that's the thing.. alex song for me is the most improved arsenal player, but the problem is that, when he went away for national duty or when he got injured / suspended, we actually didn't have someone who could stand in for him. sure wenger tried playing denilson and diaby there, but we know that they're much more attacking minded and can't provide that shield in front of the back for. i don't think that it's coincidence that we haven't been playing as well when he's not playing that defensive midfield role. so i felt that in january, wenger should've tried to get reinforcements.. i mean, he managed to get campbell back... i'm sure the extensive scouting network of arsenal could've found someone who could be song's deputy. i mean, i wouldn't even mind eastmond playing there, but he's barely been given the chance to play in the EPL. so for me, i would still put the fault on the gaffer's table.

just to clarify i wasn't satisfied with the 2nd half performance of the season, not the entire season. that's why i said their performances since the new year have been below par. and the reason that i would say that wenger shouldn't get the sack is simply because i believe in what he's doing and what's he done. he has made some mistakes which i have highlighted from my point of view, but i think he's still got what it takes. and also, there's much sentiment for me that i really want to see wenger win the EPL one more time and the CL with arsenal before he leaves.. =) otherwise, it would feel like he left with unfinished business.... heheh... but i also think that the board (or perhaps more specifically mr ivan gazaridis) may need to start putting a little pressure on monsieur wenger to say that we need a trophy in the next 2 years.. perhaps that pressure may help him.... heheh...

arsene may be critical of himself because things didn't work out during the match, but perhaps his holding on to his methods to the point of being stubborn. and hence why i'm saying that if suddenly he had to deliver at least 1 trophy within the next 2 years, there may be some urgency to make some adjustments to his wengerball philosophy. i may be alone in this, but while i feel that wengerball is good, there are aspects that i feel that could be changed / tweaked which would really make arsenal to the next level... in my personal opinion lah.. i'm no manager so i don't expect wenger to start calling my mobile anytime soon... =)

like i said to toshio14, i feel that our sustained challenge has been due to the top clubs all not performing consistently, and the fact that we're still in contention may have led many to overlook the flaws of this current team and perhaps even the players to think that they're actually doing ok. i'm not downplaying the injuries that we've had, but i think every team has to deal with it... everton lost their entire strike squad last season to a point where cahill had to play striker, but they dealt with it, so i feel that arsenal should be doing the same. and again, even our second stringers i believe should be able to play better....i mean, rosicky used to strike the ball from distance and had a awesome strike as well, but he hasn't been doing that since he came back from injury. denilson doesn't take shots as well, neither does diaby... the 3 things that i highlighted that arsenal have forgotten how to do since our great start to the season (probably only until RVP came back against the spuds (i originally posted this after the NLD):



having said all that, i'm not saying that this arsenal team is totally crap lah. there's much potential and i do believe that we have improved this season, especially with the mental side of things where we don't just roll over and die when we are losing. i just feel that they had SO much more to offer and they didn't perform to the best of their potential...

you're not the only one.. i haven't been able to keep up with the latest arsenal news, but i'm hoping RVP can start along with song.... otherwise, *sweat*... but like you say.. let's hope the lads have got more than the tank than we think... =)

somehow, the youth and injury excuse kinda rings hollow for me already...

1) Wenger chose to use youth over experience, so it is a choice that our gaffer has made. Managers, as all other decision makers in any industry, live and die by their choices. Therefore, because wenger has opted to use youth, we cannot use it as an excuse. We will still be measured by the same yardstick that is used for all other teams. So, therefore, in terms of silverware, we have failed again. However, to say that our youth players are a failure, i'm not so sure.

2) Injuries are something that beset every EPL / BPL team. Each of the big 4 has suffered without their star player(s). But arsenal's own physio has said that the style that arsenal play seem to cause more injuries to our players. knowing this, wenger could have either bought more cover (perhaps 3 per position) or get utility players (gilles grimandi anyone?), but he didn't, and when even players like song were out, we were without any backup. perhaps the loss of ramsey and fabregas at the same time was a big blow. But then again, we were struggling with defensive work and also scoring goals, not really a midfield problem. so, again, our gaffer needs to be responsible for his decision.

Having said all that, I still think that wenger is a solid manager. But like I've said previously in my discussion with toshio and SG, I just hope that wenger will tweak his tactics... we need to blend youth with some experience. We need to temper beautiful football with decisive ruthlessness, etc. So for me, wenger's statement that he will buy next season, is something that i'm waiting to see what happens... it'll be interesting.. i just hope it'll be rewarding as well... all these near heart attacks have got to count for something... heheh... =)

This post has been edited by lostasylum: Apr 27 2010, 02:46 PM

hhhmmm... i would rather he try and sign either green (west ham) or the best choice i feel would be joe hart (loan to brum). he can't go back to City because given is there and i'm sure the temptation to play for arsenal will be too hard to resist. the only problem i can foresee right now is whether wenger will be willing to splash the cash (which i think he should).

the travelling barca had to do during the 1st leg worked against them i feel ... they had to travel by BUS on a 2 day journey to face inter in the first leg. inter, on the other hand were able to travel by plane for the return leg, so that was another bonus for them.

take nothing away from inter though, because mourinho, despite how much i hate his mouth, has got a great tactical brain and is very infectious character which rubs off onto the team that he's coaching.

but i do agree with you as well, that had it been a final, barca probably would've shaded it. but oh well, let's hope that Bayern - Inter final will be an exciting match...

I totally agree with your point here... i was telling a fellow arsenal supporter during the match that fabianski (and put almunia as in the mix as well) are not good enough or strong enough to play for arsenal.

not good enough because they keep losing concentration and making mistakes that cost us games.. we cannot afford to drop points like that.. fair play if the other team fought tooth and nail... but handing it to them on a platter is unacceptable.

not strong enough because like what Zan81 has said, they are unable to command their area well enough. they are not dominant and menacing enough towards opposition forwards. to me, the best goalkeeper that has ever graced the world stage is peter schmeichel. one look at him and you know better than to mess with him. he would come for crosses and he would eat you for breakfast and then spit you out if you so much as dared to venture into his 6 yard area. he would even tear into his team mates as well if they did not do their defensive duty. this is something that both our keepers do not have.

so yes, i believe that it's time for us to get a new keeper... he may not be able to yell and scold as well as schmeichel or lehmann, but as long as he can command his area well, and not lose focus, it'll be a definite improvement to what we have right now..

i think we should keep campbell because of the experience and raw desire that he brings. he can be like what bergkamp was for us during his final 2 seasons... not the automatic choice, but his presence and experience really counts for something...however, keeping him would come with a condition though.. when he plays, he needs someone who is faster than him, like how he and toure combined so well, or vermaeleen. we've already seen the dire consequences of putting 2 slowpokes (ie. campbell and silves) together....

for uncle tweety, i cannot imagine why wenger would still want to keep him. he is a liability to our defensive force and way past his tarikh luput.

i think gallas should stay. same goes for RVP. the only thing is that we must have capable backups for these 2 (which we evidently do NOT have, not fit ones anyway) because these 2, when they're at the top of their game, are priceless. i never though i'd say those things about gallas... hahahah....

for diaby, he's so inconsistent, i dunno what to do with him. perhaps i'd echo some view of the forumers to sell him if we can get someone better.

for the guys who should come, i don't mind chamakh (since he's free) and gary cahill, but we definitely need a new GK, and a DM. i'm not sure where ireland would fit into our midfield.. it's WAY too packed with attack minded players...

again, I think the media is just trying to make news.... buffon's words were: "If I had to leave, I think England would be my destination." Unless the part which he says that he wants to move to arsenal was not quoted (which would be VERY strange since the article is about him wanting to come to arsenal), i think we can safely assume that he's not interested in arsenal specifically....

I was just about to reply to the GK post, but you beat me to it... hahahah... but yes, i agree. i would add that shabaan wasn't that great either even when he played. taylor and wright, they both gave me the same feeling i get now when i watch aluminium or flapianski. can't command their box well either and very jittery on the high balls, like rabbit on drugs. never know what stunt they gonna pull.

as for your last paragraph, i would go so far as so say that aluminium is the best of the worst (between him, flapianski and mannone), and GK mistakes have cost us dear this season, directly and indirectly. directly because mistake, goal goes in, we draw or we lose games we need to win. if not, we end up having to really push to win instead of having a walk in the park. indirectly because when the defenders don't trust their keeper, there is more pressure on them when they have the ball, or when they wanna play the offside trap or when they wanna decide to play the back pass. suddenly, you need to rethink your moves that you usually would do involving your goalie... and those precious seconds / mili seconds may very well cost the player or the team...

so yes, a good GK is a must for next season.

rami played 3 games in the EPL, but played a few other matches as well.... cause i remember watching him and thinking there wasn't anything great in this fella... as for the don, he played out of his skin against fulham, and he's been ok after that, but because he has been shaky and his inexperience, i don't think he's able to take over the mantle of the no.1. that's why i said aluminium is the best of the worst.

about the intimidation factor:

and finally, if wenger still persists with our current crop of goalies, i'll need to get high blood pressure pills and pill for my heart too...

hhhmmm... apparently, gallas isn't an easy player to get along with.....

Nasri reveals off-field Gallas issues

Foster expected to complete £6m Birmingham switch



Will Foster's switch to birmingham pave the way for us to get joe hart? wishful thinking, but who knows right? =)