! Totts totted off and no mention of Gilzean and that 'hair', and those Gins! 1971 Its all happening with the best back three in the country. Long as they're only mopping up the sort of balls Gibbo chucks in. Oh gawd - Maureen is on the drone again .... Books BADARSE well I am a fan of Miller, Mann, Kerouac, but The End has to be the book Tolstoy had in mind when he reflected on the god particle. Presently reading Cowper Powys A Glastonbury/Highbury Romance which is only thousand plus pages and velly good an' all. Also having a bit of Plato (as you do) - when you're outside the cave and stoney broke. Art - that's Arsenal for ya.

87. BADARSE

    Mar 18, 2014, 19:10 #47642

    It's like Xmas morning, westlower is back! Hi chum, what a great result on Sunday. The win and our little Mozart's goal was just an amazing tonic, just as julesd suggested it might be. What a wonderful surprise that was. So it is definitely a good evening gentlemen, and ladies, (just in case there are others). Enjoying the book 24601-thought I might and I will definitely vouch for it if CanadaGooner gets his skates on and opens that book club.

88. BADARSE

    Mar 18, 2014, 18:50 #47639

    Yes Ron, Greavsie didn't arrive at the Lane 'til after the Double. And yes I second Green Hut's defence of westlower. He is missed. Wanted him to open a book on the chances of a spring gardening club taking off, or a dig at the book club...any takers?

89. Westlower

    Mar 18, 2014, 18:48 #47638

    @Odds on Canada, Fair cop guv! Julesd is my better half and although she posts her own thoughts I couldn't resist adding my tuppence worth re betting odds. I might add that julesd is equally passionate about AFC after attending her first match in 1972 against Wolves and later becoming Keown's biggest fan, via, Sammels, Kelly, Wilson & Radford. I've got a few days free before the Flat season kicks in on March 29th so I'll pop my head up over the parapet, should anybody want to give me a good kicking! Having watched most NLD's since 1960/61 I feel the Spuds were a superior team in the early 60's but never, ever, a superior club. The Arsenal are a class apart. Now we are established in our new stadium the Spuds have been left way behind. That glorious evening in 1971 at the Lane destroyed them & they will never recover from from that fatal blow. They had one of their better teams out that night and we killed them off. Never has the old adage 'you can't buy class been more true.' Daniel Levy's envy is eating him alive. @Badarse, So pleased you're reading 'The Sure Thing.' Maybe Barney can fill the void in your life after the demise of TB?

90. Ron

    Mar 18, 2014, 18:39 #47637

    GH - I might be wrong as im pleased not to be an authority on the spuds, but i reckon Greaves didnt get there until after 1961, so he didnt win a title there did he? He was there just after and assisted in the gradual decline up to about 1969.Good player. Wasted on them. Mind you, my Dad detested him with a passion. Just saw him as a bone idle goal hanger . Anyway, Joe Baker was better!!! I cant be bothered to google it as i d feel sick to the stomach checking it. Comments hes made down the years tells me, he loved his time at Chelsea and thought the spuds as a club and the people there was a tatty lot basically. No change there! He enjoyed his time at WHU as it was a real drinkers Club and they didnt fuss too much about training as long as he knocked a few in! I think it was him that said Bill Nick'n at the spuds actually wanted to copy the way the Arsenal had played in the 50s.

91. Ron

    Mar 18, 2014, 18:27 #47636

    GH - Ha . Yes, right with you there on Westie. The deluded old sod s a good lad despite his florid imagination and the lunacy of his blind and misguided optimism!!!! Brave enough to show a bit of himself on here and i like that. Good poster and hes missed isnt he. Theres a few of you the same. Its good.

92. jjetplane

    Mar 18, 2014, 18:14 #47635

    GAZ Good post there and that is why scousers are not upsetting me when they are upsetting the two you mention plus the fact they have destroyed the mancs good and proper (something we should be adding to) and at least making this season less humdrum. Mischief is the order of the day and Wenger might just be picking up on some. Anyway, Turkish Delight is on the menu tonight!

93. BADARSE

    Mar 18, 2014, 18:12 #47634

    JAMIE, loved your use of the word, 'phoney'. It's very Holden Caulfield. Takes me back to my 'Catcher in the Rye' days. CanadaGooner, can I leave you to organise a book club? Have some wonderful recommendations to offer. Now, sift carefully, getting plenty of air into the flour...

94. Dixon Arsene Seaman

    Mar 18, 2014, 18:00 #47633

    Gerry Francis, Chris Hughton, Christian Gross, David Pleat, George Graham, David Pleat (again!)Glen Hoddle, David Pleat (again!!) Jacques Santini, Martin Jol, Clive Allen & Alex Inglethorpe, Juande Ramos, Clive Allen & Alex Inglethorpe, Harry Redknapp, and Andre Villas-Boas all tried to finish above Wenger's Arsenal. All failed. Tim Sherwood looks to add his name to the list.

95. Green Hut

    Mar 18, 2014, 17:57 #47632

    maguiresbridge- Greaves was equally gushing in his praise for us a club, and again in his comparison with t*ttenham, after we won the Cup Winners Cup. Remarkable considering he played for them during the best period in their history (which I'm sure made the people of Middlesex very proud of them). Canada nice to hear from you, I'm sure most malcontents reached their tipping point with Wenger at different times, but respect to you for playing yours out on here. Would be good to see you post more often. Unless you're back on board again, in which case I take it all back. Have to stick up for Westlower though, betting odds aside the guy is 100% enthusiasm and positivity with no spiteful sarcasm like some of us. Deluded of course, but a top man nonetheless.

96. Gunner SA

    Mar 18, 2014, 17:50 #47631

    CanadaGooner - In the 1998/99 season Nottingham Forest lost 1-11 in the two matches against ManUre so Citeh's 11 isn't an outright record. Let's hope Citeh doesn't win the league by nine goals from Arsenal (The Gunners' aggregate score against the spuds being nine less than Citeh's) or that won't seem so funny. Although I'm happy that St Totteringham's Day has been intact since 1996 you can't say there's been no rivalry. You didn't keep tabs on the spuds' match at West Ham in 2006 or at Villa Park in 2012? Am enjoying Sunday's win as much as anyone but if Wenger doesn't win a trophy this season and doesn't sign a new deal I'll be glad to see the back of him too.

97. BADARSE

    Mar 18, 2014, 17:42 #47629

    Afternoon Ron. Yeah, with the decade beginning on 1st Jan 1921, through to 31st Dec 1930, ad infinitum. Liked your diatribe on those 'nasties' down the lane, and felt quite saddened by your account the other day about the youngster being hit. I have a similar story-not nice memories. Horrid place.

98. Gaz

    Mar 18, 2014, 17:11 #47627

    Serious question but if us or Liverpool were to win the league where would that put the arguement that we simply can't compete with the likes of City or Chelsea? After all thats the common line put out by many fans when trying to reason why we've been uncuccessful for so long. No sarcasm intended here by the way and if I'm not totally believing in Wenger again I'm at least entertaining the thought he might be about to change my opinion of him. Of course it'll only take the one bad defeat to see that optimism abb away but for now it's good to feel a little more positive about both our manager and title chances...

99. Ron

    Mar 18, 2014, 17:08 #47626

    Hi Badarse - How do we fit the 60s into 'every decade a trophy'matey? Is that a bit like creative accounting? Do you sort of squeeze the ICFC into the 60s?

100. BADARSE

     Mar 18, 2014, 17:06 #47625

     By the way CG, I think westlower gets bad publicity for his betting odds thing. I am a self-confessed non-gambler and have no real interest beyond reading his news and the situation that the bookies reflect. I learn from him. I am perhaps the one people might feel more animosity towards because I do orchestrate threads of other interests. Now at the moment I am listening to the 'Boss', and it works for me, as I feel on full power. You have missed the chats on Tony Benn, Scargill, Orgreave and the 'big bang' theory. Just treat it as white noise. There are many openings, right now we are looking for a forum on spring gardening, soon to be followed by baking a cake for 'Mothers' Day'. Stick with it fella, but tell me dwarf beans or scarlet runners this season?

101. BADARSE

     Mar 18, 2014, 16:26 #47624

     Hi CG. Thanks for the article, a nice theme pal. I didn't agree with some of your views but did respect you, so I will join the chorus and ask you back. Being a 'big' club is a difficult one to tie down. It is so perilously close to an abstract concept that it can be defined almost any way you like. Having said that we pretty much out trump every other club in the land. Our trophy haul is phenomenal. Our boast of 'every decade a trophy'(since our first in 1930), the first at this, the longest at that, the most of these is a constant. Our magnificent stadium. Highbury, still vibrant and imposing. Two stadia means we own our territory. The tube name, the cannons, statues, flags, are all statements. The history, tradition all laced with class and style-'The Arsenal Way'. Then there are those shirts! Sometimes I think the judgement of what constitutes a 'big' club gets lost in a two-dimensional mire, but it is far more nebulous than that. I am sure Arsenal fans do feel, almost taste that indefinable sense of who and what we are. It isn't just odd and weird jokers like myself and jjetplane who get it through a haze of smoke. Compare us to the Tiny Totts? You're having a giraffe.

102. The odds on Canada writing online

     Mar 18, 2014, 16:11 #47623

     julesd you got westie hiding under that sheepskin?

103. DW Thomas

     Mar 18, 2014, 15:53 #47622

     Come back Canada! You had some of the best and balanced posts. I for one enjoy the banter, AKB or AMG or anywhere in between. Never got into the betting thing either, but have not seen much of that recently. Depending how we do vs City at home, we might have a pretty bad number of shipped goals with them too! Didn't realize or would never have predicted Ramsey was our savior and his absence may mean we lose the league. His injury problems are becoming like Diabys or Jacks. Lets just hope e is ack ASAP and helps us fight to the end. Wenger has given us plenty to love but his time has long been up I feel. I just comment now as I haven't been able to really think of much new to submit an article on! It's been the same collapse year after year not to mention the cups! Still I hope for one last hurrah for Wenger. I respect him to an extent, but he makes way too many excuses and bad decisions to give him my support.

104. Ron

     Mar 18, 2014, 15:44 #47620

     MG - Saw Greavesie play for Chelmsford once. Must have been early 70s, after he d drunk himself out of WHU. He was lets say very rotund, cd barely run out of the centre circle and just put passes about, till he fired one in as if hed got tired of the dross f-----g up and wasting has passes. Even at about 36 and 4 stone overweight and in all probability drunk as a lord, he was far too good for non league.

105. maguiresbridge gooner

     Mar 18, 2014, 15:34 #47619

     Green Hut, your right and i seem to remember another quip from Greaves when Gorgeous George was our manager, it might have been around the time he was doing Saint and Greavsie i can't remember if it was on the show or in an interview later,it was something along the lines of, a neighbour of mine who's a spud fan (although he didn't use the word spud) makes a habit of bumping into me for a chat every time Arsenal lose, i haven't seen him around for quite a while now.

106. jeff wright

     Mar 18, 2014, 15:16 #47618

     As has already been pointed out Lee you and some others only appear on here after we win. True. I realize that you are desperate to prove your slavish support for Arsene, that you confuse with supporting Arsenal, is justified and judged just on his record against the spuds it is. I was only pointing out to you that there is more to life that this and that our recent results against top sides can't be air-brushed away by a win at the lane , in a game that we were favourites to win anyway. I must say though that I was surprised after seeing how Benfica out played the spuds that we looked so poor against them. A win is a win though however that goal from Rosicky deserved a better over all performance than just dogged desperation defending by us to follow on it.

107. Ron

     Mar 18, 2014, 15:14 #47617

     leeAFC - pretty sure CG will love you for gushing over him. However, unless he s done a chameleon impression i suspect you ll be chastising him, once your familiar with his views on AW. At least based on the last views he uttered on here a while back. CG was once very pro Arsene and then changed tack. Nothing wrong with that, but im not sure that you ll cope it too well.

108. WENGER OUT

     Mar 18, 2014, 14:58 #47616

     Hi Red Roger - Maybe I'm not the smartest, who knows? Who cares? The fact that FJ echoes my criticism of Wenger only serves to underline his stupidity - Surely he must know that longer Wenger is around, the more chance the Spuds have of closing the gap. Heck, they managed to finish 1 point behind us last season with exactly the same number of trophies. Maybe he'll cotton on like some of his less dim-witted fellow Spuds, who now sing in support of a prolonged Wenger stay. Where were you lot after the Stoke game anyway? I don't remember a Red Roger or JAMIE defending AW after that one, or after the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool... strange that! To think you lot have the temerity to call us fair weather fans. I shout for the team when we're playing and fight for what I believe in always, winning or losing.

109. lee afc

     Mar 18, 2014, 14:54 #47615

     Hi Canada...nice to hear from you again..always a genuine person with honest opinions and a fan of the arsenal. Not too many people like you around these days. I got told off by Jeff wright for celebrating yet another win over the mighty spurs, but let's be honest, the last time we knocked em out of the cup and did the double over them in the league in the same season was 1983/84 season so you can see why us gooners are all excitable.

110. Ron

     Mar 18, 2014, 14:44 #47614

     Jamie. Theres some truth in that. They sort of hate us and want us to die, but need us more, so they stick with 'need' but hate themselves for having done so! In fairness, they played some good stuff in the Burkinshaw years, until they shat on him and got rid.PS I had the dubious pleasure of being in with their rabble when they lost Coventry in 1987 in the FAC Final. Cov had thrashed them 4-0 a few weeks before, but in their eyes they 'just needed to turn up' to collect the Cup!Pervo 'when i was manager of Tottenham Hotspur'bla bla boring bla, Pleat was the coach then. Loved it. The roads outside the old dump were running with spudling tears after Coventry trounced them yet again. I had a freebie ticket but would happlily have paid for it afterwards.

111. JAMIE

     Mar 18, 2014, 14:32 #47612

     Spurs are fake heroes. A team who lives on the back of the mighty Arsenal who have invented their own history and tried to change ours to make them seem better. No other team who has managed just two title wins has ever been given such good press and media attention. Note also the enormous amount of players who have been picked from Spurs compared to other similar sized clubs to play for England and how they have their managers and ex players often picked as England managers. Also despite playing hoof ball for their entire existence they have conned everybody into thinking they're a great footballing team while stereotyping Arsenal as not, everything about them is phoney.

112. johnnyhawleylovinggooner

     Mar 18, 2014, 14:09 #47611

     Hope the board has a plan b if AW does not sign a contract. As the Chelsea boss has done his motivational speech for him(hope it is nailed to the dressing room door),Saturday's match should be used to ram it down his neck.every thing to play for.the tots manage to mess it up themselves other than anyone else being better.and it really is funny to see it

113. Ron

     Mar 18, 2014, 14:02 #47610

     Peter Wain - Seeing Tottenham spend makes me think if thats 'spending', im glad we dont spend anything! Ha . I know im being flippant, but it makes me wonder how Levy holds down a job there. Yes, he just spent the Bale cash and arguably theres no real harm done, but those players will all be sold for next to nothing surely? Theyre just hopeless. Amos - Absolutely Villa and Everton. Villa s stadium save for OT, Arsenal, maybe the Toon is maybe the best in that PL. Theyve a fine pedigree plus a European Cup and could easily fill a ground twice as big. Their latent support is immense if they had the will to grow, which theyve denied themselves for so long.I think if they stick with Paul Lambert hes going to do well there in time. Everton are slightly different. They were the 'Millionaires Club' of the 60s and 70s. Theyre now locked in geographically, badly need investment but are sadly kept hemmed in and kept down by a City Council in Liverpool that only wears red sunglasses. Kenwright is a wonderful owner though. They really are a 'peoples Club'. Its a Council which if it had its way, would drive Everton out of Liverpool. A grand Club with an honours record that dwarfs Tottenhams. Massive support too. Its makes me smile on here whe you hear these newbie Arsenal fans, disparage such Clubs and speak with disdain of them. Its amazing how so many are so SKY fed and know ziltch about football and live with closed eyes about and towards other Clubs.The truth of the matter is that only United and Liverpool from the present day league as it is are clearly 'stand out'Clubs from the rest in terms of honours gained. Many moan about the media coverage of them, but its not hard to understand why.Theyre the only two Clubs whove ever made an imprint for english football on the World as a whole really. The rest can argue about domestic status as long as they like.

114. maguiresbridge gooner

     Mar 18, 2014, 13:50 #47609

     Good to hear from you again Canada and good article. Yes we're in contention for the first time in a while and it's a pity we weren't placed in a position in January where we were real contenders but as we all know the more we/fans want something the less chance we have of getting it and stubbornness is a good way of describing it. The spuds must certainly be sick of Wenger alright, he and the players have managed to keep them where they belong and that includes the managers they've had and dim tim now knows what that's like first hand, it was touch and go on a few occasions but we managed to slap them back down into their black hole when ever they popped their heads up. They haven't even bothered to try this season (to broken)and they've still been slapped down anyway, how demoralising it must be, just think how much more demoralising it would/would have been if we'd actually won something in the last nine seasons. Arsene's King of North London crown is firmly intact alright and i'm sure it will remain there for the foreseeable future and we thank him for that. Whether his legacy remains the same is another matter, we'll have to wait and see.

115. Amos

     Mar 18, 2014, 13:44 #47608

     I don't know whether a suitable striker was available jeff but I guess that Chelsea didn't consider that Berbatov or Defoe were suitable either. Why would they if even Fulham and Spurs didn't think they were suitable? Even City apparently couldn't find the worthwhile defenders some say they need. I guess seeing as ManU have made nothing but poor signings and according to others spuds have wasted £100m everyone's a little concerned about making the right buying decisions eh! Maybe this transfer game isn't so straightforward as we might wish it to be. It's a romantic presumption to think that many of ManU's supporters have a proper understanding of football finance but I'm sure some of them do.

116. jeff wright

     Mar 18, 2014, 13:30 #47607

     Amos, I was referring to your implication that if a striker was available then why didn't Chelsea buy one. This suggests that you don't believe that there was one available. Berbatov and Defoe were available so I suspect that others were also if the will to find them was there. I don't why Chelsea failed to sign a striker perhaps at that time Mourinho was still hoping that the tree that he has ,or even one of them , would come good. Regarding United's finances I'm not getting involved in all that again!I will only add that a great many of their supporters, who I presume know more about the Glazers and the financial situation at MUFC than your goodself does, do not share your own , and Stan's ,rosy eyed view of them. As I said before the Glazers have been making some bad calls since gruppenfuhrer Ferguson retired and there is a look of confusion and panic about things. Moyes is obviously well out of his depth and his signing of Fellini was on a par with Stan signing Ozil as regards any impact they have made to the fortunes of both clubs. Mata was another poor signing and not what United needed . Anyway it's all good fun watching RVP and co struggle ,it would be even better though had our own Inspector Clueless been able to add to their misery. Let's hope then that he can do better against Jose than he has done against struggling bug - eyes Moyes. Two bad results against the portugeezer already by Wenger is enough for one season. The game will be won or lost in midfield . Unless it's another bore draw!

117. Red Roger

     Mar 18, 2014, 13:21 #47606

     Interesting you question the intelligence of FJ in your 8.49 post Wenger Out, our friendly neighbour may well have his issues, but it seems to me that all he does is repeat the mantra of most on here, so take you are also questioning the intelligence of about 80% on here...including your good self?

118. Peter Wain

     Mar 18, 2014, 13:15 #47604

     The biggest problem the scum have is that they spent £100million and are worst than last year. All the buys have been pants and it is difficult to see how they can get their money back on Soldardo, Lamela or Capoue. Still hopefully they will waste more money this transfer window. As for us it is difficult to see Wenger buying anyone before the World Cup so it looks like a late August deadline again.

119. underacheiver

     Mar 18, 2014, 13:06 #47603

     lol Jamie you are funny, I'll give you that.

120. Mark T

     Mar 18, 2014, 13:05 #47602

     I remember when the Spuds were so far OFF OUR RADAR it was untrue. Maybe the fact that articles like this are felt worthy of publication now says a lot about the depths we have sunk to. The fact that they are in our shadow is because they are who they are and we are Arsenal. It has nothing to do with any single manager.

121. WeAreBuildingATeamToDominate

     Mar 18, 2014, 12:52 #47601

     13 league titles to 2. 10 FA Cups to 8. In Europe they hold the slight advantage 2 UEFA cups to 1 with 1 x ECWC each. Much of the impression that neutrals might have that there isn't too much distance between the clubs is based on journalists who spent much of the 1970's and 1980's eulogising over Tottenham whilst Arsenal's functional football saw them constantly still come on top. (Conveniently forgetting their relegation in 1977 and habitual ability to get beaten at home 5-6 times every season) but Tottenham always "played with a swagger" apparently. Don't laugh but even in 1988 I was reading that "the gap is closing". Oh, and weren't they supposed to be usurping us this season too.

122. Amos

     Mar 18, 2014, 12:46 #47600

     Did I claim that it was impossible to sign a striker in the last window jeff? I simply asked why nobody else, including Chelsea who seem to be one of the teams you suggest are in need of strikers, didn't sign one. The Chelsea/Man U 'sham' needs to be balanced with the understanding that ManU have had much greater revenues for far longer than any other team in the PL. They've been able to invest at a higher level for longer though they are perhaps paying for the title they won last season, with the consequences of short term squad decisions and longer term neglect this season, as that gap is closing.

123. Green Hut

     Mar 18, 2014, 12:36 #47598

     This from Jimmy Greaves- “Arsenal have class. I remember when I was at Spurs, the Arsenal players would arrive for matches in their navy blazers with the gold gun emblem sewn into their pockets and grey slacks. We couldn’t match their ground with that beautiful main entrance, marble halls and spiral staircase. Even in 1961 when we won the Double, we were never as big a club as Arsenal”. Yep, believe it or not there was disparity of stature in our favour between the two clubs before Wenger arrived. Who'd have thought it?

124. Roberto Angelico

     Mar 18, 2014, 12:33 #47597

     Haha isn't it funny how everyone's leaving now the team is winning… You're meant be happy when the team is winning? Not sad because you've been proved wrong again LOL

125. jeff wright

     Mar 18, 2014, 12:21 #47596

     Outside of the media ,which has more than it's fair share of ex-spuds and supporters in it, and away from London, the truth is that THFC is not really of any interest to anyone else. Chelsea long ago became our main London rival and in the end Wenger will be judged on how he performed against them, rather than against Tottenham. The old tired cliché of we can’t compete against Chelsea because they have more money has been exposed for the sham that it always was with United last season winning the Prem with only the third largest wage bill . Even City with the most money ended up getting turned over in the FAC final by little Wigan. We need to see Wenger break the hoodoo that Mourinho has over him on Saturday and a draw will not do that, only a win will suffice. Personally despite what Amos claims I believe that finding a more mobile striker than muscle-bound serial pre-match night shaggger Giroud was not the mission impossible that he claims that it was in the last window . Anyway, it was clearly obvious that we needed this 'mythical beast' last summer and not another little fancy Dan midfield playboy with a known penchant to go missing when the going gets tough. So who then was to blame for us signing an inexperienced postman instead of a proper striker ? Latest betting odds on who will win the title are: 5/4 City,2-1 Chelsea,3-1 Liverpool and 9-1 Arsenal. Two of those sides have strikers who score loads of goals and two don't have any who do so . Will this play a part in the final countdown ?

126. Amos

     Mar 18, 2014, 12:04 #47595

     On the basis of honours you might put Everton and Villa above Spurs too. We were a bigger club in the 30's and Spurs a bigger club in the 60's I suppose. In terms of titles Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle could claim to be 'bigger' than Spurs though maybe Spurs would claim to be bigger than us in terms of European triumphs. Honours tell part of story. But the gap that could justify the claim that they are a club 'half the size and with half the resources', as far as that's true, would only have come about in the last 10 years or so.

127. JAMIE

     Mar 18, 2014, 12:01 #47594

     Underachiever, I am a man who has vast knowledge on most subjects, whether football, religion, politics etc. There's very little I don't have superior knowledge to the average man who likes to pretend he has knowledge yet just uses catchy jingles and verbosity when the simple truth is there in front of his eyes. You call yourself underachiever because probably very little of worth has happened in your life.

128. Matthew Bazell

     Mar 18, 2014, 11:55 #47592

     I don't think we should measure our success by the failure of Spurs. That said, Wenger's record against Tottenham has been mostly brilliant, with a slight blip here and there in the Gareth Bale years. To dare is to do...13 league titles, you've only won 2! How the deluded ones at the Lane DARE to have that slogan is quite amazing.

129. Stroud Green Road Boy

     Mar 18, 2014, 11:38 #47590

     Depends what criteria you choose to employ, doesn't it. Being, evidently, slightly old fashioned I look at the honours board, which tells me AFC have been a significantly bigger club than THFC since the 1930s and that AFC are - and have been for several decades - the third biggest club in the country, behind Man U and Liverpool. Man C and Chelsea are not big clubs, they are small to medium clubs, but with 'big' owners. Certainly I find the notion that the gap between AFC and THFC has only significantly developed in the last 10 years - since we last won the title and in a period of time they've run us close a few times in the league and improved the head to head record - rather curious.

130. ppp

     Mar 18, 2014, 11:02 #47589

     Ron - your assessment of Spurs as a club is spot on. As a native North Londoner I obviously have as many Spurs mates as Arsenal mates and despite the fact that I love them all. It's really not difficult to see that all Spurs fans have got something about them that makes them way off kilter when it comes to football talk. Spurs fans are naturally enraged and bitter from cradle to grave. I don't think anything will ever change it...

131. Gus Caesar's Curvaceous Bottom

     Mar 18, 2014, 11:01 #47588

     I have to say the context of the article is a little outdated - It might have had some relevance 10 years ago, but far less so now. You dont check Spurs results anymore? Were you not checking them last season, or indeed the season before, when we went into the final game of the season needing to equal or better their result to ensure CL football, I know I was, let's not re-write history for the sake of a cheap dig at our local rivals (let's face it they are more than capable of making themselves look ridiculous without any help from us, mind the gap!) Arsene's record against them (head to head) isnt quite as marvellous as the piece would have us believe, 4 wins at the cesspit out of 18, in an era where for the most part we have been the dominant force, is a fairly poor return.

132. Amos

     Mar 18, 2014, 10:50 #47587

     It wasn't that long ago that Spurs and Arsenal were clubs of much the same size and stature. At one point, within the memory of many here, they could reasonably claim to have been the bigger club - and with a greater reputation for playing attractive football! It's really only over the least 10 years that the gap in size, achievement and resources has grown to the extent we see now.

133. Stroud Green Road Boy

     Mar 18, 2014, 10:37 #47586

     Let's be honest, they have been rivals the last two seasons, haven't they. Finishing one point behind and it going to the last game of the season. This season the gap has gone back to how it should be for a club of half the size and half the resources of AFC.

134. underacheiver

     Mar 18, 2014, 10:35 #47585

     ...everything I said has come to fruition. All hail Jamie the profit. Have you got a mountain picked out yet, that we can follow you up when Wenger decides not to renew his contract.

135. julesd

     Mar 18, 2014, 10:14 #47584

     I'm puzzled why 'incessant references to bookies odds' upsets CG. It's become part & parcel of accessing what's likely to happen in all things football. As fans, we're usually too emotionally wrapped up to see the wood for the trees & it's good to have an independent view of our chances by professional odds makers. Football clubs have betting partners & facilities to place bets at grounds. It's nothing new as betting booths were a familiar sight at Highbury. TV matches are sponsored by bookies with odds shown on screen for first goalscorer, etc & updated match odds shown at half time. Journalists in daily newspapers quote the odds on who is likely to win PL, FA Cup & next manager to be sacked, etc, to give their stories some perspective. Liverpool are all the rage with the pundits at the moment but that can change if AFC beat Chelsea at the weekend. You've got to live in a monastery not to be aware that AFC are the bookies favourites to lift the FA Cup.

136. Ron

     Mar 18, 2014, 10:08 #47583

     Amos. Its a case of Tottenham having visions of attaining somthing the Club cant ever attain, interpersed with bad managment i always think. As Arsenal fans we should be grateful. Im not being derogatory to them, but Spurs are a small Club. Little ground. 36000 each game. Their ambition outweighs their potential and its a recipe that makes for bad decsions at the top. They have for years bought players who sound like 'names' but are in truth not quality players. Just look at this last 100 mill theyve wasted. Where are the truly class players in that lot? If they accepted their lot and made the best of what theyve got im sure they would rack up Cup wins here and there and be a steady middle ranking Club. As theyve chosen, theyre up and down like a brides nightie. If they werent a London Club they would have no profile at all. They wdt have to look over into their nieghbours garden as they do and aspire to emulate them either. Theyre hamstrung by what they think their image should be instead of making the best of what they are.We Gunners love to dish out the 'always in our shadow stuff'but its true, they are and always have been. Its a big burden for them to accept but its caustic and erodes the Club from within. Long may it last. If they had any sense they would build a ground and move 35 to 50 miles North of London. No neighbour. Fresh start. New horizons. No baggage. Changing their name would help. The Club doesnt and never has had any of the attributes of Harry Hotspur. just the opposite in fact.

137. Bard

     Mar 18, 2014, 9:53 #47581

     Anyone listen to the 5 live discussion of Wengers 1000 games last night. interesting and very revealing. Amy Lawrence raised the issue of the Wenger paradox. Obsessive about details but always going into a season gambling on the strength and quality of the squad. Going in with one striker and no fit centre back cover, it was suggested, is a massive gamble but he does it every season. A good sensible debate. But Lawrence made theming that he has never left signing a new contract this late which suggest that the old boy has doubts about whether he can take us forward.

138. Amos

     Mar 18, 2014, 9:43 #47580

     As it's almost 20 years since the Spuds ended above us, not since the last year of GG's reign in fact, it does beg the question why. Most of the solutions proposed in order for us to achieve more than we have, have been part and parcel of their strategy. They've spent more on transfers than ManU in the last 10 years and more - certainly way more than we've spent and they've changed managers at the blink of an eye. Yet neither spending big or changing managers has changed their fortunes. Maybe then there're more external factors that individual clubs can't control themselves that are more influential.

139. JAMIE

     Mar 18, 2014, 9:42 #47579

     Hi AKB brethren, thought I would come back for the run in and keep the no faiths in check. I was looking back on a few of my previous posts and noticed everything I said has come to fruition, While the WOB's who only really come out after every defeat seem to have disappeared with their predictions like 'Laudrap, Fellaini, Moyes even AVB to Arsenal and we were going to be Manure's and Spuds bitches this year etc etc yawn yawn.

140. WENGER OUT

     Mar 18, 2014, 8:49 #47577

     I clearly don't believe that Wenger is the man to take us forward, but I do have to applaud his record against the Spuds. Although I would argue that that it's more down to them being terrible than us being particularly good. They should have finished above us 3 or 4 times over the last 8 years, but they consistently shoot themselves in the foot. Why they put up with that clown Levy is beyond me. Then again, it is a fact that no Spurts fan has ever been known to have triple figure IQ - As has been beautifully demonstrated by Finsbury Joe on countless occasions.

141. Ron

     Mar 18, 2014, 8:36 #47575

     Hi CG - Come back fella. We've missed you matey. That pic there you've posted says it all. One man in the forefront. Tall and dignified. Class. Smartly suited. A sense of pride exudes as he visits a lesser place, but not wanting to cause offence to the conditions there. The other guy, in the background. in the thrall of the guy in the foreground. Knowing his place. Dressed casually. Not yobbish, but thrown together. Temporary. As if hes passing through. Well, he is isnt he, like the other dozen or so of the hapless nonentities that preceded him. Thats the Tottenham/Arsenal status quo. Mate, Spurs died in North London in about circa 1967 in truth as the star went down on their little Mackay, Greaves and Blanchflower fueled sojourn into a better place from which they've never really returned.

142. Bard

     Mar 18, 2014, 8:35 #47574

     True enough, it's no longer our focus, even Finsbury Joe has given up and disappeared. However is it because we have become so good or the Spuds have been so bad. I suggest it's somewhere between the two. You're comments on the site don't stand up for me. There was a period of a few weeks when 'the odds' became the main issue but that was only for a short while. It quickly reverted to the usual diet of abuse, drivel, humour and insightful comments. To which history,politics music have now been added. Us gooners are an eclectic bunch. Take off your slippers Canada and get stuck in.

143. Amos

     Mar 18, 2014, 8:22 #47573

     Buying a decent striker in January would have given us the final boost required to win the league this year, but yet again, stubbornness and perhaps stupidity, has again played it's part. Are stubbornness and stupidity the only possible reasons for not buying a striker, demonstrably better than those we have already, in January? And even if we had found this mythical striker is that really all it would have taken to guarantee we win the league this year? If so why didn't anyone else buy him? However I just got fed-up with the monotony of the same group of people who post comments.. Yeah - the same old clichés get used all the time.