How I see it as well.

Rex wrote:

It was more a case of Gervinho not being able to cope. As a manager it is just smart to not select a player who can't perform, for one reason or another. Wenger has been getting abuse up and down the country for 17 years - I think he can cope just fine.

Sorry if it wasn't clear. I meant Gervinho folding under the criticism.

Just need to look at Ramsey. These are the characters you want in a top team.

Plenty of players aren't 'up' to being Arsenal players. It doesn't mean the home crown should collectively turn on them. They did it on Ramsey too and it was disgraceful. Meanwhile they sing Giroud's name every game. Let's not pretend there's some form of consistency or fair criticism going on here. People are just being assholes.

We have priced out the supporters who will stand behind the team no matter what. Tourist atmosphere for tourist prices. Can't argue with what they choose to do after paying through the nose.

I am amazed people sing Giroud's name. I can't seem to go a whole game without wanting to smash something because of that oaf.
I am guessing it is because he can't be faulted for effort on the pitch, and he comes across as a nice guy off the pitch.

Only reason Giroud has had a bit of an easy ride is because last year he was brand new and this year the team have been mostly winning. In the ground he gets slagged off plenty, but as we've been doing pretty well its not gone as far as open hostility. Yet.

He works his nuts off on the pitch. Can't remember Chamakh getting slagged off too much either for this reason.

So why were people getting on Gervinho's back then? He too was a hard worker. In truth, too many people need a scape goat. They identify one, and then the mass psychosis in a group of dimwits does the rest.

Think the Bradford miss is what sealed it for him. Crowd was never fully behind him, even when he was scoring, but always ambivalent at best because he would lose the ball dribbling a lot. (Which he still does as much by the way.) But after that Bradford miss, that's the image people retained.

You get more leeway to be shit in a winning/table topping team

What happened to Roma and their new messiah Gervinho?

Rex wrote:

So why were people getting on Gervinho's back then? He too was a hard worker. In truth, too many people need a scape goat. They identify one, and then the mass psychosis in a group of dimwits does the rest.

Don't know where this idea that the 'crowd was massively against him' has really come from. Most players who play terribly get abuse from the stands, that's just how it is. Don't think he was ever booed, the worst it got would have been the huge groans every time he missed a sitter. He kept missing sitters, so he would have heard a lot of groans. That seemed to affect him eventually, but I don't think anyone should blame the crowd for his inability to shoot.

Balotelli wins it for Milan

What a goal!!!

Unreal goal from Balotelli to win it late for Milan. Fucking hit.

That's some goal!

If we can't get Cavani, this guy has to be an Arsenal player next season.

Love his casual reaction afterwards too. 🙂

You know, Klaus, I have been told that Balotelli is barely better than Giroud. 🙂

17 days later

No comments on Milan vs Juve ? 😉

FT Milan 0-2 Juve

Switched it off after Juve's 2nd goal, the scoreline was so undeserved at that point. Conte is a coward, still parks the bus against the big teams despite having a far better team than everyone else.

Pirlo had a mare, but to be fair to him, Milan had Poli (very good at pressing) on him for most of the match. It was a good tactical move by Seedorf; Poli normally plays on the right but he moved him to the AM role to man mark Pirlo (Juve's chief conductor) and Juve really struggled in midfield.

Juve were very effective, they sucker punched Milan with a well worked 1st goal. Tevez had a hand in the 1st goal (he's quite good at playing those sort of passes in the box) and scored from a cracking long range strike.

I'm still baffled why we never even attempted to sign Tevez in the summer. We were short of quality in attack and one of the best forwards in the PL was available for peanuts - twas a no brainer . We could have easily signed him and have enough money left for a top striker (Suarez) or a playmaker (Ozil).

City wouldn't have sold him to us.

I missed the game but saw the highlights afterwards. Not much to add really; Juve excel at this type of football. I find it dull and boring personally but you gotta admire their defence. I think I like what Seedorf is doing with Milan though. If he can sell some of the duds and bring in a couple of players in the summer they will be back in the top next year.

Taraabt has looked really good for them from what i've seen. They have a pretty decent midfield to work with although its held together completely by Montolivo. Their central defence is shambolic though. Need 2 centre halves and a keeper too maybe.

@[deleted]

Do you think City saw us as a threat before we signed Ozil?

Yeah also like what I have seen of Milan since Seedorf took over despite results not always going their way. Question is though, will Milan back him in the summer? Their current squad is nowhere good enough to compete at the highest level.

Taarabt seems to have taken the move really well - understands that its not all on him as there's other WC players in the squad, but provided freedom to express himself due to Seedorf's management.

Oddly always like him as a player so I'm excited its working out.

Armor wrote:

Taraabt has looked really good for them from what i've seen. They have a pretty decent midfield to work with although its held together completely by Montolivo. Their central defence is shambolic though. Need 2 centre halves and a keeper too maybe.

He was boss last night. Rami is decent, no? But I agree with you they should bring in 2 good CBs.

What about the fullbacks? Emanuelson is decent going forward but he's very suspect defensively. Never been a fan of Abate. De Seglio is talented but he isn't developing well. Still very young though

Rami isn't great but ye they need a left back a lot more. Think Abate is off (?) so De Sciglio can play on that side.

Inter have confirmed Vidic is joining. Thought Mazzari did a great job at Napoli but his Inter team are a weird side. Vidic should be a good signing though.

12 days later

12 points ahead of Roma, ridiculous. Another Bundesliga

Told you chaps 4/5 on Juventus was brilliant value.

The other 2 bets i advised look certainties as well - Arsenal for top 4 and Chamberlain to go to the world cup at 7/4. And i didn't even get a word of thanks, pfft

16 days later

Di Natale is one goal behind Alessandro Del Piero and Giuseppe Signori in the all time top scorer's league for Serie A, by the way. They're both joint 8th. The smart money is on him surpassing them in the next few weeks.

I'm not sure people appreciate how difficult that kind of feat is when you're playing for a two-bob team like Udinese.

Yeah but he's been playing in a shite league for 37 years

He didn't start playing when he was zero years old tbf.

Didn't even become a regular goal scorer until his 30's.

He's good yes.

I was just pointing out what a pony league serie a is

16 days later

Comfortable win for Milan against Livorno. Their 5th victory on the bounce, which is their longest win sequence since 2011 (I think).

Balotelli was the man for Milan with a goal and 2 assists, the nutter does have an eye for a pass. I reckon he could be great playing off a striker.

Luca Toni with another goal today, that's 18 in total, which is a goal less than the leading scorer Immobile.

Fair play to Klaus for tipping Toni as a potential top scorer at the start of the season. I personally couldn't see it at the time (even though I didn't respond to his post).

11 days later

One of the greatest ever, no doubt.