Tag Archives: Spurs

Tottenham Vs Manchester United, who do Arsenal fans want to win?

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Well after last weekend and a few disagreements with other supporters of The Arsenal over what we wanted the Man City v Tottenham result to be we decided to put both sides of the argument over. Now me and fellow writer of this blog, Keenos often do not see eye to eye, you could say that we have plenty of healthy debates over a wide range of subjects and have done so for the last 10 years. So here’s our thoughts on wherever or not to want Tottenham to beat Man City…

In favour of Manchester United – GC

Well firstly I am old enough to remember football from the early 80s, I was there in the semi final in 1991 (one of the worst day’s of my life) so I remember having to speak to and see happy Tottenham fans and that’s not a happy memory. From a very young age I was brought up to love the The Arsenal and part of that was hating that lot from Middlesex. The way I see every season is that the 1st priority is beating Tottenham, the 2nd is finishing above them. Failing those would see that lot up the road crow like mad donkeys on acid.

I look at the season as us playing 38 games with every other team having to play 36 as I want Tottenham to lose every game they play. I want them to finish every season on 0 pts with a goal difference of minus 10000. I don’t even like them winning the coin toss. Anything that makes them happy is not a good thing in my eyes.

I really can not understand any so called fan of The Arsenal wanting that lot to win anything. The joy it gave me to see Man City smash 6 (SIX) past them last Sunday was immense and rightly so, social media went nut’s and it was on full on piss take mode. The perfect weekend, us winning them getting smashed.

Now of course I’m aware that if Tottenham somehow managed to beat the other teams that could challenge us for the title/top 4 that could be good for our league position but until St Totteringhams day is done and dusted that doesn’t remain the priority. Any fan of The Arsenal who could either want or shout at their tele for that lot from Middlesex to win or even draw a game can, to coin a phrase that’s been slapped at me more times than I’ve had cold pints “fuck off down the lane”.

Do you think Tottenham fans want us to beat teams like Southampton/Everton/Liverpool that could challenge them for 6th ? of course not, there greatest moments in the last 20 years are games we have lost. IF we are to win anything and challenge for anything this season I want it to be because we have won games, not because Tottenham have somehow managed beat anyone.

In favour of Tottenham – Keenos

Arsenal first. They are the most important factor in footballing life. The success of Arsenal Football Club is all that matters. Spurs are out of the title race. They can not win it. Manchester United are a title rival. That is what matters. A defeat for Manchester United reduces their chance of winning the title, and by proxy, increases the chance of Arsenal winning the title. If Arsenal win Saturday, and Manchester United lose, Arsenal will be 10 points ahead of Manchester United. Surely it is better to be 10 points ahead of Manchester United than 11 points ahead of Tottenham?

In 1999, Arsenal went into the last day of the season needing Spurs to beat Manchester United at White Hart Lane to be in with a chance of the title. Everyone in Highbury wanted Manchester United to lose that day. Had Spurs won, Arsenal would have won the league.

Imagine a scenario, last day of the season, Arsenal are joint top with and could win the title. They are playing the side currently in 18th. Spurs are 17th, playing the side in 2nd. What would you rather, an Arsenal title or a Spurs relegation. It is the success of oneself which defines my happiness, not the failure and sadness of another.

Yes, I was laughing with everyone else during Spurs’ 6-0 defeat against Manchester City, but I would much prefer to be 9 points ahead of City then the current 6. The success of Arsenal is what is important. Manchester United losing is more important than Spurs losing.

We are the bigger club. The fact is, Spurs often want Arsenal to lose more than they want their own club to win. They know as fans that they will never see Tottenham win the league in their lifetime, so the only satisfaction for them is seeing Arsenal fail to win it. We are different, we have the success, Tottenham winning or losing means nothing for our league chances. It is better for them to beat our rivals and finish mid table, then lose to them and still finish mid table. It is about the bigger picture.

On Sunday, I will not be cheering Spurs to victory, I will not be supporting Spurs, I will be supporting a Manchester United loss, if that means Spurs have to win, then so be it.

 

 

1 nil, spending f**k all – Now to sign Ozil

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Here at SheWore, we have saying ‘we told you so’ but we did. We really did. A glance through our blogs for last week highlights our positivism. Some called us ludicrous. Some called us deluded. And some just laughed at us. Although the majority were Spurs fans. On a side note, I wonder if the hundreds of Spurs fans who have commented on here last week deriding our blogs will admit they were wrong, and that Arsenal were the better team. Probably not.

The point we were making all week is that you can spend £100million on players. But that does not mean you are better than The Arsenal. By losing Bale, all spending £100 million meant was that they had stood still. A more solid midfield, with less creativity. As shown by the fact they have yet to score from anything but a penalty this season.

Yes, Erikson will change them. He is a creative genius. But on Sunday, they looked more like an expensive Stoke, with a hard working, untalented side. The fact that there most creative player was Andros Townsend, who is dross, sums them up.

Over £30 million worth of new midfield talent in their starting line up was shown up. I said last week, I would take Ramsey & Wilshere over Capoue & Paulinho and I was proved right, as the Anglo-Welsh combination rang rings around them that Capoue got so dizzy that he fell over and broke his leg. Too think, some deluded Spurs fans were ‘boasting’ that he would break Wilshere’s leg!

The amazing thing about the victory over Spurs is there mocking of the signing of Yaya Sanogo. Whilst they had spent over £100m, all we had got in was ‘A French Postman on a Free.’ Well we did not even need the postman to deliver. He remained on the bench, spending 45 minutes warming up.

It was the performance of another Frenchman on a free which would give Arsenal fans most delight. We have been crying out for additional support in the middle of the park all summer. And the disappointment held by many when Flamini signed on a free was justifiable. However, Jack Wilshere getting the shits before half time meant that Flamini came into play. And what he showed is his stay in Milan has not taken away any of his work rate or sharpness. He showed leadership in the middle of the park, a bite in the tackle, and has surely solved our midfield problem. With Flamini, Arteta, Ramsey & Wilshere all vying for the 2 central midfield positions, it is hard to see where a new signing would fit in. Especially with the lack of truly great central midfielders that will be available. One things for certain, I can not see us going for Yohann Cabaye today.

And that brings us nicely onto the last day of the transfer window. Despite the victory, we are still short. However not as short as some will make you believe. Results against Fulham, Fenerbache and Spurs have shown that the 17/18 players we currently have are very good. And remember, it was only a poor referring decision in the Villa game that has probably stopped us being 9 points from 3 games.

In defence, things look ok. 4 good fullback and, once Thomas Vermaelen gets fit, 3 solid centrebacks. With Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertersacker proving themselves to be the best centreback pairing in the Premier League. With Sagna providing an able deputy as 4th choice centreback, the question is would we be able to get in someone who is:

a) Better than Sagna
b) Would be happy being 4th choice
c) Not cost an arm and a leg

We saw with the signing of Sebastien Squillaci that it is now always easy buying a 4th choice centreback. They can be a costly failure if they become mistake ridden. That is why we are perhaps better sticking with Sagna. Especially as Flamini and Ramsey can both cover full back in an emergency.

What might be the most exciting news of the transfer window is Mesut Ozil. He is rumoured to of landed in London this morning, with a deal already agreed with Real Madrid. There seems to be a reluctance for him to leave Real Madrid, and Arsenal is a step down. You get the feeling Arsene Wenger will have to sell the club and the future well to him.

I also would not be surprised if, upon hearing that Ozil is available, Manchester United try to hijack the bid. This could lead to a bit of a domino effect, as it would surely mean Kagawa then comes available. He may well end up back at Germany. Schalke could be the best option outside of Dortmund and Bayern Munich. That then free’s up Julian Draxler to join Arsenal.

And with Jaun Mata and Angel Di Maria also reportedly available, there are plenty of options if the Ozil deal does not happen.

Two things are for certain. Firstly today will be an exciting day for us Arsenal fans. Secondly, 1 Nil and we spent Fuck All.

Have a good transfer deadline day

Keenos

Why Tottenham will still be in Arsenal’s shadow this season

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There have been a lot of envious green eyes pointed in a north-easterly direction at that lot up the road this summer. The sole reason behind this is the near £90m they have spent on incoming transfers, whilst Arsenal have spent just £0m.

True, our transfer window has not gone well with our only signing being that of Postman Sanogo. However, rest assured that there is NOTHING to worry about, and infact their transfer window this summer is reminiscent to our transfer window in the summer of 2012.

Gareth Bale is leaving Tottenham this summer. The deal is done. Both parties are keeping quiet. Spurs recently signed an agreement with Real Madrid this summer. The agreement is akin to being a loser and becoming Facebook friends with the school quarterback. However, the agreement is currently helping Spurs.

By not completing the Gareth Bale deal early, Real Madrid are allowing Tottenham to get in their replacements in without yet having to pay inflated prices. How else could they afford to spend near £90m once the Willian deal is done?

And they have bought his replacements. In has come Brazilian international’s Paulinho and Willian, France international Ettiene Capoue and Spanish international Roberto Soldado. Or when I say ‘internationals’, they have 38 caps between them, despite all being 25+.

In 2012, Arsenal sold Robin Van Persie. Like with Tottenham, we bought our replacements before letting him go. In came Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukasz Podolski. Yet we as Arsenal fans were not happy. We had let go our star player, and whilst we were happy with the players coming in, we failed to get true quality to replace the Dutchman.

You see, like Gareth Bale, Robin Van Persie is a special player. Like Theirry Henry. Cristiano Ronaldo. He has the special ability to create something out of nothing. To win a game on his own. How many points did Arsenal get through a bit of individual magic from Van Persie or Henry? How many did Manchester United get through Ronaldo? And, whilst Bale is not on these 3’s level, how many points did Tottenham get through Gareth Bale last season?

He scored 22 goals, and was top scorer by 11 league goals (Jermaine Defoe second with 11). But what for his stats:

  • Tottenham WITH Bale: 2 points per game
  • Tottenham WITHOUT Bale: 1.1 ppg
  • Tottenham WITH Bale Scoring: 2.6 ppg
  • Tottenham WITHOUT Bale Scoring: 1.3 ppg

Gareth Bale is an individual match winner. The statistics show it. And like Robin Van Persie, it is his consistency that takes him up a level. A player like Willian scores a ‘worldie’ 2 or 3 times a season. Soldado is like Oliver Giroud. Good in the 6 yard box, but will create little for himself. And Paulinho and Capoue are hard working midfielders.

By losing Bale, they not only lose his wonder goals. They lose his consistency. And that is very hard to replace. As Arsenal showed getting in Cazorla, Podolski & Giroud, you might be able to strengthen the over all team, but football game’s are won in moments. And if you lose the man who has the most moments, you will undoubtedly be worse off.

Last season, Robin Van Persie scored a lot of key goals for Manchester United. Everytime it seems he was either scoring the equaliser, the winner, or the 1st goal. He could of been doing that for Arsenal. Gareth Bale was doing much the same at Spurs. Often scoring the key goal in the match. With freightening consistency.

With Bale (all but) gone, I do not foresee any of the current Spurs side replacing his consistency. Yes, Willian will have his moments. As will Lennon. As will Adebayor & Defoe (if they keep them – more later), but Bale had 15 or so games last season where he had moments where he dragged Tottenham forward. They will miss that.

A Spurs fan recently said to me ‘I actually think Spurs have bought in some proven quality.’ I do not know what he was smoking over their, but his definition of proven quality is very different to mine.

Roberto Soldado – A striker who was bombed out of Real Madrid for just €4 million who can not get in the Spanish team ahead of Fernando Torres (14 league goals in the past 2 years). Yes, he might of got 24 league goals last season. But Lionel Messi got 46. Big John Hartson once got 25 league goals for Celtic!

Ettiene Capoue – Once on Arsenal’s radar, if he was so good, why didn’t Arsenal buy him? Or Newcastle? He has 7 caps for France at 25. Diaby has 16 (although when did Diaby turn 27???)

Paulinho – Some no mark from Brazil who was so good that when playing in Lithuania, his side got relegated and, after a ‘single successful; season’ in Poland, so many top European sides were after him that he went back to Brazil. Lets be honest, all everyone has seen of him was against England in a friendly. 25 and only just making his ‘big money’ move to Europe? OK.

Willian – Another Brazilian, who was so good that he followed other brilliant Brazilians into Europe playing for the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk & Anzhi Makhachkala. Elano MKII

Big fee’s does not mean you are buying top quality. Just ask David Bentley (Similar fee to Paulinho), Gervinho (Similar fee to Capoue), Shevchenko (Similar fee to Soldado) and Veron (Simialr fee to Willian).

And then we have the players Tottenham have let go. Their 4 top scorers last year were:

Gareth Bale – 22
Jermaine Defoe – 11
Clint Dempsey – 7
Emmanuel Adebayor – 5

Now Dempsey has already gone. Bale is on his way. And Spurs will reportedly listen to bids for Jermaine Defoe. that leaves them with just Emmanuel Adebayor. Who some quarters say might also be off (but is unlikely too due to high wages.) That leaves Spurs trying to find 39 goals in comparison to last season. They only scored 66. And there incoming players?

Soldado – 24
Paulinho – 7
Capoue – 7
Willian – 3

Now many will be surprised about Willian. You would think he had more. Well great goals are always remembered. To think, some stil lthink Cheick Tiote has a great shot because he scored a banger v us. That to date is still the only goal he has scored in what is now his 4th season at Newcastle.

Anyway, that was a side note. There incoming players scored 40 league goals last season. But the difference is they were scored in easier leagues to score in (Brazil, Russia/Ukraine, Spain, France). And take into account Capoue had only scored 5 league goals previous, and all of last years came from corners (so only him or Vertonghen can score).

Yes, Spurs have spent a lot of money. Yes, they have a bit more quality in some areas (Paulinho & Capoue are a step up from Parker and Huddlestone) but what they now lack is the start quality. And it is that star quality which gets you into the title race. It is that star quality which spurs now lack which means they are still not as good as us. Arsenal went backwards last season when they lost their game changer. Spurs will go backwards this once Bale is wearing the white of Real Madrid.

Whilst some might say Spurs have ‘strengthened’ simply having more expensive players in their squad does not mean they are stronger.

Let me take you back to my original thoughts. In the summer of 2012, Arsenal sold Robin Van Persie, but signed Santi Cazorla, Lukasz Podolski & Olivier Giroud. Had we moved #forward? Were we #Stronger? Were you happy? If the answer to all is NO, then why are you worrying about that lot up the Seven Sisters Road?

Keenos