Time to give Project Youth one last push, Arsene
By Avenell Dave
Hands up if you felt depressed at 6pm yesterday?
Yep, I think it's fair to say most Addicts thought that maybe, just maybe, Arsene Wenger would make it a clean sweep and address all the areas where Arsenal needed to strengthen this summer.
That the most important position that needed a new face, goalkeeper, was not addressed has brought out the worst in many Gooners I've seen commenting on blogs, texts and Twitter.
Did Arsenal believe that they would get Mark Schwarzer on the cheap? Did they not have a plan B?
We can but speculate. The truth is that, as far as Fulham has made out, we made two bids for him, one when Roy Hodgson was in charge and one with Mark Hughes as manager. Both were in the region of £2m and were rejected.
At 37 and the victim of a number of goal gluts at our hands for both Fulham and Boro, I've always had my doubts about Schwarzer as a significant improvement on what we have.
It was as much about having a new face as anything else, someone without the negative baggage our senior keepers have.
If it's true that we didn't bid again for him yesterday, that suggests we were either looking elsewhere or had decided to keep our cash.
It's easy to forget that paying off the capital debt overrides everything at Arsenal even if £5m on a quality keeper would have brought in more in terms of bums on seats, CL bonus payments etc.
Of course, Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Flapihandski both have challenges that they cannot overcome at Arsenal: the fans have lost faith in their ability to live up to the exacting standards expected of an Arsenal goalkeeper.
Both make unforced errors, both fail to command their box or organise their defence and both make questionable decisions that have cost us rather than won us points.
Look at that bunch down the road and you'd have to say that Almunia would probably be fourth choice and that underlines the problems we have.
Those idiots who now hope we do badly should take their ire and their bad will down the Seven Sisters Road and wish such ill on the north London team who deserve it most.
For the sane amongst us, we are in a quandary.
Can we seriously expect to win major prizes with Almunia in goal or Flapihandski between the sticks? It's not likely.
There were those who scratched their heads when George Graham dumped John Lukic, the first Arsenal goalkeeper in 18 yrs to play in a Championship winning team, for David Seaman.
It was about percentages and Graham knew that Seaman was that much better than Lukic. History proved him to be correct.
Wenger got it right with Jens Lehmann, even if he dumped him prematurely after a couple of mistakes.
That was Wenger at his most ruthless and it showed how tough he can be.
Flapihanski is simply not good enough and should be sent out on loan as soon as possible to get more experience and regain his confidence. And hopefully catch the eye of a new club.
As for Almunia, I think he's a decent guy who has conducted himself admirably in the face of his club looking to replace him.
May this be a spur for him to keep working and keep seeking to improve.
But if he doesn't, maybe this is a blessing in disguise - and Wojciech Szczesny should be given his chance to establish himself.
Wenger believes in Project Youth - now's his chance to prove it works once again.
DA
Reader Comments (13)
Depressed. OMG man-get a life! I am depressed because I have to wait two weeks to watch The Arsenal play! Enjoy what you have you BUNCH of whinging fuckers out there! You have never had it so lucky!!
i dont agree about "that lot down the road". they have gomez yes, but other than that his deputy was cudicini who on saturday made an absolute howler. i also recall gomez making more errors than almunia before last season
Have you seen the ages of our latest signings? Project Youth is just a rod to beat Wenger with, it's not a real thing.
So 'we' have lost faith in Almunia and Fabianski and need a change? The reason the club won't spend 5 million on change for the sake of change is because our supporters are absolute rubbish. The second the new keeper made a mistake 'we' would be on his back and need change for the sake of change again.
Honestly, our supporters are an embarassment. We don't deserve a club this well run :/
only depressed about the international break.
I fully agree that if project y doesn't deliver this seaon,it's time for a relook. That could be a mix of both y and imported players. The problem is Wenger who is too arrogant to scrap it if the gunners don't deliver.He would suffer a loss of face.
Perhaps the season may turn out well meaning the gunners win FA/Cl or epl trophies. Anyone will do.
If not Wenger's time is up and he shd go to RM.
exactly. wenger isn't good enough for arsenal, he should go to one of the little continental clubs that want him like real madrid and barcelona
C'mon guys, it's not that bad is it?
Check out my blog, offers an alternative view on the goalkeeping situation
http://cescandthecity.blogspot.com/2010/09/method-to-wengers-madness.html
Please dont call him Flappyhandski - its bloody disrespectful to an Arsenal player. If people say it in the comments I can accept that but not in the main article please.
I think Lehmann was let go becuase he was dividing the dressing room and I am sure wenger holds far more significance to things like this than actual mistakes on the pitch.
Almunia isn't that bad, and in many ways much better than Schwarzer. Flappy handski is the one we should be scared about, lets hope he's not the No.2 otherwise it could cost us. I don't understand why gooners are whinging now, lets get behind the team and Almunia and maybe we'll get lucky with injuries and actually win something?
too bloody negative - get a life man. almunia is well up to the task
Lay off Almunia.
He is probably just as good a keeper as Schwatzer is.
As for Fab, he is young but I think he will never make it being a top keeper FOR US, he will be a good premiership keeper for some other team.
Actually it could be a blessing in disguise that Schwatzer never came to us because of:
1: he is much older than Almunia, and would be on the slow decline. His injury record is terrible so we would have either Almunia or Fabianski in goal for a larger part of the season then wanted.
2: If the other two keepers keep playing shit, then Schzney has a chance to force his way in.
A Big OMG!!!
How about having some respect for all our players and not call them 'Flapianski and Flapmunia' for f*** sake.
We have to now get behind all our players and not be abusive or cheer loudly when they make a save it will only hinder them, the team and then us... thats when stupid spuds join in..
When Gomes was at PSV he made some real howlers and also some great saves, but if old twitchy can get the best out of him then Wenger can out of our keepers.
So just show some respect will you, nothing good comes of it!!!!!
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