The Round Ball Game - II

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  • teamsaint
    Full Member
    • Nov 2010
    • 25190

    End of an era at Arsenal then.


    They have certainly played some wonderful football during his reign.
    I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

    I am not a number, I am a free man.

    Comment

    • Lat-Literal
      Guest
      • Aug 2015
      • 6983

      Originally posted by teamsaint View Post
      End of an era at Arsenal then.


      They have certainly played some wonderful football during his reign.

      Very sad news. Only the name of the club and its colours will remain. He would have to have been in place until 2022 to have managed the club for 50% of the time that I have been a supporter. That always seemed unlikely. He is, though, for most Arsenal supporters under 30 the only manager they have known. Still, they are mostly somewhat less concerned.

      To my mind, this period is all a bit 1918-19 which is to say that we've known for quite some time that the old century was over but now we really know. Wenger joins my personal long list of 21st century losses which includes Highbury, popular music as we knew it, the Rottingdean pitch and putt course, being employed, bearable volumes of traffic, the golden age of comedy, physical health, belief in the political system, a lot of friends and family, attendance at sports events and music festivals, parents who are recognisable, regular holidays, most decent radio and television, economic security, knowledge that there isn't a cold war and normal springtime weather. York City's ground will be going in 2019. Half of my neighbours are about to move or drop dead. Additional green spaces are soon to be lost to housing and fracking. Sometimes I feel that if I had moved abroad, the world wouldn't seem any less alien. When I think of my parents at my age now in 1985, most things from their perspective were reasonably stable, utterly familiar, albeit slowly changing, and unequivocally improving.

      Manager Arsene Wenger is to leave Arsenal at the end of the season, bringing to an end a near 22-year reign at the club.
      Last edited by Lat-Literal; 20-04-18, 14:39.

      Comment

      • Stanfordian
        Full Member
        • Dec 2010
        • 9308

        Originally posted by teamsaint View Post
        End of an era at Arsenal then.


        They have certainly played some wonderful football during his reign.
        Play pretty football at times in recent years but a terrible lack of trophies with culture of mediocrity becoming the norm. For a club of its magnitude it hasn't won the premier league since 2003/04 and its recent European record is woeful winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup back in 1994. The FA cup has saved his bacon for some time but in truth that's a competition that has become of lesser status.

        A massive clear out of players is on the cards. I can see them going for a safe choice as manager rather than a more volatile Diego Simeone figure.

        Joachim Löw or Luis Enrique are the best men available for a big job such as this.
        Last edited by Stanfordian; 21-04-18, 21:28.

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        • cloughie
          Full Member
          • Dec 2011
          • 22110

          Originally posted by Stanfordian View Post
          Play pretty football at times in recent years but a terrible lack of trophies with culture of mediocrity becoming the norm. For a club of its magnitude it hasn't won the premier league since 2003/04 and its recent European record is woeful winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup back in 1994. The FA cup has saved his bacon for some time but in truth that's a competition that has become of lesser status.

          A massive clear out of players is on the cards. I can see them going for a safe choice as manager rather than a more volatile Diego Simeone figure.

          Joachim Löw would be my main choice.
          Mebbe so, but I think there are many of the clubs in the 110 or so below them in the leagues and non-leagues who woulld be happy to have Arsenal's record over the past 22 years, and their unequalled longevity in the top flight.

          Comment

          • Stanfordian
            Full Member
            • Dec 2010
            • 9308

            Of course they would but Arsenal are a massive club. Ranked No. 6 in the Deloitte list of the 2018 Football Money League that charts the massive revenues of Europe's biggest football clubs.

            Is its objective to excel and win major trophies or to play pretty football?

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            • Eine Alpensinfonie
              Host
              • Nov 2010
              • 20569

              Originally posted by cloughie View Post
              ... and their unequalled longevity in the top flight.
              They've never been relegated, but they've never been legally promoted either.

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              • EnemyoftheStoat
                Full Member
                • Nov 2010
                • 1131

                Originally posted by teamsaint View Post
                Glutton for punishment , eh ?
                Talking of which, in a mad impetuous moment I bought a ticket for the semis...

                Comment

                • Eine Alpensinfonie
                  Host
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 20569

                  Originally posted by Brassbandmaestro View Post
                  I think The Toon and Seagulls will be ok this season and The Toon must be rid of that Chairman!!!
                  Just about every Newcastle supporter I meet says the same.

                  Comment

                  • teamsaint
                    Full Member
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 25190

                    Originally posted by EnemyoftheStoat View Post
                    Talking of which, in a mad impetuous moment I bought a ticket for the semis...
                    Me too........ and Mrs TS and the two lads.
                    I just couldn't look myself in the mirror, knowing I hadn't gone to a SF, when I had the opportunity.

                    Was at the semis in 76, 84 ( AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH) and 86, but missed out in 2003.

                    Due a win.

                    It could be a great day , Stoatfoe !!

                    ( Incidentally, we are way off selling out, and Chelsea struggled to, and they let ST holders and members buy more than 1 each, which Saints haven't. People are blaming concession prices, which are very high, and generally high prices, but £30 tickets are plentiful , and the top price tickets mostly sold out . By comparison all full price match day tickets for Bristol City V Hull are over £30 ).
                    I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

                    I am not a number, I am a free man.

                    Comment

                    • Eine Alpensinfonie
                      Host
                      • Nov 2010
                      • 20569

                      Originally posted by Lat-Literal View Post
                      When I think of my parents at my age now in 1985, most things from their perspective were reasonably stable, utterly familiar, albeit slowly changing, and unequivocally improving.
                      What? The Cold War was at a peak - cruise missiles, SS20s.

                      Comment

                      • Lat-Literal
                        Guest
                        • Aug 2015
                        • 6983

                        I don't think it is the right decision.

                        My list has little resemblance to the one at William Hill. Aptitude and success are important but tone is all. This at Arsenal should mean (a) civilised, dignified, respectful of the history and no arrogance and (b) in innovation, not following the herd but leading and really pushing the boundaries socially, albeit in a fairly conservative way as the club has always done.

                        No Euro "Gods".

                        Not Brendan Rodgers.

                        Lukewarm on Eddie Howe.

                        The first two speak for themselves.

                        1 Thierry Henry, 2 Patrick Vieira 3 Kelly Smith 4 Roberto Martinez 5 Roy Hodgson 5 Martin Keown 6 Tony Adams 7 George Graham 8 Mikel Arteta 9 John Motson 10 Mauricio Pochettino.

                        Official BBC montage played before the France v. Germany game 04/07/14.Poem (in original French):Au-dessus des étangs, au-dessus des vallées,Des montagnes, d...


                        (actually, I'd add David Wagner to that list because of Arsenal's little appreciated but significant historical connections with Yorkshire/Huddersfield FC - also Wagner sounds like Wenger)
                        Last edited by Lat-Literal; 20-04-18, 17:38.

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                        • Lat-Literal
                          Guest
                          • Aug 2015
                          • 6983

                          Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post
                          What? The Cold War was at a peak - cruise missiles, SS20s.
                          Well, yes, accepted, and sort of no - things slowly got better at, for example, Greenham from that point onwards.

                          Now that I have thought about it seriously:

                          1 Thierry Henry 2 David Wagner 3 Patrick Vieira 4 Carlo Ancelotti 5 Roberto Martinez 6 Roy Hodgson 7 Martin Keown 8 Tony Adams 9 Mikel Arteta 10 Kelly Smith*

                          (*yes - a woman on the short list - and why not?).

                          All of these would incorporate elements of the cerebral/thoughtful and kindness - and keep out the bombast prevalent in the current game.

                          Ranieri would be ok too.
                          Last edited by Lat-Literal; 20-04-18, 18:01.

                          Comment

                          • BBMmk2
                            Late Member
                            • Nov 2010
                            • 20908

                            Sad news indeed hearing Wenger’s decision to leave. The players and the media have their wish granted..
                            Don’t cry for me
                            I go where music was born

                            J S Bach 1685-1750

                            Comment

                            • EdgeleyRob
                              Guest
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 12180

                              Quite a few teams not playing this weekend,a couple more leagues won today

                              Coventry City 3 Stevenage 1 Back to back league wins,remain in the play offs
                              West Brom 2 Liverpool 2 Conceded twice in the last 11 mins when 2-0 up
                              Watford 0 Crystal Palace 0 Now 6 points clear of the drop zone
                              Dundee 2 St Johnstone 1 Equalised on 85 mins,conceded the 2nd 3 mins later
                              Kilmarnock 0 Aberdeen 2 Scored in each half,up to 2nd
                              Partick Thistle 2 Hamilton Academical 1 Behind at the break,1st win in 10 league games
                              Bolton Wanderers 0 Wolves 4 2 goals in each half,Championship winners
                              Sheffield Wednesday 3 Reading 0 Straightforward win,now mid table
                              Wimbledon 2 Oldham Athletic 2 Took the lead twice,3 points above the relegation zone
                              Rotherham United 2 Bristol Rovers 0 Conceded in each half,winless in 4 league games
                              Exeter City 2 Crawley Town 2 Just 1 point off the automatic promotion places
                              Eastleigh 0 Macclesfield Town 2 Conference winners,back in the league after 6 years
                              Hartlepool United 1 Torquay United 1 Conceded a late equaliser
                              Leyton Orient 1 Wrexham 0 Play off finish is now not in their own hands
                              Blyth Spartans 0 Stockport County 1 Scored right on half time,looking set for 5th place
                              York City 2 Leamington 2 Conceded on 89 mins at 2-1 up,play offs looking unlikely
                              Chelmsford City 0 Havant & Waterlooville 2 1st defeat in 6 league games,still in the play offs
                              Truro City 1 Braintree Town 2 Outside the play off places on goal difference
                              Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2 Dunfermline 2 Conceded the 2nd on 95 mins when 2-1 up
                              St Mirren 2 Greenock Morton 1 1st win in 4 league games for the champions
                              Forfar Athletic 1 Queen's Park 1 Behind at the break,remain bottom
                              Edinburgh City 1 Clyde 3 3 down after 65 mins,no win in last 9 league games
                              Formartine United 12 Fort William 0 Crikey !

                              FA Cup semi final

                              Manchester United 2 Tottenham 1 Forum derby,Spurs Scored 1st,Reds Scored in each half

                              Chelsea,Southampton,Arsenal and manchester city play tomorrow
                              Newcastle play on Monday

                              I'm going to miss Arsene Wenger

                              Comment

                              • antongould
                                Full Member
                                • Nov 2010
                                • 8774

                                “I'm going to miss Arsene Wenger”

                                Me too ER but I have it on reliable authority that he has bought a terrace house in West Hartlepool .....

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