Stoking The Fires Ahead Of The Weekend.
With the clash between Manchester United and Chelsea taking place on Sunday, attention is turning toward the visit of Stoke City. Walking wounded are gradually returning to fitness, although the one everyone wants to be fit – Thomas Vermaelen – is not one of them.
Following on from the United defeat – I’m not revisiting it as everyone has by now studied their navels so much that they know the exact colour and texture of their lint – came a reminder that the silly season is soon to be upon us.
The first trio of departures are announced, Manuel Almunia, Emmanuel Eboue (£5m to AS Roma as he hasn’t signed a new contract) with Gael Clichy going to the Bernabeu in exchange for Karim Benzema. How nice, especially the last one as apparently Real will get the deal done on their terms if Arsene decides Clichy is ‘expendable’. Marvellous. It seems that the media has not learned anything from last summer’s fiasco.
Samir Nasri has continued his spat with William Gallas. Oh, who cares? Still, if he can be that truthful with a former colleague then perhaps he could be equally so with himself and current squad members.
Abou Diaby is apparently in line for a return this weekend, bolstering a midfield that was under-par on Monday night. His fitness record is such that a similarly gentle return as the one given Robin van Persie is surely in order. Anything quicker and he is likely to be in and out of the side with niggles and strains.
I doubt that Diaby will start though. Changes will undoubtedly be made with Johan Djourou likely to come into the centre of defence to combat the long ball game that will be encountered this weekend. Arsenal’s medical team will have a vast array of ibuprofen and paracetamol for the ball at half-time.
Stoke believe that they can win as other teams ‘like them’ have won at The Emirates this season. Well, actually West Brom and Tottenham at least played football. Newcastle, yes, they are no better than Stoke and managed to win. To be honest, if defeat is suffered this weekend it would require a Herculean effort to win the title this season. It would truly be a nadir.
Ryan Shawcross has shown the tender side of his nature, concern over his reception at The Emirates this weekend has led to extra security being put in place to protect the poor, misunderstood lamb from us nasty Arsenal supporters. Having seen a Stoke City supporter repeatedly kick his own head on national television this week – freakishly double-jointed before you ask – I would suggest he has more to fear from those who inhabit the Britannia than anything else.
’til Tomorrow.
Posted on December 16, 2010, in Arsenal, Football, Premier League, Premiership, Soccer and tagged Arsenal, Football, Premier League, Soccer. Bookmark the permalink. 120 Comments.
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Need to bounce back after Monday. This will be a big test for the team.
I wouldnt shed any tears if Clichy was sold.He is only starting because Gibbs cant stay fit.Almunia is yestedays news.Wenger choosing to put an unfit Fabianski on the bench says it al
Team v Stoke: Szczesny.Sagna.Squillaci,Kos,Gibbs,Song,Jack,Cesc,Nasri,Arshavin and Chamakh
2-0 win
Any time I catch myself feeling slightly sorry for the reception Shawcross is sure to receive I remember how white, then red my face went when he tried to end Ramsey’s career. I only hope Pulis gets similar treatment. Disrespecting managers is a shame on the game but since this vile **** commands no respect he deserves everything he is hopefully sure to get.
Censored again. Starting to take it personal.
I say start with Chamakh, Bendy, and RVP as our front three!
Nasri, Wilshire and Song in the mid. Both Nasri and Wilshire to put in good ‘challenges’ on Shawcross so he go cry to his mum some more.
Is Fabby or Almunia fit or will Tech Tech Nine get another start?
I’ll be lending my support to Chelsea this weekend as I want United’s league unbeaten run to end sooner rather than later. On second thought it would be magnificent justice, if they came to ours and we ended by putting 6 past them. Yeah, I like that scenario more. I’ll take a score draw instead.
GoonerAndy and YW.
Incidentally, we played Stoke at home in December last year in the game immediately after a heavy defeat to Chelsea when everyone but the girl predicted Arsenal would fold to the mighty Stoke of the Delap legend.
Arshavin was playing as the point man up front for that game, Cesc missed a penalty (the first to be awarded all season after the Dudgate affair) and Arsenal ruthlesslessly dealt with all the long balls thrown or kicked in and around oour box. In fact, the no-nonsense approach to defending those long balls was admirable and heart warming following the defeat to the Chavs.
And we did win the game 2 nil in case you’re wondering, though we still missed the entertainment in the away dressing room when a naked Tony Pulis was chasing his naked players around and head-butting them.
Andy
Clichy is not shit, he is more exposed than many other LB in the league and wins countless one on one situations. He is bound to make one or two mistake but compare them to the thousands crucial interception and one on one theat he wins and you’ll see why Mourhino wants him so much.
Secondly Benzema will not come here to be a substitute. He has always said Real is his dream club so if he moves from there it’s to get a place regularly to stake his claim on the striker role in the French team and not be the substitute of RVP and Chamakh. At real he only has Higuain in front of him and maybe Tevez if he gets his wish and get the hell out of Man shitty.
Always wonder how come the rumours never touch on Walcott. Like “Walcott frustrated at missing regular football and hopes to join Liverpool!” Clichy to Real Madrid? He’d probably wouldn’t mind that at sometime in his career but certainly Wenger wouldn’t release him on the terms suggested by the “excited” press.
Habari Darius. The image of a naked Pulis is wicked!
gunnerluc | December 16, 2010 at 11:17 am |
Why bother to respond to Andy? He is one of those deranged idiots who in defiance of reality and commonsense as well as his xenophobia and chauvinism would like to get rid of some of our best players so as to promote his countryman. Already these very idiots are now slating Wenger for promoting Wilshere. Why bother? You can’t win.
Safi KG – I can see Ocampo is flustering the usual suspects in your jungle of impunity. My colleagues are very excited especially by the fact that one or two of the suspects are not going down alone and will sing like canaries at the Hague as they implicate the Commanders in Chief..
Pulis naked is not even funny with his tojjer banging up and down as he chases Beatty.
Darius, quite a few of us are surprised that Ocampo didn’t pick both the President and the Prime Minister!
@KG – I can actually see Ocampo’s wisdom in not naming the 2 top dogs. It would cause chaos and unrest, and it’s smarter to have the rent boys holding on to dear life by selling out the 2 top dogs. From what I understand, these guys are not being charged with stealing chickens…its murder, torture and rape. They’ll sing.
Save from eliminating the rent boys, the evidence will naturally come out. There’s no way a cabinet secretary will unleash the national security apparatus on citizens without a nod from his boss.
I don’t know who the key players are for Stoke! I can’t bring myself to watch them.
Gadget.
Ryan Shawcross – from the Shawcross Redemption legend is the club captain.
Shotta,
If Clichy is “one of our best players” the no wonder we keep getting beaten by Manu and Chelsea.
I thought Alex Hleb plays for Birmingham FC?
I never realised Ivan Ocampo was such a big deal in Kenya.
Vogon Poetry anyone?
Composed in the shadows of Highbury (by Douglas Adams).
LOL Pz.
This one is an Argentinian legend who plys his trade in Europe.
Stoke boasts a galaxy of lithe and lively; the tall guy, the big guy, the other bigger guy, the stocky fella. The boat in Stoke floats mainly in the mo-oat. Let’s be silly.
Stokely Carmichael was not, I believe, a Stoke supporter. Odd that.
When I was little some people said some other people believed that babies were carried in from Stoke. Surely, this can’t be true. Can it?
“Clichy is not shit, he is more exposed than many other LB in the league and wins countless one on one situations.”
No hes not shit, he does indeed need cover, this is where we need Song to get back to his defensive game and if AA23 isnt willing to graft then drop him and bring in someone who will. As for the one on ones, yes hes usually quite good, except he then switches off and gets caught or stops thinking when in the box and gifts the opposition a chance. Whereas Sagna has worked on his weaknesses (crossing for instance) Clichy doesnt seem to have. Why, i dont know – maybe its lack of intelligence?
I would also say Djourou needs to start in place of Squillachi. Hes not using his experience to any great effect and Kozzer has more about him.
Diese – I agree with you on Djourou.
I’d like to see him with Koscielny. The Kos does have some edge to his play and some silkiness, despite the rough start he’s had with the injuries and red cards. I suppose we’ll see them in the CC semis, but I think they compliment each other well.
I would also say we need to use Wilshere differently. I like Jackie Boy’s attitude but its wasted a bit in a deeper position. Cut him loose up front a bit more – he might have worried Man U a bit more than Rosicky managed……
sorry, doing this in reverse order as that’s how it appears in my youtube account!
I’d agree about Wilshere, he works hard and won’t shirk a tackle, but he doesn’t have the physical stature of Song, for example, to be the one protecting the back four. Plus he’s much more naturally gifted than either Song or Denilson, so allowing him the ability to get forward a bit more would be ideal. Saying all that I think the Stoke game might find him on the bench with us going to match them physically with Song and Denilson playing in midfield with Rosicky or Fabregas depending on the skipper’s fitness.
Ah, frell it. I’m no spam bot. Subscribe to this guys vids: http://www.youtube.com/user/TacticalRenoog
Champ league draw tomorow right? Barca here we cometh!
I would say maybe put Jackie on the left when Cesc is back. Play AA23 in the ‘hole’ centrally
—–VanP—–
Jack–AA23–Nasri
—Cesc–Song—
Jack has more running in him than AA23 so can cover Clichy better.
Jack is great at holding the ball up so will be less inclined to lose it and leave the opposition in on Clichy.
AA23 will nearly always try the first time ball that VanP is clever enough to anticipate.
AA23 is great at running at defenders and being central they wont know what way hes going to go.
If/whenAA23 loses it when trying one of his first time balls at least he has 2 players behind him centrally to cover that.
The way to quell Stoke is not to ‘neutralise’ their physical threat, but by playing that football thingy, along the ground. This is an F for football game plan. Fast, fluid, flexible, flamboyant, fiery forward play and fuckemall. No question Fabregas should play, and hope Fabianski is back. Feo too. Frank will confirm. Let’s put the foot back into ACLF ffs. COYF.
Yogi: Great post. I still can not get over how much I loved your post yesterday. I had to copy and paste my favorite paragraph again for those who might have missed it yesterday. May be have to paste it everyday for a few weeks.
“From January 31st 1998 to the title winning game over Everton on 3rd May, only two goals were conceded, six of the fourteen games were wins by a single goal. They were not boring performances, a solidity in defence which allowed the midfield and attack to crush opponents. The scorelines did not reflect the dominance of Arsenal in those games. It is this mentality which needs to become prevalent in the current squad.”
This weekend is the time to begin our run of defensive solidity. Stoke is going to play negative football as always and Chelsea will sit back deep and hit us with counterattacks and set pieces. The only way to punish teams for playing defensive football is to shut them out and keep clean sheets. Stoke is not ManU or Chelsea so we can knock 2 or 3 past them but we can give them a glimmer of hope. No long throws ping ponging around the box the then getting a lucky tap in. No deflections that somehow end up in our net. As long as teams like Stoke think they can score on us they will not fear us.
We have not scored on Chelsea in 270 minutes but in the form they are showing I think we can get one past them and if we can punish them for sitting deep and not let them score we can get that confidence building win that will set us up for a brilliant run for the rest of the season.
I do not know the stats but I suspect a large percentage of the goals we concede come down our left so we need to really strengthen the solidity of that side. Right now we have AA, Clichy, and the Kos on that side with Wilshere covering more of the left part of the deep midfield duo with Song. I think we start by putting AA on the bench for 3 – 4 games. Move Samir to the left, Theo on the right and tell Theo, here is your chance and you better take it. If think we are more solid with Johan as left CB. SS or the Kos on the other side. Keep Song as the deep midfielder in front of the back 4. The roaming Song was fun for a while but its lost its luster.
Looking at the tables no team in the last 11 years in the PL and all of Europe has won without having a solid foundation and solidity at the back. Lets start our run against Stoke.
Deisi
I dont think Arsha should be “rewarded” with an afternoon in the Fabregas spot after his shambolic tracking back. I know its a story we’ve covered over and over again. But I’ve come to an epiphany about it. Well that’s a bit much, but I’ve been having a good think on the topic.
So much of our defensive focus is on working as a team to close down the player on the ball, support for the fullbacks, cbs moving in tandem etc etc. If Arsha cannot fulfill his defensive duties he should not start. Simple as that. We cannot make excuses for him on that front anymore. Hit the treadmill my feline russian friend!!!!
sorry
shambolic tracking back against Utd
Deranged doomer. AIC that is.
shotta
that was an unusually deranged comment, even by his standards. When I read that I wondered if he was even trying anymore?
I agree with the call to pair Djourou with Kos for this game–they are the two best fit CB’s in the air and Kos is aggressive. We could use that.
Deise, your idea of playing Jack in Arshavin’s spot on the wing is pretty interesting, but I do like the notion of a big forward line with Bendy, Chamakh and RvP with Nasri, Song, Cesc/Denilson depending on our captain’s fitness.
As always the combinations are endless. But the main thing is getting over our home form jitters with a strong 2-0 first half start to break Stoke’s will.
I think Stokely Carmichael had many more important concerns (at least in his youth) than football. SNCC, Panthers… If he was ever to have followed football, I would have hoped he was an Arsenal supporter…
Is it true, as it seems to my cursory judgment, that Arsenal has the most diverse, multiethnic/multicultural fan base in Britain–apart from the global support? It helps to be in London, but no one would say this about Chelsea, West Ham, and so forth.
this is why I’m loving following our players on Twitter.
This from Tech 9:
Apologies for my distribution and the result at old trafford.”
“Tomorrow I will try to learn how to kick the ball past the half way line…
That’s just awesome. No bogus Sun or Guardian shit hurlers to slap a crap title on an article about it, no mention of our goalkeeping crisis prior to the quotes, just nice, unadulterated access to the players.
ZP
It got lost in the post UTD scrum but your post about the Qatari businessmen and architect was top notch. Thoroughly enjoyed that, so cheers.
NJ, Tech Tech 9 is just full of awesome winningness! After subscribing to his feed, I knew right away he was gonna sign a new contract, he’s a good kid.
Gadget,
Yup I continue to grow fonder and fonder of him. His post-match interview after Utd was great as well. That contract “saga” had me very nervous, I think he’s a beast. Honestly I hope he starts, watching him claiming Delap throws would be delightful.
To be truthful Arshavin has offered little or nothing in the last two matches. I dont understand how a person of his immense talent can be so up and down.
Bill really likes his defences eh?
I agree and disagree with his post though, but after all my typing yesteday, my fingers can’t muster up the deisre to tap out my reasons!
Just wanted to make a couple of points regarding the comment that Ryan Shawcross “has shown the tender side of his nature, concern over his reception at The Emirates this weekend has led to extra security being put in place to protect the poor, misunderstood lamb from us nasty Arsenal supporters.”
Firstly, I’m glad to hear that Ramsey’s on the mend because he looks a class act and he suffered a horrendous injury which is always upsetting, particular when it’s to a player you feel is one of your own.
I hope that people have now had enough time and seen enough tackles by other players at clubs including Arsenal, to realise that while the injury was horrible and sickening, the tackle that proceeded it was no better or worse than many others in the modern game. Certainly I think Jack Wilshire is no thug, but the two footed lunge that saw him red carded not long ago was at least if not more dangerous than the Shawcross one which left Ramsey badly hurt.
By contrast, I think you can argue there are players who deliberately set out to injure or foul others, certainly at corners and free kicks. Diouff pole-axing a goalie in a Blackburn match springs to mind. I think those sort of incidents clearly need looking at and players need protecting.
Finally, while I accept that Arsenal have far better players in most positions than Stoke, anyone who really thinks Stoke are just a long ball team is deluding themselves. More direct, yes – but so are Arsenal with Chamakh up front than they used to be. More physical, perhaps, but our disciplinary record is better than yours.
But can any team playing two out and out wingers and two strikers week in week out really be as dull as you think?
It the cold weather. I think Arshavin really hates the cold weather. He’s a Russian with Carribean blood, it’s the only answer.
AA23 is a No10 pure and simple. He can be a lazy player but he can also be an explosive player. And i think if he played in the hole behind RVP then i think wed get more games of ‘explosiveness’ from him. Jack and Sammy are the youngsters, full of running and graft whereas AA23 is a little more sedate. I reckon wed be better balanced with a leftie in Jack playing wider (remember there’s a license to move infield for our ‘wide’ players, not to mention the swithceroo with the right sided player)
Shawcross went into his’tackle’ at full running speed prior to launching into Ramsey.
Don’t try and justify it. Pathetic.
Oh joy sublime to see Pulis have his attention seeking diatribes thrust vigorously down his throat. We need a pick-me-up and Stoke would do nicely!
Szczesny
Sagna Cjourou Kos Cliche
Song Cesc Denilson
Nasri Chamakh Arshavin
RVP on for Chamakh on 60 mins depending on situation: Walcott on for Denilson on 60 mins depending on situation.
My ongoing fear is the lack of pace in our midfield but until Diaby returns to the team we are stumped. Nasri might offer some speed here but would be missed from an attacking point of view; Arshavin cannot meet the defensive obligations and so his speed would not compensate for the defensive challenges and getting back to protect our back four from counter attacks.
It’s warming up to a great weekend and even a sometime pessimist such as Stewart Robson predicted yesterday that, “if we can get through the Xmas period with positive results the ManU result will not really matter and I predict Arsenal WILL WIN the Premier league”.
I second that emotion
COYG
RE 2:47
I think that can be abrieviated to ‘are stoke dull?’ – well I dont think I can be bothered to answer that question… so maybe thats your answer
Mind you, Pulis is just about the most obnoxious individual you could find as a manager, excepting, perhaps, fat Sam and Maureen.
Just trying to make Stoke sound interesting you understand.
OneNilStoke, plus Shawcross went higher than Wilshere. If you want to say that Shawcross is not quite as bad as Karl Henry, you might have a point. Tackling Adebayor off the pitch, breaking Jeffers leg… it is an impressive resume that suggests he is “that kind of player”, so the fact that the English game has a couple of worse offenders hardly does credit to the argument. Perhaps instead of apologizing for and attempting to exonerate your player and his awful record, you could direct your energies to trying to calling for the standard of refereeing to improve the game in England generally.
As far as the disciplinary record, Arsenal have one straight red card for violent play in two years (Wilshere). You have to dig a little to see what the cards are for–and you’ll notice that while we have a worse record than in previous seasons it isn’t what you think.
I don’t pay enough attention to Stoke’s games to know what sort of tactics you generally implement, so if you say your team is much more than a long ball, route one playing set of bruisers–I’ll trust you and say fair play. Unfortunately, when you have played Arsenal, there is no denying that your side is set up to play the way YW described. Let’s see what is planned for this weekend. We will be happy to be surprised to see your side come to the Emirates like West Brom and try to play some football. Do surprise us.
But don’t say that this campaign by your club to make Shawcross out to be the persecuted victim isn’t deeply cynical. You should direct your comments to your club and ask them to actually apologize for the tackle and not to make yourselves look worse by begging everyone to feel sorry for Shawcross. You know he and the club never ever actually apologized for the tackle. Do you know the first thing Jack Wilshere did and was instructed to do by his manager after the game? To apologize for the tackle, in public. Ask your club to show a little class.
Great post Limestone.
And like your suggestion, Deise, about Arsh. He’s always said he’s better in the central position, and when i was watching him at Zenit, he was awesome there. 2 footedness brings a lot to an AMC’s play, and he’s definitely got that to his game…
Geo, thanks. If Arsh could play like he did at Villa, more centrally, I’d take that every game when Cesc is out. But if Cesc doesn’t get any playing time, he won’t be match fit for Chelsea, for which I think we could really use him running the show.
I agree, he shouldnt be put there at anyone else’s expense. Especially Cesc’s. But if there’s a time when we have the option to play Jack wide and Arsh centrally, i’d like to see that happen. At least to see how it works… I agree with Deise’s logic about Jack offering Gael more protection.
I just saw Arsene’s weekly injury update, I guess Bendtner is going to be a papa so he might not play a part this weekend. Congrats to Bendy on becoming a dad.
Waiting for Real Madrid. If not I’ll settle for Schalke!
Geo, yes, it sounds like an interesting idea to play Jack on the wing. He is fast, will defend, has great skill to link and play the triangles at the corner, and has shown several times this season that he can (even while playing fairly deep) get behind a defense and put in a very fine cross. He has crossed in very expertly several times, perhaps one of the best on the team at doing so.
OneNilStoke, after a very well written post, I shalln’t lie to you at all. I don’t watch Stoke out of boredom or anything like that, but rather because I really cannot stand your manager or Shawcross. I am a vindictive grudge bearing bar steward
Some bloggers are so dumb as to misquote Wenger. “Only Ramsey can forgive Shawcross” is not the same as “Wenger can’t forgive Shawcross”.
http://arsenal-mania.com/articles/3109682/Wenger-cant-forgive-Shawcross.html
Bendtner’s lady has dropped a tot? Don’t know why these young fellows rush into these. I’d much prefer the Sol Campbell model. All the same congrats to him!
Missed – these things. Opps!
I agree with Limestone
I have read that managers prefer their players to marry and have children early because it gives them more responsability and make them settle down so they don’t go partying with loose women, get drunk and not have a healthy diet….
Well looking at Cashley, Rooney, Terry et al it doesn’t seems to work!
Deise.I love that line up.Let AA off the leash.And TR7 could also play on the left.I think AA should be ignored as a defensive option ,treat him as our one and only luxury player
Limestonegunner | December 16, 2010 at 3:23 pm |
Great, great post. No waffling, no equivocation. Can we have some more, please.
Limestone – Jack used to be a winger, albeit on the right normally, cutting inside onto his left. He looked great there, scoring some beautiful goals and providing some superb assists. He’s turned into a very adaptable player now, thanks to Le Prof I’m sure. I do like his recent change to midfield though. He’s got the guile and tenacity, as well as the creativity, vision and technique. In a couple of years time he’s going to be one of the best in the world I think.
Has anyone seen the ridiculous rumour of Iniesta to Shitty for £85mil!!!???!!
What an awful family the Terrys are.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3278971/Goalkeeper-hangs-himself-after-fiance-cheats-with-John-Terrys-brother.html
Apologies for posting a daily scum article.
Cheers dups. Fucking disgraceful bastards. I didn’t think they were those types of player, “honest, English, committed”, that’s what I thought…
Pretty sure that, apart from the odd early first team appearance, JW’s always been in the centre, from academy right up to this season. Maybe he wasn’t always as deep as he is now, but he was never going to have the pace to play out wide at the top level.
He’s fine where he is – just needs a little form.
Bloody hell. Who would have imagined that John could be the better looking of the Terry brothers?
OOU – he was a right winger for the majority of time at youth/reserve level. May have drifted in centrally, but was almost always started on right wing. Every match i saw, he was playing right wing.
From Tony Pulis from The Sun:
“I’ve seen the challenge over and over again, and I’m convinced, as are 99.9 per cent of people I’ve spoken to who have seen it, that it was an honest challenge.”
Maybe you were speaking to your ass holes?
(Yes, he has two of them. His mouth is the other one)
Yeah, Geo, I should have been more flexible and said that he played wide for the reserves as well, but it was always only going to be a temporary thing from what I understand. It was to help his development, and put him under too much pressure at a young age.
I’ll try to find something to back this up. God knows where though.
Shotta, thanks–always ready to defend our club against our opponents, always support the team in its matches against their opponents. Amongst ourselves, I think it is fair to talk about all aspects of the club, our varying opinions etc… in good faith, secure in the knowledge that the differences of opinion or view in no way detract from loving this club and wishing it every success.
Having said that, I have high hopes for this season still–we are in all 4 competitions and I believe we will finish with multiple trophies this season. The path is going to be more tricky though than I hoped and it doesn’t mean I think we are currently fulfilling the potential of our talent. But crush Stoke, defeat Chelsea, steamroll Wigan, and smash ManCity and I’d say we can be confident of that prediction.
…and NOT put him…
Here’s a start:
“A classy player, but always very tough. He’s a winner, and it’s great to see what he’s doing in the first team now. It was a good move to go up to Bolton on loan and he’s only going to get better and better because he wants to. He won’t be satisfied just being the player he is now. He has a real ambition to go on and be the best he can be. When he played in the youth team he would be in midfield with Frimpong. Frimpong was the enforcer and Jack would play the football, but he could look after himself too. It was a great age group though. I think Fabio Capello likes him too, but like everything else, you have to keep working and performing.”
“honest challenge”?! What does that mean? He honestly went in so dangerously and recklessly that he hit the other player high above the shin and broke his leg. So it was an honest illegal and leg-breaking tackle. We are all relieved and glad about that.
Shall we start returning-players like RVP, Cesc, Walcott & Diaby against Stoke or shall they be be protected?
LOL Limestone, you’re on fire today!
Cheers OOU – To be fair, i watched much more of him in reserve footie than i did youth footie… Cheers for clearing that up tho!
Same here, Geo. Just youth highlights, which is all you can get hold of – and even then, only occasionally. Reserves is when you can start to get hopeful about a player I suppose.
I’m still trying to find a specific interview where I remember him saying that he always was in the middle. But it’s not all that important. Personally I like his awareness and vision, and think he should be played wherever he can put those qualities to best use.
There was also a press conference in which AW lightly poked fun at his lack of pace as well. He’s sort of deceptive though, because he’s pretty quick off the mark.
And how good is Chuks Aneke looking! Bloody hell.
What the fuck are you on about, OneNilStoke?
Stoke City are a fucking punchline. An embarrassing, dribbling car crash of a football team. If you don’t fuck off down the leagues this season it’ll be next season for sure.
Shawcross should never have been allowed to play again.
Dull to watch? You tell me.
You’ve had less possession of the football than any other team in the league. You’ve completed less passes than any other team in the league… and your passing accuracy is the worst in the league and your players have spent less time in the opposition half than any other team in the league and your striker is Ricardo Fuller… who’s shooting accuracy is one of the worst in the league.
Over half of your goals have come from set pieces. You play four centrebacks across the back four. Gudjonsen and Tuncay are decent players, but you don’t fucking play them. Jermaine Pennant is your glamour winger. And that about sums you up. Is that the other winger you were talking about? Do me a favour. You are a shit side to watch and you know it. And this is before we get to the near constant foul throw-ins without which you wouldn’t have even come up the division. And then there’s Andy Wilkinson. Don’t even get me started on Andy fucking Wilkinson. He should be fucking knackered for the good of the game.
Good luck Saturday.
–
COYM!
MJ, I think Walcott deserves a start as does RvP. Cesc should start but play just a half, I think to get him sharp for Chelsea. If Diaby is ready, then start him too–he has the physical gifts and having him sharp for Chelsea would also be great. He could come off too if we have the game in hand. So I guess with Bendy off celebrating fatherhood let’s suggest:
Szczesny
Sagna, Djourou, Kos, Clichy
Cesc, Diaby, Song
Walcott, RvP, Nasri
Well, the year is nearly at an end; and that means it’s time for end of year awards. I’m nominating LimparAssist for the award for most fucks in one post.
Unfortunately, OneNilStoke, hasn’t come back to talk about his technically skilled, on the floor passing attack or his team’s uniquely dynamic new formation setting the trends in the league, Pulis’ 3-3-4.
Limpar.lool
Just because Ryan Shawcross has a “tender side,” you shouldn’t assume he has any interest in Diaby’s “physical gifts.”
But Pz it ought to be offered as it is the season for giving!
I don’t know what to say… I’m thrilled to receive this nomination. In fact… I can’t fucking believe it…
I wasnt saying play Jackie as a ‘winger’ as such, we dont do wingers anymore
I was saying play him in the wider attacking role AA23 currently plays, with the license to move centrally and swap sides with Nasri and tuck back into a defensive position when we dont have the call – leaving AA23 to ‘loiter’ for the counter attacks
Let Diaby sit this one out. I wouldn’t want him to get his ankle shattered by these thugs. Bring him in nice and slow during the month of January so he’s in full flight for the last four months of the season.
I just reckon both Nasri and Jackie can be this teams Pires – except now we will have 2
LimparAssist | December 16, 2010 at 5:17 pm |
F*cking great post my friend. I second Pz’s motion for that award. Sorry Limestone but he shaded you. Gawd, how I wished our fans at the Emirates were as staunch. I suspect that Shawcross will get them “stoked” up no matter Arsene’s attempts to defuse the atmosphere.
“stoked” up. Oh dear Shotta
Wenger says diaby will miss weekend’s game because it’s too soon for him.
Shawcross to score an OG!
Imagin Benitez getting sacked, Capello going to Benitez old club, Redknapp becoming England manager and Big Sam to take over Tottenham!!
Well that will be interesting…..
Too early for Diaby but Fabregas is “OK” to play.
Oh dear I forgot Mark Randall
James Shae
personally i like Ignasi Miquel, i think he will develop into a fine defender.
I think Limpar summed Stoke up earlier but what I would really like on Saturday is for our supporters to be as nasty , hostile & unforgiving as those scumbags who frequent the Britannia.
Pulis` comments on the Shawcross tackle show him for what he is. That such an ignorant, loathsome individual can manage a premiership club goes some way to explaining why a vast majority of games are so painful to watch (& play in I would imagine).
This is a game I REALLY want to win. It`s good v evil – simple as that
I agree with this from twitter:
“Arsenal fans at the Emirates should give Glenn Whelan a warm reception for staying with Aaron after incident.”
Yep Shawcross breaks legs yearly but he never means too, its all coincidence, he is obviously such a nice kid. He’s just a committed lad so lets forget the broken the bones.
Got it Pulis!
Dups, that would show real class. I hope we do acknowledge him for what he did that day to help Ramsey.
yes agreed, he was a class act!
LG & Paul,
It would also show how much we dislike shawcross when he received the opposite form of greeting.
Exactly–the contrast would show that we appreciate opponents who show proper professional respect and regard for other players, not selfish blubbering clowns who play with reckless disregard for their fellow professionals but then want to be coddled and pampered by everyone instead of taking responsibility for their actions. That’s what really gets me so angry about Shawcross and his enablers–his manager, his club, its supporters, English football fans, pundits and journalists who have made him some sort of victimized hero of “the physical English game.” It’s sick.
Arsenal fans would show their class clapping Whelan. We wouldn’t have such a problem with Shawcross if he had come out and apologized and acted with some humility and professional respect for a fellow player and the game. He and Pulis have turned it into some kind of silly crusade in a bizarre kulturkampf between defenders of the pure English game and soft southern foreign corruption.
Hopefully we don’t forget to cheer our side on amid all this! But I expect the atmosphere will be charged and cracking.
I just watched Szczesny’s post-match interview on ATVO. He is completely unflappable. There is certainly something about him that gives you confidence he can handle himself. He dismissed Park’s “header” as a mistake that just went in off the post but didn’t exaggerate his own saves, saying Rooney maybe didn’t hit it well and that Anderson’s ball just hit him in the chest. He did reveal that he studied Rooney’s penalties and tried to put him off with some mental games/intimidation/delaying tactics and is happy to think it might have worked. He seems very hungry, confident, but not arrogant. He also seems to embrace the pressure rather than cave under it.
Fabianski has grown a great deal and I like his calm demeanor; it comes through in his interviews as well that he is calm and a very thoughtful and confident person. But there is something special about Szczesny, I think. Perhaps everyone is projecting qualities onto him because he seems unfazed and very confident, but I like having someone back there with a very strong personality.
If he starts v. Stoke and has a good game, who starts v. Chelsea? I wouldn’t be unhappy if he did, frankly.
to the 1nilstoke guy,
i was so angry when aaron was injured i could have broken something. i hate shawcross forever, and if i ever see pulis at an airport i will make an ass of myself.
however you are correct in that stoke is much better a footballing team now with their advance players. used to be just that bitch delap throw that worried teams. now stoke are for real, and you are a conscientious stoke fan, and that is rare. that being i still hope aaron pole axes shawcross in the return in the new year. we may have the reputation of fledglings but after the blood we have shed with abou, eddie, and aaron, i hope to hell we dish some out to let teams know not to f with us. wusses get bullied. i would rather the arsenal be known as a place for skilled monsters. 2 nil arsenal, fabregas to tackle shawcross out of bounds to send him bedding for two weeks, like that bitch did to adebayor.
Limstone
Totally agree about Szczesny.He has a touch of Schmeichel and Seaman about him.He knows he’s good and is not afraid to show it.He commands his box.He is a breath of fresh air after 3 seasons of panic when the ball goes into the box with Almunia and Fabianski.
New Post Up
Limestone,
I also whole heartedly agree with your views on Szczesny and Fabianski. I saw the interview and thnk Szczesny has an air of greatness about him. I’d risk making him number one now precisely because I believe he is the best GK we have when it comes to handling pressure situations. Fabianski’s no slouch either but I could live with bringing the bigger and more confident/hungry lad in.
As far a Shawcross and Pulis are concerned, I feel pretty much as I did about Phil Brown. I can only hope both share the same outcome as that prat. We need to stuff them big time tomorrow just to do our part in bringing that about!!
COYG