[iain cardiff]

I can stand the arses, always up for giving them a good verbal kicking for no particular reason. however, i am trying to be serious with this question!

How can a team go on a great run and look invincible, and then lose 9 in 26 games and play football the way they are now. is it purely psychological, or veira leaving, or sol wanting to be an actor, or is arsene w finally losing the dressing room?

I will be honest.......the arses used to scare me.......i can remember that fateful day when in one of the cardiff fa cup finals, they beat us 2-0 and i could not complain. they had at one point a five pronged attack and had our defence running backwards, only for parlour and freddie to crack two 25 yarders. they did us fair and square!

not any more, i almost feel embarrased for you gooners,well, mabye not..........so, please tell me, in the meantime lets enjoy it while it lasts!!!!!!

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by iain cardiff

always up for giving them a good verbal kicking for no particular reason.

Nice start to a thread.

Originally Posted by iain cardiff

How can a team go on a great run and look invincible, and then lose 9 in 26 games and play football the way they are now. is it purely psychological, or veira leaving, or sol wanting to be an actor, or is arsene w finally losing the dressing room?

All these things you mentioned have contribute to Arsenal's lackluster preformances this year. As well as our injury situation and Henry/contract (Yes i do think that has affected the team), the youth being brought it, the move to the Emirates stadium. All the ones i have mentioned and you could be reasons.

But i think the main problem is something most fans knew before last season ended. This was always going to be a transitional year for the club. With players like Pires and Freddie (Two players that have now lost their spark and who was so important whenever Arsenal have won the title) If Viera was still at Arsenal it would have helped simply because guys like Fabregas, Flamini and Diaby wouldnt of had to play the amount of games that they have.

Viera i still belive just had a OFF season last year. Lets face it everyone goes through a patch where they aint on form. Viera would have been a benifit for Arsenal had he stayed.

Originally Posted by iain cardiff

I will be honest.......the arses used to scare me.......i can remember that fateful day when in one of the cardiff fa cup finals, they beat us 2-0 and i could not complain. they had at one point a five pronged attack and had our defence running backwards, only for parlour and freddie to crack two 25 yarders. they did us fair and square!

It wasnt just Cardiff. When we was on form we could thread the eye of a needle against Premiership teams and to a certain extent european teams. We was full of confidence and not just because we had Mr Va Va Voom upfront. But because we knew that guys like Bergkamp would any second now pick out that pass any minute now or Freddie would make one of his runs. We were the best team in England.

Originally Posted by iain cardiff

not any more, i almost feel embarrased for you gooners,well, mabye not..........so, please tell me, in the meantime lets enjoy it while it lasts!!!!!!

Well i think Wenger is doing a good job by stating the obvious that were playing for 4th place. I mean he isnt living in his own little world he knows the situation were in so i still have faith.

[iain cardiff]

i did write a response, my little boy woke up, went so see him, came back and my reply has disappeared.

gutted, took me a while.

thanx for your response mr arsenal, very intresting and some good insight into the world of gooners, give me time and i will send my reply.

loser!

[iain cardiff]

oh yeah, super leaders in what? out of date.

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by iain cardiff

i did write a response, my little boy woke up, went so see him, came back and my reply has disappeared.

gutted, took me a while.

thanx for your response mr arsenal, very intresting and some good insight into the world of gooners, give me time and i will send my reply.

loser!

Yeah my post took me a while. Was even worst with Horsefield on MSN shouting "Cu*t, French Bast**d etc etc" everytime Marseille made a foul or had a shot.

I wouldnt quite say Mr Arsenal. Just The Phenomenal One would do fine if you want to call me anything.

Whats with the "loser" bit at the end?

Originally Posted by iain cardiff

oh yeah, super leaders in what? out of date.

Huh?

[iain cardiff]

Injuries- You have had a few, but im afraid this shows how threadbare your squad is. Chels have 2 players for every position........ok, we are very very very rich, but spursh have managed it on a budget by buying young players.
im am becoming more and more grateful to willie gallas, who can, at any time requested, play at rb, lb, both cb and midfield defensively. willie is the unsung hero and will probably end up player of the season for us.

Terry Henry- he will be leaving, there is no doubt. I heard on the radio he has children at school in london, and will be moving to us. i do hope he doesnt my friend, only because i feel it will ruin the prem. whats the point if we scoop up henry, rooney etc. However, seeing as everyones leaving, could i on behalf of roman, offer you 20m for van persie?

As a football fan, it will be sad to see henry leave the prem. His performance last night was poor, when he plays, you do, when he doesnt you are in trouble. a bit like stevie g and liverpool.

Transition period- ashburton aside, never thought i would see the day arsenal go through such a thing. why has'nt wenger prepared for this. you need a goalie, right back, left back (cole will leave), both central defenders, right and left midfield (pires and freddie seem to have lost it). To need a whole new defence at once is shocking and there seems to be very little available, unless wenger pulls something out of the hat.

Veira- should not have gone, i have heard he was pushed! why, and where was the back up plan? it was on the cards.

"We were the best team in England"- apart from man utd, who have won the majority of titles over the last fourteen years. arsenal looked good for 49 games over 18mths!

Wenger- He didnt used to live in a bubble, but i am starting to lose my respect for him. i feel he making decesions almost in an houllier manner, getting carried away with himself, believing that he can keep pulling cheap young french players out of the hat. it is almost as if he has been blinded by his own success. wenger has been caught knapping.

Arsenal's decline has nothing to do with romans millions or your ashburton grove move. They are lying in fifth position in the prem, top of six or seven teams who are currently playing well. I can't see arsenal finishing fourth, much too lightweight up front, always wanting to pass the ball into the net.
The hunger for winning games, let alone the prem or champs lge places, has been lost.

The time period in which arsenal have gone from serious challangers to a place in that next group within the prem has been dramatic. Wenger must stop the rot or mr stiles will be entering the intertoto cup. The first competitive fixture at ashburton grove will be in the intertoto cup, who would have thought it.

i do hope this has'nt turned to a rant, i would like to see a debate because we are witnessing the decline of arsenal football club!

I cant believe you have changed your signature from super leaders. sign of the times!

"loser" is not personal, just a current footballing opinion! you can call me winner, cause thats what we do best, apart fro when we go to manchester or middlesboro.

[Stiles]

Ok im starting my reply at 14:45 so we shall see at the end how long it takes me to reply to this.

Injuries- You have had a few, but im afraid this shows how threadbare your squad is. Chels have 2 players for every position........ok, we are very very very rich, but spursh have managed it on a budget by buying young players.
im am becoming more and more grateful to willie gallas, who can, at any time requested, play at rb, lb, both cb and midfield defensively. willie is the unsung hero and will probably end up player of the season for us.

I will unfortuantly be the first to admit that we have about as much depth in our team as a two inch high swimming pool. Thats not just this season. For as long as i can remember Arsenal have always had maybe 11 or 12 what you would call first team players. If one players gets injuried then we can survive but after 3 or 4 then we are heading into our youth squad for players. This has been one of my biggest complaints since i have been a football fan and known what is going on at a club.

As you said Chelski are very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very rich and can afford to buy 24 million pound players to sit on the bench. But i give you credit you make a great point in regard to the spuds. My believe for that is that Martin Jol is possible one of the best managers the premiership has seen. Im a huge Arron Lennon fan and to be able to bring him on is only a good thing for the Spud potatoes.

As you said about Gallas he gives you so much depth as like you said he can play anywhere across the back four. Something Arsenal dont have. Except we have possiblity of playing Toure at right back then have Senderoes come in alongside Campbell.

Terry Henry- he will be leaving, there is no doubt. I heard on the radio he has children at school in london, and will be moving to us. i do hope he doesnt my friend, only because i feel it will ruin the prem. whats the point if we scoop up henry, rooney etc. However, seeing as everyones leaving, could i on behalf of roman, offer you 20m for van persie?

Im sorry but i disagree. Infact on the 16th of Febuary 2006 i am predicting that Thierry Henry will be at Arsenal next season. It would ruin the Premiership because you would kill the compitition in the Premiership. (Like it hasnt been killed already )
I hate to break it to you but their is no way in hell Manure would sell Shrek. Espically to you lot. Rooney looks happy at Manure and dont see him moving anywhere for a long, long time.

On behalf of all that represent Arsenal and can say this. No way Jose. Robin Van Persie is the bomb.

As a football fan, it will be sad to see henry leave the prem. His performance last night was poor, when he plays, you do, when he doesnt you are in trouble. a bit like stevie g and liverpool.

Henry just never seems to be able to get into the big match. Im not sure why, wheather its something mental or opponents take extra special care of him, i honestly dont know.

Transition period- ashburton aside, never thought i would see the day arsenal go through such a thing. why has'nt wenger prepared for this. you need a goalie, right back, left back (cole will leave), both central defenders, right and left midfield (pires and freddie seem to have lost it). To need a whole new defence at once is shocking and there seems to be very little available, unless wenger pulls something out of the hat.

Well to be honest i think Arsene only saw this coming mid way throught last season which is when he realised Viera would be leaving and that he knew he has going to have Gilberto, Pires, Ljungberg as the senior midfielders. Obviously neither of them have had a outstanding season.

With the list you made then of players we need i can find a few faults.

Goalkeeper: Jens Lehmann is a super goalkeeper his only fault is his temperment, Almundia doesnt really put to many feet wrong and is realible. Poom is experiance and young ish. Obviously when you think of goalkeepers at Arsenal you expect all to be David Seaman. But i think our current crop are doing ok.

Right back: Lauren has for the better part of the season been ok except for the mishap against you. but all great players mess up at times. I mean take your goalkeeper. I hold him in the highest regards. (Along with Buffon best keeper in the world) But a month or so ago he missed a catch and somebody scored. (Sorry i dont remember details) but point is all good players will make a mistake. We have young Justin Hotye who is a Phenomenal talent. So at right back were ok.

Left back: I see cole as more likely to leave rather then Henry. But u do believe that Cole will like Henry stay. If he does stay then Cole and Clichey and Larrson. I can live with that.

Wingers: If either Pires or Freddie do leave this summer. Which looks likely it will be Freddie. We have wingers that can come in and do a job for a period of time. Hleb, Walcott, Reyes or Eboue can all do a job for a while. So not to much to worry about.

Veira- should not have gone, i have heard he was pushed! why, and where was the back up plan? it was on the cards.

I know, i know it confuses me as well.

"We were the best team in England"- apart from man utd, who have won the majority of titles over the last fourteen years. arsenal looked good for 49 games over 18mths!

I think we can agree at some point since the turn of the century each of us. Arsenal, Manre and Chelski have been the best team in England.

Arsenal's decline has nothing to do with romans millions or your ashburton grove move. They are lying in fifth position in the prem, top of six or seven teams who are currently playing well. I can't see arsenal finishing fourth, much too lightweight up front, always wanting to pass the ball into the net.
The hunger for winning games, let alone the prem or champs lge places, has been lost.

I think the decline in the whole premiership has been down to Romans millions. Teams just start to lose faith in how to beat you. Because as much as it pains me to say it. You are that damn good.

Fair point. The reason we aint in the top 3 at the moment is because this seaosn you have been a class above. Liverpool had such a solid patch, Manure have never been on a bad run. Yes they have lost games. But they always replied with a win afterwards and obviously Chelski have just been win after win after win.

Like i said in my pervious post. Arsenal always try and thread the eye of a needle. So just shows i agree with your statement.

Im not sure we have lost the hunger. Its more that teams know how to combat our free flowing style now so we cant really get possesion time. Which can be accounted to what people think as lack of hunger or drive.

The time period in which arsenal have gone from serious challangers to a place in that next group within the prem has been dramatic. Wenger must stop the rot or mr stiles will be entering the intertoto cup. The first competitive fixture at ashburton grove will be in the intertoto cup, who would have thought it.

Again yeah i agree. Last 5 season Arsenal have been in the top 2. So to be in 5th with 12 games remaining is a shck to us Gooners i promise you.

Well there is always the UEFA Cup. *Sighs heavily*

i do hope this has'nt turned to a rant, i would like to see a debate because we are witnessing the decline of arsenal football club!

Well it is nice to have a meaningful conversation about Arsenal. Decline or Blip though? The choice is yours.

I cant believe you have changed your signature from super leaders. sign of the times!

Well i was going to do it once i got promoted to a mod on here but forgot. So you kickstarted me.

"loser" is not personal, just a current footballing opinion! you can call me winner, cause thats what we do best, apart fro when we go to manchester or middlesboro.

Awwwwww i see.

Time of finish 15:32. And now my fingers hurt.

[iain cardiff]

nice one man, i appreciate your honest views, some critical, which is what i like to see. we are all one-eyed when comes to our team...i am blue thro and thro, but sometimes the truth needs to be said. i love my team, but some of the stuff that has happened since roman's arrival has left me embarrassed. when i should be cel;ebrating our first title for fifty years, i'm left questioning the way we did it!

meanwhile, i sincerely hope the arses beat madrid on tues, good luck, if only to have the chance to kick your arse AGAIN! in the semis.

I cant wait to see hoe the season turns out, even tho chels have ran away with the title, im not bored. arsenal's rapid decline, spursh doing well, man city , west ham, blackburn, bolton and liverpool all playing well and challanging the arses for that coveted intertoto place!

long live the premiership.

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by iain cardiff

nice one man, i appreciate your honest views, some critical, which is what i like to see. we are all one-eyed when comes to our team...i am blue thro and thro, but sometimes the truth needs to be said. i love my team, but some of the stuff that has happened since roman's arrival has left me embarrassed. when i should be cel;ebrating our first title for fifty years, i'm left questioning the way we did it!

meanwhile, i sincerely hope the arses beat madrid on tues, good luck, if only to have the chance to kick your arse AGAIN! in the semis.

I cant wait to see hoe the season turns out, even tho chels have ran away with the title, im not bored. arsenal's rapid decline, spursh doing well, man city , west ham, blackburn, bolton and liverpool all playing well and challanging the arses for that coveted intertoto place!

long live the premiership.

And i thank you for bringing up this thread. I do back Arsenal but im not blind or stupid (Despite my looks ) i realise what a crummy season were having and hope this isnt the decline.

I hope we meet Imagining Madrid as well. Although with Cole, Clichey, RVP apparently out. I can see a struggle.

Behind chelski the whole premiership is bunched up rather well.

Thanks again dude for this thread.

[Horse_Bwfc]

Originally Posted by Stiles21

Yeah my post took me a while. Was even worst with Horsefield on MSN shouting "Cu*t, French Bast**d etc etc" everytime Marseille made a foul or had a shot

Well was an emotional time, first time we got this far in any massive competition so, was to be expected

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by Bwfc_horse

Well was an emotional time, first time we got this far in any massive competition so, was to be expected

*Mental not to self* Dont talk to Horsefield while Bolton are playing.

[Horse_Bwfc]

Or just in general wood be great

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by Bwfc_horse

Or just in general wood be great

Do you want me to stop backing you up when people start questioning your sexuality. Cause their are a few rumours running rampant around college. True they were started by me.

[iain cardiff]

maybe its time to come out of the closet...........join sol and his 'friendly' teammates this week!!!!!!!!

[Horse_Bwfc]

Slanderous .... absurd even, you shall respect me.

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by Bwfc_horse

Slanderous .... absurd even, you shall respect me.

How about no, you crazy dutch bastard.

[Horse_Bwfc]

Somebody takes to big a interest in austin powers .. now thats respectable lol

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by Bwfc_horse

Somebody takes to big a interest in austin powers .. now thats respectable lol

Well come on its like to freaking awesome. Plus i have something in common with Goldmember.

We both had a unfortunate smelting accident.

[Horse_Bwfc]

well its the big game tommorrow, you confident of getting a result?

[Stiles]

Originally Posted by Bwfc_horse

well its the big game tommorrow, you confident of getting a result?

Score draw will suit me fine.