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VDV : "Spurs are bigger than Arsenal!"

michaelden

Knight of the Fat Fanny
Aug 13, 2004
26,386
21,685
I'd love it if RvP was (mis)quoted as saying he thought Spurs were bigger. That'd annoy my Arsenal supporting family & mates
 

Kendall

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2007
38,502
11,933
I like him a lot and he's saying all the right things, especially in his MOTD interview after the match on Saturday. But this isn't correct. Arsenal are bigger than us, maybe not in the early 90s, but certianly since the Wenger era.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,355
87,831
He seems to be genuinely overawed and impressed by our support at the games as well, describing us as the 12th man.
 

rez9000

Any point?
Feb 8, 2007
11,942
21,098
Whether or not he's right in saying it (and it's certainly open to debate, even outside of the two sets of fans), that has tipped me over the edge into a full-on mancrush on VDV. I don't think it's unreasonable to say that I want his babies, ill-equipped for them though I may be.
 

$hoguN

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2005
26,626
34,700
He does seem to have a fantastic attitude and is saying the right things. He is completely wrong about us being a bigger club than arsenal at this moment in time however, then again it was probably said in jest.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,344
77,598
Before the Premier League years we were bigger than them, but we've been left behind unfortunately. Spending too much time changing managers and making too many changes to the squad. All the while the other lot have benefit greatly from the consistency of 1 manager.

Since Harry took over, we have closed the gap on them. There really isn't much between 3rd and 4th place in the League, but we have to finish in the top 4 on a regular basis. They have so much Champions League experience which means we have some catching up to do.

The good thing is, it seems Arsenal are pretty much staying in the same spot nowadays. So we have had time to start closing the gap. We're not quiete there yet, but VDV can help push us closer.
 

Kendall

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2007
38,502
11,933
We're still some way behind Arsenal. They will not lose at home to the like of Wigan, their mentality means they get the job done there.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,344
77,598
I don't think that puts us some way behind them though. We're literally a Berbatov away from them right now. The Wigan loss was our first home loss of the year.
 

Kendall

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2007
38,502
11,933
I think it does. As does throwing away a 2 goal lead in the CL, I don't think this Arsenal team would've done it.

They've been prety ruthless and look much better overall than we do. Better movement, create more chances, take more chances.

They don't have a Berbatov either.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,344
77,598
Arsenal threw away a lead at Wigan last season and lost. They threw away a lead at Sunderland with the last kick of the game, simply because their defence fell apart at the end.

This season they have started great, but they will hit a snag just like they always do. The first was at the weekend.
 

$hoguN

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2005
26,626
34,700
We're still some way behind Arsenal. They will not lose at home to the like of Wigan, their mentality means they get the job done there.

This is very much spot on, we are not as close to them as some believe might believe. We lack their 'big club' mentality which helps them close out tight games and breakdown teams such as Wolves, Wigan etc.

I don't think that puts us some way behind them though. We're literally a Berbatov away from them right now. The Wigan loss was our first home loss of the year.

They don't have a truly inspirational forward either though, what they do have is a belief that they are good enough to pass rings around poorer teams and generally not surrender leads.

I think it does. As does throwing away a 2 goal lead in the CL, I don't think this Arsenal team would've done it.

They've been prety ruthless and look much better overall than we do. Better movement, create more chances, take more chances.

They don't have a Berbatov either.

This.

Yes we are getting closer to them, undoubtedly and with every 'big' signing like Van Der Varrt we edge closer. However we need to start believing that we are better than the likes of Wolves and that we will eventually break them down, we need the touch of 'arrogance' it takes to pass the ball and keep possession when leading away in Europe and the ability not to let our heads drop when it doesn't go our way

To be fair however Arsenal do also lack the last thing I said which I have now put in bold.
 

Misfit

President of The Niles Crane Fanclub
May 7, 2006
21,016
34,214
I like him a lot and he's saying all the right things, especially in his MOTD interview after the match on Saturday. But this isn't correct. Arsenal are bigger than us, maybe not in the early 90s, but certianly since the Wenger era.
Yes, we were pretty even really. They had won more league titles but we had won more FA cups and more European trophies. Since Wenger took over, 3 more league titles and 4 more FA cups. They're well ahead now - truly cemented themselves historically as one of the big 3 of English football and everyone else a big distance from them. Still, hopefully he'll fuck off soon enough and we'll have a decade of success. Maybe even win something in Europe, ya never know.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,344
77,598
They don't have a truly inspirational forward either though, what they do have is a belief that they are good enough to pass rings around poorer teams and generally not surrender leads.
That's why I said we're a Berbatov away from them. Simply because we don't have a squad that has been growing together for years like they do. So it's more important for us to rely on individual talent. Until our players spend years and years under the same system developing like they do at Arsenal and Barcelona, we will need to rely on the special players to win us games.

VDV is one of those special players. What that means is, with Modric out, we still have special talent that can win us games. With VDV, Modric and Bale, I think we have 3 top class match winning players. The only trouble is, neither is a clinical striker like Berbatov was. But these are all players who will get us a win against lesser teams, games like we lost last season on several occassions.

VDV did that on Saturday. Shame he wasn't about for the Wigan game.
 

Kendall

Well-Known Member
Feb 8, 2007
38,502
11,933
We're a decent defence away from them. We're still letting in stupid goals. A point at Sunderland isn't a bad result for them. Away at Wigan was last year when their title hopes had already been well dashed. The are away games anyway, I'm talking about their ruthlessness at home 6-0 Braga anyone? You won't see them going down 1-0 to Stoke, Wolves, Wigan on their own manor.

They look much stronger this year and we will be a least 10 points behind them come the end of the season imo.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,344
77,598
I'm not sure we'll continue to lose those home games. For one, Gareth Bale has broken through as one of the Leagues best wingers. Since then we have only lost 1 home game. We now have VDV aswell, which will help if we lose someone like Modric. We now have Gallas to cover at the back. These are all signifant improvements to the team that lost those home games last season.

It doesn't really matter if it's at home or away. We're only 3 points behind Arsenal. Yet apparently they've had a great start and we've had a poor one.

As for Braga, they're the perfect side to face Arsenal. They're a passing team that play into Arsenals hands.
 
Feb 19, 2009
17,009
2,830
I do still think they're still some way in front of us. Main reason is because when I look at one of our fixtures, say, spurs vs newcastle at home....I'm never that positive we'll win it - there's always some element of doubt.
I look at Arsenal vs Newcastle...and I'd think....it's arsenal at home - they'll win...simples
 

alamo

Don't worry be happy
Jun 10, 2004
5,047
7,226
What I really liked was the fire he has already showed. I thoroughly expected him to be a bit of a fancy tart, albeit an amazingly skilled one.

He went in for a committed sliding tackle on Van Damme (?) and was instantly furious and trying to pick him up when the fecker made a meal of it. He then looked like he was willing to take a swing at the three Wolves players who confronted him.

Fucking love it
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
42,344
77,598
I do still think they're still some way in front of us. Main reason is because when I look at one of our fixtures, say, spurs vs newcastle at home....I'm never that positive we'll win it - there's always some element of doubt.
I look at Arsenal vs Newcastle...and I'd think....it's arsenal at home - they'll win...simples
Is that not more to do with being a Spurs fan though? We generally worry about our own games.

I don't think we're right on their heels just yet, but I also don't think we're very far from them at all.

We seem to have more and more special players now. The sort of players we would all be envious of if they played for Arsenal.
 
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