Comments on: Arsenal v WBA: the style, approach, players, prediction

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:11:05 +0000

Sure about the first line, can’t stand Tottenham.
They’re going the same way as West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton if ‘Good ‘ol Harry’ is still there next year.

And, yes, hopefully the Barnet centre will benefit the team and the community. In their case it really is early days.

I can assure you, I’m not angry (no skin off my nose), I’m merely perplexed.

West Ham clearly have other issues, mainly keeping their youth players in the first place, but in a recent Man.U. v. Chelsea game there were about six or seven of their youth academy on the pitch.
Their players clearly make the grade under Tony Carr at Chadwell Heath.

The two ‘most likely to succeed’ in recent years at Arsenal appear to be the two coached at Southampton and Cardiff.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, surely, and ‘the eating’ shouldn’t be the League Cup.
Will any of these players register even 50 meaningful games for the first team?
If not, maybe these Carling Cup games should be seen as a useful exercise in drawing new people into the stadium for a tenner (not a bad thing, I bet the Club Shop did a roaring trade)…..but nothing more long term than that.

Most people in the media fall over themselves about the Youth System at Arsenal, and maybe it is their slavish devotion that I dislike, but………if you think that all is well, OK.

By: walter

walter — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:31:08 +0000

Are you really sure about the first line Sean ?
Well I guess Sean that from the current first squad there are players like Cesc and Bendtner who came through the youth and carling cup games to the first team.
It is not so that you set up a youth system and that from day one you get result.
Yesterday you saw a lot of players who are playing for the Arsenal for many years like Wilshere, Watt (to focus on the local boys) who can make it. Wilshere and Watt play for the Arsenal from the age of 10 or so.
So yes it takes time.

But you are right no one will ever know if they really gona make it, but if you dont try it, you can be sure that you will have nothing.
Some teams don’t even have a reserve team anymore.

By: Adam Smith

Adam Smith — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:39:47 +0000

Sean,
with all due respect to you as well,

in case you didn’t read the purpose of Untold Arsenal, I suggest you vent your anger somewhere else, preferably on the Twickenham or Barnet website. Out of interest, are you aware that Barnet have just completed a state of the art multi million pound new training centre.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:10:13 +0000

Let me just say I’m not a Spurs fan.
I go to Barnet or non league or rugby on a Saturday but……
with all due respect the whole Arsenal youth set up is ridiculous.
Millions and millions of pounds are spent all around the world (unlike the West Ham Youth Team precious little seems to be spent in London) on a group of players who:
(a) have limited the chances of the club winning a trophy (unsuccessful since 2005),
(b) never make the first team (who was the last Arsenal youngster to make 100, or even 50, first team appearances?) and,
(c) bully and patronize the likes of Sheffield U. or WBA who spend peanuts in comparison on their teams.
The Sheffield manager must have been pretty close to sack last season after the 6-0 defeat.

In the end, what’s it all for?
I really can’t see an end product.

By: Jazbo

Jazbo — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:57:05 +0000

I must admit, i love the Carling Cup as it gives us a chance to see all the great young talent coming though at the club, future star of the Arsenal team, Francis Coqulin, what a player!!

By: walter

walter — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:51:23 +0000

No bad intention from me, Phil. I sometimes predict a line up on our site and…. if I get near the teamsheet half of the time I consider myself lucky.
Those youngster heal quick I guess.

By: Phil Gregory

Phil Gregory — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:26:54 +0000

Walter: There will be, of course, some errors in the team that I put up – I didn’t get to see the latest ArsenalTV interview as my computer was playing up. Teamsheet is always just an educated guess! I left Traore out completely as I had no idea where he has been – I had no idea why he hasn’t been on the bench recently, and there was no injury news.

Tony: Spot on! I think we’re alle excited!

Messi: I was under the impression frimpong was injured?

By: LRV

LRV — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:25:23 +0000

Very good news about Vela. Traore can also get a chance to mature a bit more with his crossings from the left channel. The way he bombs down that left flank is sometimes pleasing to the eye. It should be a good test for our young guys.

By: lordgunner

lordgunner — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:47:04 +0000

merida is away to the WC under 20 Messi,and please no Randall this guy will never make it at arsenal,he cant even break first team in the championship .
great news with vela but i don’t think he will play 90mn (back from injury) maybe coming 2ND half.
for Gilbert , if he play , i hope he take his chance with both hand because it s his last chance.i ve always been impress by him so finger cross after a good season in league one

i hope wenger go this team
czezny
gilbert senderos silvestre gibbs
coquelin
ramsey barazite
wilshere bendy watt
traore and vela come 2ND half

By: eduardo

eduardo — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:49:39 +0000

With the news on Vela and Traore I’d expect the line up to be

Szczsney
Gilbert Senderos Silvestre Gibbs
Randall Coquelin
Ramsey Wilshere Traore
Vela
Subs
Shea, Bartley, Barazite, Watt, Henderson, Frimpong, Murphy

By: jason

jason — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:50:11 +0000

sorry messi but merida is away on u20′s duty, though do agree on the score, maybe 4-1 consolation goal as we seem to ‘present’ to teams… can’t wait to see vela playing again, too bad i have work tomorrow evening, will have to watch highlights

By: messi

messi — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:52:54 +0000

this hopefully will be the team line up…

……………………………………..SZCZSENY…………………………….

…COQUELIN…….SENDEROS……..SILVESTRE………GIBBS………..

…………………………………FRIMPONG…………………………………

…………………..RAMSEY…………………MERIDA…………………….

………………………………………………………………………………….

……..WILSHERE…………………………………………………WATT……

……………………………..CARLOS VELA…………………………………

SUBS…..MANNONE…HOYTE…AYLING…TRAORE…RANDALL…….
…………BARAZCITE…BENDTNER…

ARSENAL 4-0 WEST BROM……….

SCORERS:C. VELA (2), J. WILSHERE, A. RAMSEY……………………….COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!…………………

By: Jonybwoi

Jonybwoi — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:52:38 +0000

Thats my gud news of the day good men of the gunners . . VELA is my bestestestest player at arsenal youngsters level if theres any . . . his technic , ability , unpredictability and his calmness infront of goal is unimaginable for his age . . . a future world player of the year ! ! ! !

By: walter

walter — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:43:05 +0000

I really hope they all get fit so we can rotate a bit. And for Vela, I really love this kid. The goals he made already at that age… you really must have loads of talent to spot the possibility and then to excecute it as well.
Cross our fingers that he can play and is fully fit. Well if I was AW, but then again … , if Theo is fully fit I would risk him tomorow to see how far he is. Even on the bench (if he doesnt get injured there) and bring him later on to give him a run.
But I ain’t no Wenger so I guess he will do what he thinks is good.

By: Tony Attwood

Tony Attwood — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:35:08 +0000

The inclusion of Vela has taken everyone by surprise Walter – the last posting on the injury section of the site gave no clue that he was ready. And Traore came off in his last reserve game with a suspected hamstring.

But back to Vela, this is terrific news. It means that for next weekend we will probably have

Almunia
Arshavin
Vela
Rosicky a bit fitter
Eduardo just about at full fitness
Theo

That is one hell of a bunch to add to the squad that won 4-0 on saturday.

By: walter

walter — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:11:09 +0000

Arsene Wenger has said , on arsenal.com that Vela would play and Traore, who seems to be forgotten by everyone, will also have a place.
Hope the young guns can get past this opposition and give another nice performance just like last year. The opposition looks stronger this time around. But an excellent moment to show us what they can do.