VDV : "Spurs are bigger than Arsenal!"

[arnoldlayne]

ok if thats your point...

but i don't think we are as far behind them as you suggest.

though i do admit we are still behind them.

when Harry plays the likes of luka,vdv,JD,gomes, dawson...in the same team,something he hasn't had a chance to do, then we will see we are a real match for them, and even chelsea and man u..IMO.

I am not as convinced as many others ,that our squad is as good as everyone says,... i.e.we miss jd, gomes and luka so much when they are out, the ones that come in are no match.

our first 11 are as good as any team, maybe except chelsea.

we are getting there, 1-2 players away from a title challenge..be patient and watch us go when our big guns return.

More than anything (not including winning things/qualifying for Europe/etc) else the two things that I want out of this season are:

1) Beat Man Utd at least once

2) Beat ManU/Scum/Chelscum away in the league

 

[mil1lion]

I agree mil1lion. Not sure what Arsenal have done to warrant the youth development thing. Yes, they've had years where they've look awesome in the League Cup (more so 5-ish years ago than recently) but very few have gone on to have massive careers.

As you say, Fabregas came from Barca at 16 as good as ready to play first team football. Very little needed to be done there, he's the exception to the rule.

The rest of them are players I can barely remember.

For example, the above mentioned Arsenal 5 Wolves 1 game. I remember the press salivating over the Arsenal youth during that game (from 2003, apparently)

So the team was:

Stack, Tavlaridis, Clichy, Hoyte (Skulason 55), Wiltord, Vieira, Simek, Fabregas Soler, Bentley (Smith 78), Kanu, Aliadiere (Papadopulos 83).

Beyond Fabregas and Clichy (and Bentley, I suppose) - there's nothing to write home about.

And that's been the case throughout the years. The kids have looked good at times, but have never stepped up when push comes to shove.

I'd take our record of Lennon, Huddlestone, Dawson, Bale over theirs. Though I'd love a Fabregas, obviously, he's a class above.

I agree. Even Gael Clichy was signed at 18 (the same age we signed Gareth Bale). They sign them young just like us. Those they actually produce themselves only turn into good players, but rarely anything special.

The last one being Ashley Cole, the same time as we brought through Ledley King. Since then it's been about cherry picking the brightest young players in France and Africa (mostly). But who needs Arsene Wenger to do that when we have SpursKing?

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I agree. Even Gael Clichy was signed at 18 (the same age we signed Gareth Bale). They sign them young just like us. Those they actually produce themselves only turn into good players, but rarely anything special.

The last one being Ashley Cole, the same time as we brought through Ledley King. Since then it's been about cherry picking the brightest young players in France and Africa (mostly). But who needs Arsene Wenger to do that when we have SpursKing?

:rofl:

SpursKing... ahead of the game as usual, credit where it's due. Maybe he's one of Arsene's Secret Scout Spies?

 

[Kendall]

We're sooooooo close :lol:

That was a wakeup call for everyone that, from top to bottom, they are better in every way.

 

[mil1lion]

So we were closer when we won 5-1? :shrug:

 

[Kendall]

Fluke. Consistent success is key. We were smashed on our own manor. £1 for someone who can name the last time we bossed them on their own.

 

[InBlackAndWhite]

League Titles
Spurs: 2
Arse: 13

FA Cups
Spurs 8
Arse 10

Turnover
Spurs £113m
Arse £316m

European trophies stands at 3-2 though!

I would hazard a guess that it was said tongue in cheek by VdV.

 

[mil1lion]

Fluke. Consistent success is key. We were smashed on our own manor. £1 for someone who can name the last time we bossed them on their own.

Eek

Last night wasn't a measure of how close we are to Arsenal.

For all the play Arsenal had in the first half, they scored 1 goal and didn't stretch the keeper once after that. They passed us to death but that alone isn't enough. It's not a game of who has most possession.

The 2nd half we put up much more of a fight and got ourselves level. Again, Pletikosa had nothing to do but a couple of routine saves, and one cross that he fumbled.

In extra time, they dived for a penalty. Then it was all about the inexperience of Caulker making his debut at 18 years old, and Naughton our young 5th best right back, both making costly mistakes. Other than that, there was one cross that Chamakh couldn't get to.

So i'm not really sure what last night proved other then we have a couple of kids who have a lot to learn. When it comes to the first team, which is all that really matters, we're very close to their level.

We're probably a long way away from them when it comes to keepball though, i'll give you that. But for all the wanking over their passing game, it's the results business. The fact that we're getting closer to them in the league goes to show the gap is not far apart.

League Titles
Spurs: 2
Arse: 13

FA Cups
Spurs 8
Arse 10

Turnover
Spurs £113m
Arse £316m

European trophies stands at 3-2 though!

I would hazard a guess that it was said tongue in cheek by VdV.

Arsenal have been excellent for the past 13 years under Wenger. But the past is the past. They haven't won anything for 5 years now. The gap has closed in those 5 years. We're not quite there yet, but we're not far away whatsoever.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Hopefully last night's result will fire up VDV (and the rest of the squad) to put things right in the league!

I'd happily swap a Carling Cup defeat for a double over them in the league! (what's that? I'm still asleep and dreaming?!)

 

[haxman]

Hopefully last night's result will fire up VDV (and the rest of the squad) to put things right in the league!

I'd happily swap a Carling Cup defeat for a double over them in the league! (what's that? I'm still asleep and dreaming?!)

Absolutely. No brainer that one.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Absolutely. No brainer that one.

Yeah, shame it's not quite that easy!

I have mixed emotions this morning, never want to lose to the Arse like that, but I don't think we played as badly as some are suggesting (considering what team we'd thrown together!)

Second half we were a million times better than the first. Sandro looked like he could be quite the prospect, Caulker looked like he does indeed have the potential.

Plus we learned that Naughton and Livermore are probably not good enough and to NEVER play Bentley on the left ever again. Though he wasn't match fit and all that, so he could be excused.

Not sure what to say about Gio. Shephard's crooked after 45 minutes after an anonymous first half of the team playing poorly. His days are probably numbered I guess.

So, yeah, lessons learned and hopefully a burning desire for revenge ignited! Time will tell.

 

[$hoguN]

Fluke. Consistent success is key. We were smashed on our own manor. £1 for someone who can name the last time we bossed them on their own.

Thats really not a fair reflection of the game, as yes they did boss the midfield and play in a typical Arsenal fashion but they created very little until extra time and even then the score flattered them due to a soft penalty which made our tired lads give in.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

First half they were much better, second half we came back into it. Extra time - ruined by a soft penalty award.

The result looks more embarrassing than it should have been, unfortunately. This hurts all the more cos it was against the Gypsy boys from down the road.