Are the glory days over for good?

[Flavs]

In terms of the glory days I would say no, they are not over. We are a colossal club by any measure and the 3rd richest club in the world and that is while balancing the income and revenue against the stadium mortgage, which when paid off will make us debt free and with huge turnover. Also Usmanov has just been listed as the second richest man in football, way ahead of Abrahmovic.

However, none of that really matters if we refuse to play the game. While the playboy types exist we can either join in or get left behind, yes I find that as morally constricting as anyone but that’s how it is now. There is always going to be a team that can stick another nought on the end and we need to be one of these to compete, fact. The only way we would come out in front is if FIFA came up with some sort of relevant fair financial play rules…

Yes it would be brilliantly noble to self create a team that can win but another fact is that footballers are impatient nowadays and if a sheikh or an Oligarch appear with a free plane or a new yacht they will turn and run faster than the French infantry. Remember testimonials? I rest my case.

Our club is not reflective of the modern game anymore and while my conscience says that is great it’s not my conscience that is getting the piss taken out of it by Blackburn and Liverpool fans on a Monday morning. If Wenger won’t join in with the money game he needs to go and I don’t believe for a second that the board hold the same righteous torch that he does, they just say they do to back him when he is under fire. For the first time ever the team aren’t responding to him, the fans are turning against him (and the board he represents) and things are looking bad by our standards, we need a change but I wouldn’t hold your breathes.

If reports be believed Pat Rice had a hairdryer moment after the Spurs game, not just at the players but also at the other coaches and a certain Arsene Wenger, it will be interesting to see how the club responds from this. Perhaps the person we needed to have a word in Wenger’s shell like and tell him the wheels have come off has been here all along? Having been at the club for over 30 years no-one knows what a loss to Spurs means more than Pat Rice. Also interesting than when Wenger has been banned from the touchline we are unbeaten, is this because Rice is unbridled, able to shout and cajole and actually use substitutes the way they should be? After the stupid internationals break it will be interesting to see how the players react.

[Power n Glory]

Difference being sweetheart that Gervinho has played like 5 games for the club and Theo has been here for what 5 year now and is no better than when he got here.

Can you imagine if we played with these 2 up top? Ball would be in the crowd most of the game

The worrying thing about Gervinho is that reports in France say he's always been like that and he's much older than Theo.

Theo's been here 5 years, since he was 16 and he's now in his early 20s. Besides Cesc, how many players have come through our system at that age and really shone?

[IBK]

I think if we'd have shown some backbone in the transfer window and signed players like Mata and Cahill early, it would have shown the players some intent at least. But we left it late and the damage was done from the Man U game.

As for Gervinho, he's always been a hit and miss player from what I read about him before we signed him. I don't think it has anything to do with our current state. He's just a sloppy player. Reminds me of Gyan in his approach. He has this uncouthness in his style. It's not like Ade, he reminds me more of Gyan for some reason. There is a sloppiness to his final ball and decision making.

This. And again for me where we are now is not necessarily a question of different players changing things - its not like all our new signings have had the intended effect so far - its a question of the club and manager showing some ambition, direction and leadership - before this is translated to the pitch. Our Summer was shocking. What we needed was more than the typical Wenger 'underwhelming but might come good' signings. Everyone know that Fabregas was off and Nasri would be sold if the price was right. EVERYONE - apart from our manager in his bubble . The dithering, lack of foresight and last minute panicking was abysmal. And we are seeing more of the same dithering; lack of direction and panicking on the pitch.

[Flavs]

The worrying thing about Gervinho is that reports in France say he's always been like that and he's much older than Theo.

Theo's been here 5 years, since he was 16 and he's now in his early 20s. Besides Cesc, how many players have come through our system at that age and really shone?

Gervinho is 2 years older but has a league winners medal and a top scorer award Theo has?

Also 28 goals last season would suggest he has an end product

[selassie]

This. And again for me where we are now is not necessarily a question of different players changing things - its not like all our new signings have had the intended effect so far - its a question of the club and manager showing some ambition, direction and leadership - before this is translated to the pitch. Our Summer was shocking. What we needed was more than the typical Wenger 'underwhelming but might come good' signings. Everyone know that Fabregas was off and Nasri would be sold if the price was right. EVERYONE - apart from our manager in his bubble . The dithering, lack of foresight and last minute panicking was abysmal. And we are seeing more of the same dithering; lack of direction and panicking on the pitch.

Yep, spot on.

[Power n Glory]

Gervinho is 2 years older but has a league winners medal and a top scorer award Theo has?

Also 28 goals last season would suggest he has an end product

But what are you seeing on the pitch and what have you heard about him from his days in France?

All well and good quoting the stats but from what I've seen and heard about him, he's a bit hit and miss with his finishing. As one fan described, the type to infuriate and thrill at the same time.

Also worth taking a look at his goal record when he was in his early 20's and compare that to Theo's. Days before he joined Lille.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

If reports be believed Pat Rice had a hairdryer moment after the Spurs game, not just at the players but also at the other coaches and a certain Arsene Wenger, it will be interesting to see how the club responds from this. Perhaps the person we needed to have a word in Wenger’s shell like and tell him the wheels have come off has been here all along? Having been at the club for over 30 years no-one knows what a loss to Spurs means more than Pat Rice. Also interesting than when Wenger has been banned from the touchline we are unbeaten, is this because Rice is unbridled, able to shout and cajole and actually use substitutes the way they should be? After the stupid internationals break it will be interesting to see how the players react.

It will be very interesting to see what happens in the suderland game tbh and how we respond tbh. Maybe Rice has finally seen enough and may not want to retire seeing the club in such a state.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

But what are you seeing on the pitch and what have you heard about him from his days in France?

All well and good quoting the stats but from what I've seen and heard about him, he's a bit hit and miss with his finishing. As one fan described, the type to infuriate and thrill at the same time.

Also worth taking a look at his goal record when he was in his early 20's and compare that to Theo's. Days before he joined Lille.

To diffrent players though in to diffent roles. Theo is a striker and has always been but has not developed for some reason, where as gev is an attacking Midfilder and was bought as one. The only reason he plays as a second stiker is because we never bought a top striker like we should off.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

This. And again for me where we are now is not necessarily a question of different players changing things - its not like all our new signings have had the intended effect so far - its a question of the club and manager showing some ambition, direction and leadership - before this is translated to the pitch. Our Summer was shocking. What we needed was more than the typical Wenger 'underwhelming but might come good' signings. Everyone know that Fabregas was off and Nasri would be sold if the price was right. EVERYONE - apart from our manager in his bubble . The dithering, lack of foresight and last minute panicking was abysmal. And we are seeing more of the same dithering; lack of direction and panicking on the pitch.

Can not disagree and tbh we should have got rid of cesc Last summer and built from there thats where Wenger messed up imo.

[Power n Glory]

To diffrent players though in to diffent roles. Theo is a striker and has always been but has not developed for some reason, where as gev is an attacking Midfilder and was bought as one. The only reason he plays as a second stiker is because we never bought a top striker like we should off.

Totally agree with that but both play as wingers. Gervinho doesn't play as a second striker and we don't play a second striker system either. We've got one central player and two wingers/attacking midifielders that attack from wide position but can also drift in and swap positions.