You mean because we sucked? I even watched the replay of the first half of the Bolton game -- I'm a sucker for pain. When is it time to panic? I'l panic (well, hopefully not, actually) when I see one of my kids getting mauled by a pit bull, or my wife loses her job, or the constitution is ammended to allow GW Bush a third term. This is a sports team ffs! I do think that to win much of anything this year, or to finish as high in the league as those of us who are Gunners of recent vintage have been coddled into thinking we should, we are going to have to go on a run of form that we have given little indication than we could match. I think there are areas that need to be addressed. For example somebody asked why Flamini came in today. The answer is because Hleb is too recently injured to go 90, and we don't have another central mid who doesn't have to be driven to training by his parents! (OK, I don't actually know how old you have to be to drive in the UK, and I know that public transportation in London is much better developed than in most US cities, but you get my drift.) From what I saw, and it sounds like I didn't see the worst of it, the ref was horrible. But I don't think that's why we lost the game. Just before I left, while it was still 11 v 11, I was confident that the score would be either 0-0 or 1-0 either way, and I thought we would have to be extremely lucky to come out on top. After Gilberto was sent off I had no doubt the score would be 1-0 against the Arse. This team just doesn't have the grit to pull out a result on the road when a man down. Here's a partial list of players who have left Arsenal since I started following them: Tony Adams. Lee Dixon. Martin Keown. Ray Parlour. Patrick Vieira. See a pattern? Correct me if I'm wrong, because I didn't follow them all throughout their careers, especially Adams and Dixon, but weren't they all pretty tough guys? And I'm not just talking about physical play, but about the will to lift the team, to get stuck in and get the fcuking job done. Who matches that in the current squad? How likely are we to be able to go out and buy that off the rack? I'm not saying we're just a bunch of pretty boys or that we should go back to the days of Boring, Boring Arsenal. But right now there's nobody in the engine room. We have some great young talent that should be given the opportunity to develop, and I wouldn't want to see someone like Cesc displaced from the team by a new signing. But is getting over 50 first team starts (according to the broadcast team today) before he's 19 really the optimal way to develop him? Would Arsene be bringing him along that fast if he had a choice? I've joined the faction that thinks we need a CM signing ASAP -- IF we can find the right person. I trust AW to do that, and if he doesn't sign someone, then I figure that person isn't out there at a doable price. But I sure hope he's looking.
I'm not familiar with the suspension policy. It seems like rules are always changing these days. Will Gilberto miss the next match?
I have to join that faction as well--how many teams are going to dominate our midfield? ....ok, not sunderland, but the others are killing us.
Actually, more so because out of frustration, you're gonna want to put your fist through the TV sceen. Although, what you said about your kids, etc. definitely puts things into perspective. Oh...and if you're a masochist, I've got the Arsenal 2 - ManUre 4 game on tape (I can send it to you as an X-mas gift, if you'd like!).
No one's mentioned the bust-up between Toure and Ljunberg in the first half when Shearer manhandled Lauren to the ground and got no booking?! What happened there, can anyone shed more light? Toure literally shoved Ljunberg when everyone was going up for the corner and they were arguing in each other's faces, a Newcastle player had to get between them!
What you have to remember is that despite certain fans assertians that the rules are the same today as they were 20 years ago (Toon Toon for example) the reality is that every year the games gets softened. Less contact allowed. However the referees have quite a lot of power to affect the outcome of a game, by allowing one side to be more physical that the rules suggest, while penalising the oposite team for infractions far less severe, as seen today. Now the refs in this country are all vermin, and its a poer trip for most of them, and it seems there are little to no repercussions for these egotistical twats. Graham Poll went on record saying in his early days he sent players off just to make a name for himself. Of course he is still a top flight official. Why wouldnt he be? This season has seen some horrendous refereeing, and coupled with the spurious FIFA draw last night I sometimes wonder about the integrity of this sport, I really do. YOu have to wonder why its the last major sport to vocally oppose video replays. What does FIFA have to hide? Money breeds corruption - and Football = BIG BIG business *sulks some more*
Speaking of bollocks, at the place where my daughter played today they have one of those crane machines, where kids spend all their quarters trying to pick up cute stuffed animals. It had a sew-on Sex Pistols patch in it. So the day didn't totally blow chunks.
As a favour to Rick, whilst he's away on his (now sad ) trip up North, a few of us are looking in. Don't encourage them with a reply
I checked out this douchebag's posts, only 1 out of 21 was in the Sperz forum. Something tells me this is a sockpuppet, any mods want to look into it?
Grateful, clan. If not for you and Achtung im sure we'd be over-run. Course with Coach MIA presumed KIA, Rich attending most away games, and you being "teh enemeh" our gates are often open when Arsenal are on the road. Should just make me a mod and be done with it
you know three of those posts were'nt directed at me merry christmas to you to. i hope i get the new radiohead dvd
I know. I'm just pointing out how jolly people are (it just warms the cockles of my heart!). Nahhh....they're too upbeat for me. I'm crossing my fingers for a "1984 :Special Christmas Edition" DVD.
For fcuk's sake!!!! This game is up there in the list of infamous matches for the modern Arse in my short memory: Rooney dives over Campbell to end the unbeaten run a year ago Poll calls a poor red card on Campbell on a Bellamy (or Robert?) breakaway at Highbury in 2001 Hyypia hand-ball no-call in May 2001 FA cup final - Solskjaer goes down pole axed against Campbell - red for our man and the wheels come off the 03 Campaign Need I go on?????
Just worked up the courage to come on...I've been banished to my room, for being in a bad mood all day. My room mates haven't invited me out for our usual Saturday night party I'm sorry Arsenal you and me aren't working out I think we need to take a break, see other people. Recently Chelsea's been calling so I'll be seeing you around... I knew it was bad idea to tatoo our names on each others unmentionables.
Dude, let me explain something to you. This thread is right now a den of vitriol and anger. There are tens of thousands of threads on Big Soccer you can post crap like this. Can you please take your "discussion" somewhere else, or else risk neg rep, banning, or otherwise foul abusive language.
we were actually playing better on the ball in the first 10 or so minutes after gilberto was sent off. shearer tried to demolish sol, and tried to wrestle lauren and kung fu him with a boot to the side of the face. good take by solano, and if any of you say cesc is getting played off the ball shut your mouth, did you see him hold off three newbies down the side line and still manage to get the ball around them? he needs support and gilberto isnt it. henry needs to start making heads roll, a striker as a captain doesnt work i dont think. senderos is an amazing defender, glad hes back. parker gives everything to newcastle. why do weakers teams decide to turn it up against us? hleb was amazing on the ball. still needs to see his passes a little quicker. im glad wenger tried to go out and win with ten men. so i dont mind that we lost, im just wholly pissed off at the officiating. lets bring up muamba and give cesc a rest, but maybe not against chelsea heh. lets get CL qualification, lets win the FA and carling. and lets make a good run in the CL this year.
The more I sit here the more I stew! Gawddam FA...can't put a decent official on the pitch...hell bring back Uriah Rennie if this is the standard we can expect!