Fulham 1-0 Arsenal - 23/08/08 - (Premier League) 24 August, 2008
Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News.trackback
Oh dear, oh dear.
What an awful display. There’s no getting away from it, we were terrible. It was waiting to happen really. We’d seen it against Twente and West Brom but this was really bad.
There’s not really much you can say about the game to be honest. We did nothing but gave the ball away, defended badly and lacked any creation up front.
We started with almost the team I expected, except Toure did start ahead of Djourou. The early stages of the game were great. It was he first away game of the season and the fans were in full voice in the east stand behind the goal. I was loving it; this is what I had missed.
On the pitch though it was a different story. We were finding it really hard to get going, but that can be forgiven in the opening few minutes; you have to allow time for the players to find their feet. But they never did.
With 20 minutes gone we had a really good chance to open the scoring, against the run of play. Walcott crossed it in, Nasri missed it but it went straight into the path of van Persie. He was in a great position but he lashed it wide.
A minute later we went behind.
Toure was turned as if he weren’t even there by by Zamora. However he did well to go back after him and slid in conceding a corner. He never should’ve been beaten so easily though; Zamora went past him so easily, awful defending by Toure.
From the corner we showed more bad defensive work when we allowed Bullard to swing in a corner right to the feet of Hangeland to put it in from about 3 yards out.
Look at that picture. What the fuck is Denilson doing? He’s got his back to the ball? And Gallas! He’s nowhere near the man he is supposed to be marking, Hangeland who is on the floor just after he’s poked the ball into the net. Almunia is stranded, nothing he can really do about it from that sort of range, he’s expecting his defenders to clear the danger. You might argue that he should’ve come out.
So, we’re 1-0 down to Fulham with 70 minutes to sort it out. No problem, yeah?
We nearly equalised straight away when Sagna crossed it in from the right. Adebayor rose and met it well but his header came off the post. That was the closest we came to scoring all game.
The first half was becoming more and more frustrating and I just wanted half time to come in the end. I’d had enough of watching us do nothing. I was hoping Wenger would get them in at the break and sort them out.
However it was much of the same shit in the second half. There was no urgency, no creation, and no real quality to be honest. In the centre of the park we had Denilson and Eboue and it wasn’t working. Denilson had an awful game, must’ve passed it to more Fulham players than Arsenal players all game, literally. He was so bad he made Eboue seem good but in truth he was another nothing player. Wouldn’t have noticed if he weren’t on the pitch.
As the game went on…well it was exactly the same. In fact Fulham found more confidence and were having a go at getting a second. They seemed more urgent than us anyway.
With 65 minutes gone Wenger finally realised a change needed to be made. Theo Walcott came off for Bendtner and we went 4-3-3. Theo had another poor game. He looks a totally different player from last season, and it’s not just this game, in all three matches this season he’s been no good. Last year he would take people on, run at them, use his pace and show some imagination. That was exactly what was needed yesterday but he showed none of that.
10 minutes later Toure was replaced by Song at the back.
With Bendtner on, we were finally starting to show some urgency. Someone had told them that they had been an embarrassment and that we were losing 1-0 to Fulham with 10 minutes to go. Our full backs were carrying the ball well up the flanks but I just felt every time they crossed it in I knew nothing was going to happen.
I just didn’t feel there was anyone on the pitch who could do anything to score. When the board went up showing 4 minutes of extra time there was a roar from the Arsenal fans. Not me though, I just thought it was just delaying the inevitable, we weren’t going to create anything.
So we lost one nil and that was that.
After the game Wenger admitted we weren’t good enough. Which is a start. Yes the players weren’t good enough. There were a few players that had really bad games, a few which had completely anonymous performances and then two or three who you couldn’t really complain too much about. I’m not going to name names because I think it’s really obvious.
I do want to highlight one person though. The manger. He said we weren’t good enough, which is true but maybe he should take a look in the mirror. Our squad is so incredibly thin and everyone knows it. Why the fuck hasn’t he signed anyone?!
Is he lazy? No I don’t think so. Have we not got any money? Yes, we do have money to spend. Is there no one out there available? No, there are plenty on players who we can buy.
Arsene Wenger has had months and months to sort this out. This year we’ve lost Diarra, Flamini and Gilberto. He’s known for fucking ages that we’ve needed a signing so why hasn’t he done it? Is he just trying to prove a point that you don’t need to buy anyone and you can constantly use youngsters? OK, he’s signed Aaron Ramsey. Yes he’s a promising star but he’s nowhere near the standard needed yet. One for the future.
We need someone for now. Without Cesc Fabregas we are nothing. And who have we got to partner him? Denilson who couldn’t even kick a football right yesterday. Alex Song? Still unproven and developing. Eboue is certainly not an option.
We need to buy. There’s no point in me repeating it over and over again but it’s so blatant. I’m glad this has happened now, rather than a month or so down the line. Arsene Wenger has one week left to sort this out and at least fill that one void.
Frankly, I’m not the biggest fan of Arsene Wenger right now. It’s not just from this game. It’s something that’s been building up for a while now. I have been very patient this summer but it just seems like Wenger has no intentions in the transfer market. One week to change that Arsene. Just do it.
Right, rant over. Sorry about that. Speak to you in the week,
I agree, we really should have bought someone. Marco Senna, Alonso, even Gatusso. What we really need is Patrick Viera from 2000. I just want a player to tackle and foul people in the middle of the pitch. These past few games really show how important Flamini was. No one has said a word about Hleb leaving, its all Flamini.
Being behind the goal with the Arsenal fans for me was also fantastic. And that was it. Shame we had to play a football match because that totally ruined my day. But Arsene won’t sign anyone - either there is no money, he is blind to the team’s inadequacies or he genuinely believes we have enough quality when all the players are fit. Surely it must be the former option because you don’t have to be a fucking genius to see the flaws in this team. Chelsea played shit today and won at a canter; I was watching Wigan and thinking they would score three or four against us. Unless something changes, we are more stuffed than an aubergine. I have never seen a team go backwards as quickly as Arsenal have gone backwards.
I’m sure most Gooners are feeling the same frustration… We desperately need to strengthen our DM position, and that is not win to any titles, but to at least be sufficiently competitive and hold on to a CL spot. We will need at least another creative outlet plus a commanding centre half in order to seriously challenging for the title. (Silvestre is not the answer. He is here to give extra training for our medical team).
It was painful to see our midfielder being overwhelm by Bullard-Murphy. They are at most decent. But ours is just damn pathetic. Never mind the team from the Big Four, we’ll struggle with the likes of Aston Villa and Middlesborough.
AW, just f**king BUY! The Club has too much pride and history to be trashed around by teams like Fulham!
Just to add another thought…
Has the promise of starting game cause Theo to lost that extra edge and drive that we saw at the end of last season?
And now there’s this Djourou to Rennes story?!?!?!
At this stage, knowing how crap our so-called first choice CB pairing is, if Wenger pulls this tint, he can pack his bags and f-off himself.
It’s unfortunate that he feels worse about ruining his youngsters futures rather than the clubs one.
His plan of bringing youths through the ranks cannot possibly succeed. He should at least bring in some experienced replacements.
what the hell is going on with our beloved arsenal. If Arsene doessn’t wake up real soon we can kiss our season goodbye. The frustration from these poor performances have been incresing and it was inevitable that we would lose a match sooner rather than later
where to start: watching this game i saw no presence in midfield what so ever, we barely got any tackles from our midfielders. gallas shows that he is not worthy of being a captain. our team had no flow what so ever. we did not have any plays being made. all we saw were long balls to adebayor, which got us no where.
adebayor: didnt get the ball in good enough positions to do anything:
van persie: looks match fir, but is not sharp at all.
walcott: useless. seems like he learns from eboue with his diving, and attempts at cutting in field. he should stick with running in straight lines down the flanks, which he didnt do at all.
denilson: worst performance ever. couldnt put one pass on our boots. gave it to fulham player almost everytime. didnt make any tackles in the field.
eboue: had potential to be a def. mid but proved wrong. tried to be offensive, didnt show any signs of his defensive skills what so ever, and did shit.
nasri: he didnt play to well as he had no support, and no one to feed it to. held on to the ball as he could, but had no vision.
defence: was ok in general, aside from the shite taht gallas pulled. no dedication or will to want that ball, as he let the defender walk right through him.
wenger: where was vela in the squad? terrible subs selection. shoul’ve had vela on the bench. put him on the left, moved nasri to the right when he pulled out walcott. so first mistake was not having vela there. secondly why out on song for toure????? song shoulda replaced denilson. ultimatley, after his first sub and changes with bentdner, and shifting vanp in the middle, song shoulda played behind van p instead on denilson.
this was a terrible performance. we saw that we have no depth, grit, creativity in midfield without cesc and with the lose of flammster. we need a couple of midfield additions NOW. as for the defence, well maybe silvestre will play better along gallas, but gallas is surely not worthy of the captains band, and toure should be in the starting XI for sure.
what a dissapointment..another cupless year as we see first hand what we are with the lack of just 1 vital player…
YOU GUYS WHO WRITE, PLEASE MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE WORLD THAT SOMETHING FISHY IS HAPPENING AT ARSENAL. WENGER IS OVER CONFIDENT ABOUT HIS OWN ABILITY TO THE POINT THAT HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN BUYING A GOOD PLAYER (but Hopeful players). THE PLAYERS BELIEVE THEY ARE SO SUPER THAT THEY DON’T NEED TO FIGHT OR SCORE WITHOUT ADDING SALT OR SUGAR TO IT. THE BOARD ARE SO SECURE THAT THEY CAN PROMISE EVERYTHING TO THE MANAGER, INCLUDING A JOB FOR LIFE. As I see it now, it is better for Arsenal to be sold.
If he not buy 2good players one in defence and in midfield we are going to finsh in the midel of the tabel .Wengr not talk to much abaut the youngs and he start to give them to anathers teams .it is fanny this.
I understand all the frustration, I am fucking frustrated too that we played so damn poor last night. But please fucking stop saying that Wenger has to go, WTF!!!
I said it many times and I’ll say it again: He’s the best we ever had and he will always be the best manager in the club’s history. He brought us so many trophies that 3 trophy-less seasons and we are now chanting his exit. This is so fucking unfair to the fucking genius.
Fuck, he managed the only undefeated team in the new era, who can achieve that? And who gave those players; Viera, Henry, Pires, Cole, etc…………. a chance? Yes, it’s the same person you guys are talking shit about.
I want him to buy, true, but to be honest, unlike most of Arsenal fans right now, I (still) believe in these players. Yes, last night was shit. But our midfield was so thick with injuries. If Gerrard and Ronaldo get long-term injuries, Man U and Liverpool will play like shit too. AND WENGER SAID HE WILL BRING IN ONE MORE PLAYER. But stop playing Eboue at midfield please, this is the only thing I can’t support.
FUCK Flamini and Hleb, those two can enjoy their low period in their footballing career from now on. I don’t miss them one bit.
Denilson was so damn poor last night, but he showed us many times that he could become a great player, I happened to think that he just got a really bad bad partner for the time being.
I am and will alwyas be an Arsenal supporter for life. WENGER gave us so many highs, more than any other manager but Fergie to Man u fans.
So get behind him, we don’t know what he really thinks but I am fucking sure he does want to win and win not less than any of us.
I hate losing to Fulham but you’ll be fucking sorry if these players win a trophy with these rash words you used on OUR players today.
To MO;
Read Wenger’s words closely and you’ll know why Vela is not in the squad
—–He just got back from MEXICO playing a damn useless friendly game on friday evening! (he left last Sunday) And the only player in training during the week for us was DENILSON, the rest were gone for their countries or injuries. Not an excuse but just to point out a few things.
Apart from fabregas and maybe rosicky that was our strongest team we put out last night and we really were shit, what have we got to look forward to this season if that was the best we could produce with virtually our strongest team. Are we so reliant on fab that we cant even beat a team like fulham when he’s absent. I’m afraid that unless arsene spends some serious tin before next week we are all in for a very long season, alonso or barry aint gonna change much either, we need a world class centre half and an out and out goalscvorer, we look abysmal at the back apart from the 2 full backs, and i have lost all faith in adebeyor and van persie, as for bendtner, well he will never be a 30 goals a season man. Wengers lost the plot, that ruthless edge has gone and his tactics just dont add up, i.e eboue in midfield with denilson. Arsene has done fantastically well but all managers have a sell by date
We will have Alonso by the end of next week…
fucking no hope of getting Alonso
We’ve done it again; we’ve yet again let a good, experienced player go at least one season too early. What really get’s me mad is that we were unwilling to give a World Cup winning MIDFIELDER a two year contract because he is 31 and yet we did exactly that to a crocked up Man Ure reject defender! Just think what Gilberto could have done for us that game and at least for half this season? With him in midfield I could at least hope for a miracle season like last season’s fluke but now it’s obvious we’ll be lucky to get 4th. Van Basten for manager!
I think our squad is currently great but we collapse on Saturday because of a hole in midfield. Bad midfield changes everything.
Denilson and Eboue was the main problem that match. Wenger is a brilliant manager but I don’t know why he likes to play Eboue. He is crap, and if we play him let him be a right mid player or better, a benchwarmer. We are currently nothing without Fabregas.
AW better sign a central midfielder who can defend, and also makes good chemistry with Fabregas. Frankly Wenger signed a bunch of midfielder players this summer, Ramsey, Bischoff, bringing in Wilshere from the reserves, but it’d take some time before they turn into world class footballers.
Our squad is complete, if we are with one good central midfielder. A one who defends rather than attack is more preferable since we already have Fabregas. Diaby is OK but we need someone more experienced.
Alonso is perfect. Think about it, he plays central midfield with Fabregas in Spain, and he is a DM in Liverpool. And since Liverpool wants Barry so much, let them have it, I’d much prefer Alonso than Barry.
It’s time for Arsene to spend. He has been saving so much money but for what?
Of course they are players other than Alonso, like Gökhan Inler or Jeremy Toulalan. But I think Alonso would be the perfect fit.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
And Wenger, shock us but don’t disappoint us. Luckily Silvestre wasn’t the last signing he mentioned or I’d be really frustrated.
Is anyone really suprised.We have the weakest squad out pf the top 4.I really do think Wenger believes a team with Toure/Gallas as centre backs and Denilson and Eboue in midfield is good enough to win the title.Whenever i say to my Chelski supporting mates at work how great a manager Wenger is they say “If he is that good how come he picks a player like Eboue?”and i cant answer them.This team will finish 4th because the teams below us are poor but we have no chance of winning the title this season or the next 5 unless we stwrt spending the same money as Chelasi and Man Utd and that means changing the board
I gotta agree with The Saint. Gilberto could of made such a huge difference in that game. Shouldn’t of let him go. Everyone is going a bit over the top with the doom and gloom stuff. If we are outside the top four come december, thats when I will be worried.
I’m with nz gunner.
As I said, we re not fucking man u or Chelsea so don’t expect the same. I m happy we re not like them, buying success is never our way and never will be, fuck, everyone of us should be pround if that.
I agreed that our team doesnt LOOk as strong as others. But that doesnt mean we won’t win anything. And losing 1 game is causing so much rants about wenger I can’t believe it.
Post#18
I got answers you can take to ur friends.
Wenger is great because
a: he won us 7 major tropies and two unlucky second place in Europe.
b. He’s the only manager who manage an unbeaten team in the new era.
c: he gave birth to countless average players to become superstars ad they are, was henry great at first? No.
d: he NEVER bought excessively yet still always produce great team.
e: his team is the best footballing side in the world.
f: he never rats out his players even when ungrateful bitches commented badly about him.
You people seem to forget the good times he bright us. Last year was no fucking fluke, and they re basically the same players with 1 addition to come.
Go support Chelsea if u re in a hurry. We have our standards and will stick to them. If we bear Newcastle 4-0 next week I wonder what people will say.
Stick with the team(and wenger) through good and especially bad times. Or don’t call yourself a fucking gunner.