Mails: When did Arsenal’s decline truly begin?

A lovely Mailbox. Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.

The real turning point for Arsenal
Okay so I didn’t want to be the only person NOT to contribute on our favorite English patient, Arsenal and where did it all go wrong. There was a wonderful quote many years ago from David Dein who, when out for dinner __with Arsene Wenger one night asked him ‘If I gave you 100m pounds what would you do __with it’…..without a second thought Arsene looked him in the eye and said matter-of-factly ‘ I would give it back to you’.

This sums up Arsene. This is the ‘Man from Japan’ who plucked Vieira and Petit out of obscurity, picked up Pires for a song and bought a struggling young Frenchman from Italy and turned him into the world class Thierry Henry. However this is also the man who spent 17.5m on Reyes, 42m on Ozil (is he really that good….consistently) and smashed another 90m on Xhaka (which I think is Latin for yellow card) and Mustafi who is decent but needs time.

Arsene’s strength has always been about picking up obscure talent and turning them into good players. In the past he had the time to do this and he also nicely timed when he sold players. Right now, patience has run out, he cannot seem to pick out any unpolished gems (more full priced cubic zirconias with a fancy band from Elizabeth Duke).

The turning point for me was selling Van Persie to Man Utd for 29m. He was a top player, on top form and to hand your rival such a player too early was madness. What was even more amazing was that he didn’t do anything to replace him and buy a marquee replacement…….

Another key factor to consider these days is that it’s no longer just ‘the big 2’ it’s the ‘fairly large 6’ (not very catchy I know but you get the idea…..) which means you can’t just finish 2nd any more, then it used to be top 4 by default but with 6 clubs it just doesn’t fit and hurts when you miss out……
Ian ‘uses inverted commas way too much’ Williams – LFC YNWA

Failing to see it
I’ve just finished Sarah Winterburn’s article about modern football and I felt the need to write in with a point I disagree about.

It was the part about the Huddersfield fans that I disagree with. I don’t see anything remotely racist about that abuse. It’s not pleasant, but not racist either.

Raheem Sterling is getting the same abuse as Pablo Zabaleta, who is white and Argentinian, and John Stones, who is white and English. I would put down “hitting him early” to him being fast, namely; he’ll be past you in a flash, so better get him early.

Later in the article Paul Ince is getting the same abuse as Robbie Savage, who is white and Welsh, and Chris Sutton who is white and English. I would put down calling him a “court jester” to him being an idiot.

I’m all for the campaign against racism, but I’m just failing to see any racism here.
Adam G, Tokushima, Japan

The response(s) to Mark
Let’s be fair Mark,

No one set of fans are angels. I in no way condone the homophobic chants against Chelsea but every club is guilty of this. Homophobia aside, to suggest that Liverpool are any worse than any other club is ridiculous.

The amount of chants that get aimed at Liverpool fans from opposition can be just as bad so in that sense your argument carries no merit. “Bin dippers” and “Feed the Scousers” are sung with gusto at Liverpool from opposition fans, ranging from Sunderland to Chelsea fans and that is also interpreted as in your words “epic Bantz.” Fowler was wrong. Homophobia is wrong. Nobody is debating that. The singing of “rent boys” at your fans is deplorable and I constantly find myself angry with fellow fans who go down that disgusting route.

What I take chagrin with is your “poor Chelsea” view. The outlook of blaming the “pure thuggery” of Liverpool fans regarding Heysel is correct in the sense of what it caused. The death of innocent football fans. Spare me the “banned the country from Europe for five years.” If you’re going to take a stand about morality, at least support your stand about what really counts, human life.

Regards,
Miguel Sanchez, LFC, Eire.

I’ve just read Mark Kelly’s letter, well Mark if you are going to get on your high horse about homophobic abuse lets also talk about the continuing anti-semitic at Stamford Bridge I witness year after year when visiting with Spurs.

You complain about a media blackout, well this topic is another that gets ignored and takes place slightly more often than twice a year.

If you are going to condemn one form of abuse then you need to be consistent and condemn them all, or it is just “bantz” when it concerns Chelsea fans and Tottenham.

It’s frankly about time all forms of abuse were tackled rather than the look the other way attitude which persists throughout football.
ST, COYS

With regard to Mark Kelly’s mail on ‘Chelsea Fans Deserve Sympathy Too…’ I get the impression Mark has some issue with Liverpool fans, have they invaded your personal space, and have you chosen to be offended, do you need a hug?!

For reference Mark, all football clubs have d**kheads as supporters, even Chelsea (some even have a d**khead as manager!!!).

I know my team Liverpool have more than their fair share. The specific chants you refer to are distasteful and have no place in life never mind football stadiums but in the main but they do go both ways and should be stamped out but this is a wider society issue and not just a football issue. It also doesn’t help when the Rag, sorry Red Tops and Sky Sports take every opportunity to remind ‘fans’ of teams they need to dislike or even hate the opposing team.
Nick Dublin

 

Football without fans
In true international break fashion, I’d like to consider a totally unrealistic, yet terrifyingly plausible, alternative footballing reality. While the Wenger in/out argument raged on last week after the West Brom defeat there was one agreement that stood firm throughout – there can be no football without fans. But actually, and a few leaps are taken here of course, could there be?

Okay, now picture this… Through a combination of killing each other off in the stands, stressing themselves into straitjackets and generally melting out of existence though a life of sterile repetition, Arsenal fans become a dying breed. The board see ever increasing numbers of empty seats at the Emirates and decide action must be taken.

Based on the obviously sound financial logic that ticket sales revenue is relatively irrelevant anyway, it does what any other corporate behemoth would – It switches to a far more profitable revenue stream, in total disregard of the common man. All the seats are ripped out [bar the required away end allocation, damn rules] and in their place magnificent digital advertising boards are installed throughout the stadium. The executive boxes are tripled in size to accommodate their new corporate supporters, who bask in the glow of the newly nicknamed ‘Times Square Stadium’, chuckling self-importantly to each other about massive global exposure.

With now vastly unparalleled match day revenue, Arsenal Football Club is by far the richest in the league, able to buy all the best players and pay them completely unmatchable wages – Thus keeping native and global neutral viewership high though displays of exciting, top-level football and a general desire to see the all-powerful ultra-mercenaries defeated.

In due time, the perceived and widely criticised lack of a post-Wenger contingency plan is debunked in the unveiling of Kroenke’s greatest investment yet – Wenger eternal – Yes, he’s had the Futurama quirk, the ‘head in a jar’ creation, made a reality… Therefore guaranteeing at least 4th place and a spot in the last 16 of the champions league for eternity, onwards.

‘You’ve got no fans’ chant the away supporters, but their mocking jeers fall on rich, uncaring ears…
Joe, AFC, Manchester [Now, isn’t that a fun future to ponder going into the weekend?!]

Questions for the top six, questions for the bottom five, and now questions for the middle nine
Everton – Where do they finish? Their season could finish in the Champions League or, just as unlikely, out of Europe. They’ve got a fixture list that makes the answer a little uncertain.

What’s Lukaku going to be like? He’s been banging them in but he’s also not signing a new contract. Does he keep it up knowing he might be gone next year?

Do the youngsters get more chances? Holgate’s definitely going to get games for unfortunate reasons but what of the rest? Will Calvert-Lewin, Lookman and Davies continue to be used to phase out Valencia, Mirallas and Barry?

West Brom – At what point do the deck chairs come out? They will probably find it difficult to leave 8th; at what point do they stop caring?

Will Rondon Score? There was a time this site was singing his praises. Unfortunately he hasn’t scored this year and he’s in danger of losing his place to Robson-Kanu. Will he find his goal scoring touch again or will he be in danger of being a forgotten man by next season?

Stoke – Will they get back to playing well at set pieces? They’ve conceded more from set pieces than at any other point since returning to the Premier League this shouldn’t happen to a team that had Pulis in their DNA for so long.

Will the style come back? Speaking of the Pulis, the reason he left was so they would start playing stylish football. They did that last year, even in games against the likes of Man United, but this year they’ve reverted to parking the bus and hoping for the best. Their usual top 10 spot looks secure; will they become a bit more all action?

Southampton -Who will they discover next? It’s almost time for the annual fire sale to Liverpool but it’s also clear that Southampton have stayed at the top by having a supply line that produces more than they lose. Jack Stephens has already stepped up in defence but is there some other 18-year-old we haven’t heard about yet who’s going to be a major player for Liverpool by 2020 or sold by Jose by 2021?

Bournemouth – What was the point of Ibe and Wilshere? OK it’s a bit harsh on Jack, but he was expected to start a lot more games. He’s played a lot from the bench which won’t help his chances of securing a new and bigger gig and I thought some genius said Ibe would be a better player than Sterling. I’m still waiting and there ain’t long to go this season.

West Ham – Will the team keep Slaven in a job? When the owners start apologising to the fans and saying the team needs to do more you know you’re in trouble. Slaven knows his team has to get it right soon or he might not be in the job in six months.

Burnley – Are they ever going to win away? Middlesborough, Everton, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. That’s two teams that need points at home to stay up, a team who don’t lose at home and a team playing their last game in front of their home fans. Good luck guys.

Watford – Has Mazzarri done enough? The last guy had them safe around February and got up to 45 points, a point tally they will achieve only by winning half their games from now till year end. Are his facial expressions during games going to be enough to keep the Pozzo family from getting rid?

Leicester – How long can this new Manager bounce go? They’ve won every game since Shakespeare took over can they win enough to get back into the top 10?

Will they win the champions league ? – Well they are still there can the fairy tale continue?

Timi
MUFC

Big Weekend‘s little brother
Leicester City-Stoke City. After the Merseyside derby, the most intriguing game of the round. Before the international break, Stoke played well against Manchester City and Chelsea, but those were mainly rearguard actions. Now they’re up against a team that’s on their own level, but difficult to beat at home, and have to be ready to attack. Does Mark Hughes return to the usual 4-2-3-1, or stay with both Jonathan Walters and Saido Berahino, matching Leicester’s 4-4-2 with one of this own? For the Foxes, Craig Shakespeare is trying to join Pep, José, Guus, and Carlo as Premier League managers who won their first four games. He may have to do without Shinji Okazaki, who scored for Japan in their latest qualifier and then took a very long flight home. with a glut of games coming before the big one against Atlético, when and where does he start rotating his squad?

Stat: Leicester City have been fouled fewer times than any other team, 8.0 per game.

Swansea City-Middlesbrough. Boro desperately need a win, but a loss puts them in a near-impossible position. With points to be had in upcoming games against Hull (A), Burnley (H), and Sunderland (H), Steve Agnew may play it safe to start with. But Swansea’s defence is weak, so the aggressive approach has its merits too. So many decisions in the attack: Alvaro Negredo or Rudy Gestede? Adama Traoré against Kyle Naughton and/or Martin Olsson? Cristhian Stuani? Stewart Downing? Swansea were much too passive in their loss at Bournemouth, and Paul Clement has to recapture the energy of the previous weeks. Does he stay 4-5-1 with Gylfi Sigurdsson coming inside from the left, or put someone on that wing to challenge the weak point Antonio Barragán? Fernando Llorente will get the chance to go up against a side not the best in aerial defence.

Stat: Middlebrough’s 9.1 shots/game is the lowest since 2012-13, but from 2005-6 to 2012-13 at least one team in the league had an average equal to or lower than 9.1.

Hull City-West Ham. Managers in opposite situations. Even if Hull go down, management would love to keep Marco Silva. But Slaven Bilic has more or less been told his job depends on the next few games, with Roberto Mancini repeatedly rumoured to be pricing claret-and-blue scarves. With West Ham’s central defence severely depleted, the question is whether Silva will try a 3-5-2 with both Oumar Niasse and Abel Hernández, the duo that devastated Swansea in the final half hour. Both managers have to decide how to replace their midfield anchors, the suspended Tom Huddlestone and the injured Pedro Obiang. Is Kamil Grosicki’s creative potential more important right now than his lack of end product? Andy Carroll has been unable to shake his markers in the last three games, and Michail Antonio is out. Robert Snodgrass, against his old club, will be on the spot.

Stat: Very surprisingly, this season Hull City have played more minutes in close games (with the teams separated by no more than one goal) than any other side. Leicester City are last in this category.
Peter G, Pennsylvania, USA

Where is St Mary’s again?
Southampton played 12 games in the 39 days between 28 December and 4 February. In the 55 (FIFTY-FIVE for Teleprinter nostalgics) days since, we have played just 4. All away from home. Saints last home game was on the 4th of February, 8 long weeks ago. On Saturday, April Fool’s day, we will all hopefully remember how to get to the stadium in time for the big local derby with Bournemouth.

However, I guess, after a fashion, that we have had a winter break, although a little smoothing of the fixture list would nonetheless have been appreciated.
Rob, London

The Championship
For those who haven’t been following Newcastle sit on top of the championship, a point above Brighton and 7 above Huddersfield Town (they have a game in hand).

Its a shame that one of those teams has to go into the play-offs, they’ve each been on top at some point and played excellent football.

Its a been a tough season and thats still unpredictable as it reaches its end.

The PFMs won’t be happy about the prospect that a german might be winning the championship but David Wagner and his Huddersfield team still have an chance of doing it. They’ve already gone on long winning streaks before and I wouldn’t put it past them doing it again. David Wagner was rumoured to be joining Liverpools coaching staff as he managed Dortmunds reserve team while Klopp was still at Dortmund. He does remind me a bit of Klopp, wears a baseball cap, has a beard and glasses but its mostly the mental attacking and awful defence that does it. I genuinely believe hes a top manager and will be at a much bigger club sooner rather than later.

Chris Houghton’s Brighton side have looked pretty solid all season. I’ll be very happy to see Brighton promoted, the fans seem to be elated at the thought of going up and I’ve always thought of Chris Houghton as one of footballs nice guys. He has won it before but it would be nice for him to be in the premier league without having to deal with the rotund Mike Ashley.

Newcastle haven’t had it easy this time. The championship is much changed from the last time they were involved. Theres a lot more money and professionalism involved with clubs going after the premier league riches. Newcastle have been extremely fortunate to have Rafa Benitez in charge. He added a tremendous sense of optimism to the campaign and seems to be building a squad that will be competive for some time. There was the inevitable trouble with Ashley and Benitez. A failed transfer window and the usual penny pinching from Mike Ashley might see Benitez leave even if they get promoted.

On a side note; Leeds seem secure of a play off place, well done to Gary Monk!
Dev LFC

 

Michael Owen: Re-assessing the career of an incredible goalscorer

Klopp won’t blame Southgate for Lallana injury

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp does not blame England boss Gareth Southgate for Adam Lallana’s injury but he is not happy about losing his key midfielder for the Merseyside derby.

Lallana sustained a thigh injury during the win over Lithuania but still managed to play all 90 minutes, having completed just over an hour of the friendly meeting __with Germany four days previously.

Klopp has no issue __with Southgate, who called the Liverpool manager this week to explain his decision to field Lallana in the World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

However, he felt the 28-year-old did not need to feature in Dortmund just three days after the intense Premier League encounter with top-four rivals Manchester City.

“I think it is absolutely normal to have contact with the manager of the national team,” said Klopp.

“It is not about appreciating (the call) it is about the normal situation. We both share players.

“Of course I was not happy – someone said I was relaxed about the situation but I could not be less relaxed about this, but it is not about blaming Gareth Southgate.

“I was not happy that he played on Wednesday but it is not my decision and I respect 100 per cent the decisions of other managers because they have to respect my decisions, too.

“He (Lallana) made the line-up (against Germany) and he loves football that much he obviously didn’t say, ‘I should maybe wait another day’.

“I really think we could handle these situations better if we work together.

“As long as we do not work together we will have these situations all the time.”