Lankan gooner: Flows of project youth

Lankan gooner: Flows of project youth: "Under Arsen Wenger Arsenal FC has mange to build up one of the finest scouting network in world football yet we seem to have missed out on s..."

Flaws of project youth

Under Arsen Wenger Arsenal FC has mange to build up one of the finest scouting network in world football yet we seem to have missed out on some of the finest young talents. One cannot stop wondering what it could be if we had manage to sign some of those great talents, who are lighting up European game right now, the potential success we could have had in the past few years. We have gone six years without a trophy, which for a club that wants to be dominant force is Europe is failure. However, the biggest disappointment is the season that has ended. The previous five seasons was about developing these youngsters we acquired and this was meant to be the season they delivered. Sadly they came short and questions must be asked why the talents unearthed by our esteemed scouting network have failed to deliver…

Our South American scouting network illustrates what our problem or short coming is. It is no secret that Arsenal followed players like De Maria, Javier Pastore, Mascherano, Tevez, Hernadez, Neymar et al and yet we ended up with Denilson, Vela, Wellington, Pedro et al, who simply have not been anywhere near as good to play for a top European club.

This does not make our scouting network flowed. Their job is to identify the players and report to clubs and it is then up to the management to make the deals happen, which we have failed to do so.

Signing young players is always a big gamble as united found out with Bebe, Munucho, Diouf and many others, Chelsea have spent millions on bringing in young players yet non yet to make a mark in their first team. Arsen has opted to take the cheaper gamble and it sure has not worked. We have not gone and signed the finest young talents at a higher price and opted for players with potential but at the same time came at a very low price. Good example of this is Pastore. It is well known fact that we made a bid for him which was turned down and subsequently the player was sold to Palermo for about £4 million pounds and we signed Amaury Bischoff on a free. It is Neymar we should have signed not Wellington. In our youth project we have prioritised finance ahead of success on the pitch and we are paying the price for that.

Now we have been linked with two of the most exciting young talents in world football, Hazzard and Sakho. Yes these players will cost a fortune but it is with these kind of players we will be able to go toe to toe with clubs like Barcelona year in year out. It is time Arsenal FC starts to operate with winning trophies as priority not making financial profit. The point of moving to the Emirates was so that we could compete with the top clubs for the best talents in world football and six years later it looks like a self-defeating project.

There are enough quality out there to improve our team and take us to the next level so Arsen this is your chance to  grab the opportunity and take this team to next level. Failing to act this summer will be criminal

Lankan gooner: Day of reckoning 2- the Scum bashing

Lankan gooner: Day of reckoning 2- the Scum bashing: "The Carling Cup final was meant to be the day of reckoning of this team, for me what happened on the fateful day in Wembley should have kill..."

Day of reckoning 2- the Scum bashing

The Carling Cup final was meant to be the day of reckoning of this team, for me what happened on the fateful day in Wembley should have killed this team off, and for all my money it looked that way. On Sunday a resurgent Liverpool team arrived at the emirates with the sole aim of defending for their lives, with a make shift back line, and for large part did it very well and then the mad 5 minutes during which we felt like the league was ours and only for greater fall, anger and frustration. Yesterday should have been the day United secured the title, they played a Newcastle team against whom they have a fabulous record in the recent past, Rooney has destroyed them again and again, so surely it should have been a formality. As the gods of football have it, it was not. They understand this young and naïve arsenal team has Sind, well some very criminal sins as RVP pointed out, but the gods are aware that failure by this team will not just be failure of Arsenal Football club but a blow to football and those who still dream of running it as it should be while bringing in trophies so they have decided to give another chance, lets thank them for that, sacrifice a cockerel and grab the opportunity at the Lane.

We go into this game in poor form, despite being unbeaten in the league this year. We have thrown away many golden opportunities not just to win the league but to run away with it, let us not waste yet another. Recently we have not had the greatest of results against the tiny totts in the league and it cannot carry on any further, if it does gods will curse, there is no bigger sin then losing to tiny totts in such a huge and vital game. The gods do not want to see them play in the champions league with a long pole and primitive human (well still only half as he peels his bananas with his feet), we shell not disappoint the gods this time.

Cesc, Robin, Nasri, Theo, Jack, Dibay and Arsen go out there today like gladiators win the battle and you shell forever be blessed by the gods or else………

Lankan gooner: What has gone wrong????!!!!

Lankan gooner: What has gone wrong????!!!!: "This season, like the last few, has again collapsed and hear we are debating, arguing and in the case of some even fighting to find the answ..."

What has gone wrong????!!!!

This season, like the last few, has again collapsed and hear we are debating, arguing and in the case of some even fighting to find the answers and solutions that will make this great club achieve the success it deserves on the pitch. Let me start by pointing out that no one will waste their energy on such acts if they did not have the club at their hearts, however, I think some have gone over the top and it is time we as gooners come together on the eve of what will be one of the biggest North London derby in the recent years.

Like most of you out there I too have looked to find solutions and have pointed of few issues I think the needs changing, again saying that I do not think our issues are such straight forward and if most of us are that clever enough we will be real life football managers, not on PC. One argument that I will never stand for is Wenger out. It does not mean am saying he is blameless, of course he is, he put this team together, he sees them everyday, he should be able to motivate them and see who is good enough to put on the colours of our great club. At the same time, it is not easy for him to just break up this team he has natured for few years, like a father who gives his faltering kids chances to get things in order, Arsen too has given them opportunities to show that they are good enough for this club. The Carling Cup was always going to be the make or break for this team and sadly it ended in a disaster and I, now, fully expect Arsen to make some big judgment calls on some of the players in the squad. What changes I think he should make??? Well a few to be honest, which I will explain.

Backroom staff;- I think there needs to be changes in the coaching staff. We need to bring in one or two faces from our recent past, with whom the young players can learn from as well as look up to. Martin keown comes to mind, he was part of the coaching staff during our run to the CL final in Paris and will bring that never say die attitude to the team. I also would like us to add Viera and Lehman to our coaching staff as well. These are players with great attitude, fighters and have been part of our modern success. Young players will be able to relate to them more and look up to and learn from them.

Now let me go through the playing staff position by position,

Goal Keepers- We have one who will go onto become one of the finest in the league and a very good understudy in Fabianski, may be we could add the third choice.

Defence- Many have pointed out that we have issues at the back, especially Centre backs, however I disagree. I think Djourou has shown great promise since gaining full fitness second half of the season and looks like he might be overcoming his injuries too. Laurent Koscielny has shown a great deal of promise in his first season with the club and am of the view he will go on to become a top defender. AS for Vermaelan, he needs no introduction and hopefully with a full pre-season under his belt will be back to his best giving us three top centre backs. As for full backs, despite dividing opinions Clichy is a very good player and Gibbs will go onto become a top Left back, There is no better than Sagna in his position. So at best what we will need is a backup CB and RB, again one has to filter in the fact Kyle Bartley, who is having a great loan spell with Rangers.

Midfield- Our midfield options are as good as any club in PL, well most in Europe. What we lack is a direct replacement for Song, but in the last two games Diaby has been very impressive. We also have Frimpong and Ramsey available for next season, both with great levels of talent. Having said that Song will go to ANC, Dibay has a fitness issue and in all likelihood if Frimpong steps up as I expect him to, he too will be off to ANC. Since Arsen does not look to sign players in the January window I would like him to add a player in this area. Someone with experience and at the same time a leader, motivator and communicator, and we must keep Cesc at any cost.

Attack- For a club that’s philosophy is based on attack, I feel this is our weaker area. RVP aside none of the other two strikers can claim to be world class. I think with RVP’s injury record we must add another top striker, someone who can produce magic out of nothing, someone with reputation and someone who will strike fear in to the opposing defenders hearts.

These are the players I will like to see leave AFC in the summer-

Eboue

Alumunia

Rosiky

Denilson

Squillachi

Vela

Bendtner

And I will like them replaced with,

Frimpong

Ramsey

Sakho

Parker

Hazzard

Youssef El-Arabi

Well I would have liked an Augero or a Pato in all honesty, but simply do not see Arsen making such big investment on one single player. Again these are just changes I would like to see, does not mean the answer to the issues, well if I could find the Answers that simply I will not be sat in front of a PC typing this blog…

Now come on you mighty Arsenal lets go destroy the pricks of North London and prove why Monkey boy should not have been the PFA player of the year

Lankan gooner: Five defensive options for Wenger

Lankan gooner: Five defensive options for Wenger: "Pape Diakkhate Club- Lyon (loan) from Dynamo KyivAge- 26Height- 5ft 11 Reasons for Versatile- can play left back as well as left midfie..."

Five defensive options for Wenger

Pape Diakkhate

Club- Lyon (loan) from Dynamo Kyiv

Age- 26

Height- 5ft 11

Reasons for

• Versatile- can play left back as well as left midfield.
• Cost- will not be expensive as his parent club does not see him as part of their long term future
• Language- French speaker hence will be able to fit in easily and communicate well.
• Age- he is an experienced CB who is coming into the prime of his carrier so his best days are still ahead of him and will also be able to sell him on if he is regarded surplus in the future

Reasons against

• Height- not the tallest CB and height is something we are desperate for
• Contract situation- he is with Lyon till end of this season and that will rule out the possibility of him joining us in the current transfer window

Philippe Mexes

Club- Roma

Age-28

Height- 6ft 1

Reasons for

• Experience- has great experience at the highest level with both France and Roma
• Language- As a French international and French speaking player will fit in with the team well
• Pace- has a fair amount of pace and will suit our high line defensive play
• Cost- out of contract in summer so could be bought for cut price

Reasons against

• Positional play- poor positional play and often gets caught out of position a lot
• Injury record- has been injured quite a bit in the recent past and might not be the best cover for our injured players
• Form- has been in poor form and fallen behind on loan Bourdiso at Roma

Cristian Chivu

Club- Inter

Age- 30

Height- 6ft1

Reasons for

• Winner- Part of successful Inter and Roma teams and a born winner
• Versatile- Can play across the back line as well as holding midfield providing much needed cover for Song
• Cost- Age and squad status at Inter will mean that he will be available at a relative low price
• Technical ability- can pass the ball and very comfortable in possession which is vital for our playing style

Reasons against

• Cup tied- cup tied for CL
• Age- at 30 with his injury records his best days might be behind him
• Natural position- Started off as a CB but since has become a jack of all trade and never really established as a proven CB
• Seria A- has played majority of his football in Italy, PL could be a big step up with its demands

Christopher Samba

Club- Blackburn Rovers

Age- 26

Height- 6ft 4

Reasons for

• PL experience- Knows the league well and will need little adopting time
• Cost- Samba has made it clear he wants out of Blackburn and could be available for fairly low price
• Leader- natural leader of men and vocal- will help our defense communicate better
• Aerial ability- Will bring aerial strength and set peace defending know-how not many of our current defenders have
• CL availability- Will be available to play in Europe and suspect Messi et al will not fancy much of him charging at them
• Ball playing ability- has filled in as a striker at times for Blackburn rovers and good on the ball for a big CB

Reasons against

• Lack of experience at the highest level- No European experience and playing for a club like Arsenal is a big step up from Blackburn
• Squad status- should he join us he will become a squad player once our first choice defenders return, might not be happy to sit on the bench
• Arsenal V Blackburn history- Arsene has never had the best of relationships with Blackburn management in the past, despite changes in ownership that might still play a part in them deciding not to sell to us

Servet Cetin

Club- Galatasaray

Height- 6ft 4

Age- 29

Reasons for

• Experience- experienced at the top level having played 48 times for Turkey as well as in European club competition
• Aerial ability- very strong in the air and a fighter, just what we need at Arsenal
• Determination- famed for his never say attitude and playing through injuries- almost an old school English CB we all seem to want at the club. Nicknamed ‘Bionic Servet’ for his passion and determination ( also known as clone of keown)
• Goals- for a CB he does contribute with few goals and will b a strong threat from set-piece

Reasons against

• Injury- has suffered fair few injuries in his carrier and at 29 might be a gamble
• Lack of experience outside Turkey- All his carrier has played in Turkey, might be a step too high to come in to PL mid season
• Price- Galatasary have no need to sell and might demand high fee for a player who’s coming into his 30s