Sooner Gooners

Meet Us:

Tulsa: The Paradox

Contact Us:

soonergooners@yahoo.com

Post-Liverpool thoughts….

It would be too easy to just continue piling on the negative about this Arsenal squad at the moment. In full disclosure, I have not been a sunshine pumper up to this point. In fact I think we are in total disarray. That having been said, I really found some bright spots in this past game with Liverpool. This was a game in which the scoreline really doesn’t tell the story. If I’m a Mugmasher, I’m up in arms that my team has at least 100 million pounds in players prancing around and all they can walk away with is a closely fought 2-nil victory against the worst Arsenal squad since Arsene’s arrival.

Neither team had any bite in front of goal. This very well could be a recurring theme of our season. As good as RVP is, if he doesn’t get any service he doesn’t get any goals. Liverpool had the same problems in the form of Andy Carroll. If it’s not a well played cross this dude is worthless. How much did they pay for him? Fools gold if you ask me. The real deal, Luis Suarez, didn’t even start. Thankfully if you ask me. The second I saw him waiting to come on I knew we were in trouble.

The first Scouse goal was complete crap. Suarez was offside. The own goal was a complete fluke. The second goal was well deserved. Suarez opened us up like a Thanksgiving turkey. Nothing we could do. We were spent. Three or so days removed from the game I really can’t think of too many scoring opportunities we had. Theo pretty well looked worthless. The most aggressive he was was when he went after the official.

I’m with the majority in that I thought Frimpong played really well. It’s always good to know that even without Alex Song we still have someone ready to pick up needless yellows. The first yellow was bollocks. I think he really thought it was an Arsenal throw. Chalk up the second to inexperience. You just don’t make that challenge while roosting on a prior yellow. He put us in a hole that was going to be tough to get out of. This is a failure of management that a player so young has been thrown in to this position. Good effort if you ask me though.

The defense has been a huge positive. Even with Kos going down, I thought Miquel played well. Jenkinson held his own but needs to close down quicker. What can you type about Vermaelan that hasn’t already been typed. The guy is a beast. The tandem of him and Kos has looked really good. The biggest problem is our lack of depth. I’m pretty sure our average age across the back is somewhere around 15. Or at least it seems.

Tis be frusting times to be a Gooner though. This is the most toothless Arsenal squad I’ve seen in my lifetime. When Cesc left, so did all of our creativity. This is why I was in the camp of keeping him. We let him go too cheap and he was worth way more to us than most are willing to admit. Now with Nasri gone we are really hurting. Ramsey and Wilshere need each other. Take away one and the other one will struggle. We need some creativity desperately, especially if the Gaffer is going to continue to play AA23 out of position. Tuck him in behind RVP and we might have a spark. After all that’s where he made his name with Russia and Zenit.

I really feel for Arsene. It seems like nothing can go in our favor. Which leads us to tomorrow night. This could be a watershed evening down in Italy. If we fail to get into the group stages of the Champions League, it would be disaster. Not only for this season but I think for ones down the road. What “super-quality” player would want to come to an Arsenal team that isn’t going to be playing CL football this season? Who? And if we aren’t able to strengthen this squad now, do we have a real chance of making the CL next season? I’m not so sure. Its almost as if we are being passed by. This squad is not deep enough right now to make a run at the Uniteds, Citeh’s, and Chelseas. It’s just not.

So it is what it is. I’m choosing to be hopeful though. If we are going to go with the youth, then I say let the youth play. It seems to work for Barcelona.

Be sure and come out to Halftime in OKC or the Paradox in Tulsa for the game this Sunday at 10am against Man United. Hopefully it will be a good one. The last time we were this far down the table against United we beat them. Wouldn’t that be an awesome headline. Until then…..

COYG!!!!!

-Brian

Meet Us:

Tulsa: The Paradox

Contact Us:

soonergooners@yahoo.com

Post-Newcastle Thoughts….

~ So… I guess we can all say that this has not been the start of the season that we hoped for. I can’t say that some, if not most, didn’t expect it though.. Well, first off it was great to get the Tulsa Chapter of the Sooner Gooners off the ground , and while I know we had a good number not be able to make it, 8 of us that did had a good time getting acquainted with our new home.. The Paradox Pub and Grill.. For me, the conversations and the plush surroundings were more exciting than the 90 minutes that were on view.

It looked to me that we had no cutting edge, minus Fab, Nasri, and Wilshere you could argue our most creative outlets were not available, and on current form, what we have isn’t getting the job done. I could offer some things that I thought “should” have been done but I don’t care for things like that.. I just accept that I am either happy or not with now we are.. and our attack leaves a lot to be desired at the moment. That being said, a draw away on the first match of the season is far from a disaster and credit must be given to our back line who made some timely tackles and interceptions and never let SZCZ be too troubled.. So, a clean sheet is just what we needed to get some confidence back…. assuming you all watched the match… not to get too much into the Barton / Gervinho incident, but I hope Gervy is learning his lesson, that JB is both a windup merchant and a complete bastard… and you cannot react when provoked. Unfortunately, due to his stamp on Barton, Song seems to have the same issue now as the FA have decided to charge him with “violent conduct” and he will most likely be out for 3 matches.

Which leads us to tomorrow.. We are minus RVP and Nasri through suspension, which as we all know, we most likely will not see Samir in an Arsenal Shirt again anyway. The story on that (from what I have heard) is that Nasri was to be Cesc’s replacement in the middle.. and was offered a HUGE contract in January, one that he said he would sign, so no one really panicked or anything as they thought it was a done deal.. I do not know why, but his change of heart has left us where we are trying to panic buy with 2 weeks left in the window.. As far as the Transfers in and out.. I will wait to comment until the end of the window.. Too much speculation makes everyone a bit crazy.

If any of you want to get together for the Udinese match tomorrow.. spread the word, but there will be no “official Sooner Gooners” Meeting in Tulsa, nor, are we planning anything for the Liverpool match over the weekend as it is a 6:45am kick off.. I am sure that I will be up and watching but I doubt that I will be going anywhere even if someone was open to show it.

Lastly, if you have not heard, Cesc is gone. 29million with possible another 10 in add on’s. Which in my opinion is bullshit for one of the top 3 midfielders in the world.. but He, (and Barca and Arsenal as well) put us in a crap position that, to be honest, I am glad to be done with. Barca might be the best team in World Football but they are also despicable ****’s. So, now it’s time to get behind the team and get passed Udinese to get to the Champions League proper. If you weren’t sure about it.. This match is MASSIVE!

C’mon you REDS!!! / See you at the Pub!
Chad Malone

Season Starts Now!

Questions, questions everywhere. In what has arguably been one of the worst off seasons in recent memory, we stand on the doorstep of the new season in complete and utter limbo. Is Fabregas gone? Are we cashing in on Nasri? Did we really sign another 17 year old? Have we strengthened our weakest area? So little has been done up to this point to give me much, if any, hope of a title this season. I know that there is still time to bring in some reinforcements, but if you ask me its almost too late.

This is one of the most important Augusts I can remember. We have a really tough road this month, ties with Liverpool and United to go with our Champions League playoff with Udinese, and I can’t even believe we have yet to sort out our business. We didn’t and still don’t really have the luxury of waiting. Now more than ever we needed to hit the ground running and I can’t say that we will.

Essentially we are starting this season with the exact same squad that limped home to a fourth place finish. With the exception of Gervinho, our signings once again point towards tomorrow not today. We haven’t brought in any depth for the back line. If the preseaon is any indication we haven’t worked on our defense at all. Bendtner and Eboue are on their way out. Hopefully Fabs and Nasri are sorted out soon. I just don’t have any faith in the funds being reinvested properly. We’ve wiffed on Mata. Been outbid on others. Sometimes I can’t help but laugh at our ineptness in the transfer market.

Once again injuries are already hauting us. Van Persie, Walcott, Vermaelan, and Koscielny are all questionable to play at Tyneside. If a back four of Gibbs, Squillaci, Djourou, and Sagna inspire confidence in you, then by all means pass me a bit of what you’re drinking. If RVP is out, where will our goals come from? Bendtner may be gone and Chamakh can’t score with a prostitue at the moment. I just don’t see us having a lot of firepower at the moment if we lose Fabregas, Nasri, and RVP and Walcott are out.

That’s the beauty of the game though. It inspires a passion like no other. Whatever happens I’m still AFC ‘til I die. I’m excited to see what this season holds. My expectation are as low as they’ve ever been so maybe I’ll be surprised. Come out with us for the Newcastle game this Saturday. In OKC we will be meeting at Halftime Sports Grill. The Paradox Pub in Broken Arrow is home for the Tulsa branch of Sooner Gooners. We’ll be meeting at 11am. COYG!

Meet Us:

Tulsa: The Paradox

Contact Us:

soonergooners@yahoo.com

Almost Time For Kickoff

The wait is over. The season is almost here. We’ve added reinforcements in the form of Gervinho up to this point. I can’t help but believe more are on the way as well as some familiar faces should be exiting. It will be a new look Arsenal squad and hopefully one for the better.

If you ask me it’s a watershed year for The Professor. It seems as if the personnel side of the game has passed him by and this may be his last chance to catch up. No doubt that Wenger is great at developing talent but I think where he has gone wrong is to not augment that talent with spending some money on experience. Squallaci and Sylvestre don’t count. In today’s game you have to spend. You don’t have to recklessly spend, but you have to spend something.

Gervinho

Gervinho looked great against Cologne. Maybe we found someone who can finish other than Robin van Persie. This has been a huge need for a few seasons. How many times have we been found wanting having wasted too many opportunities in front of goal? I’m still hopeful of an answer on defense. We need some depth and some leadership. It will be great having Vermaelan back but we simply need more than just him. I’m definately not sold on Gibbs being the answer to losing Clichy. He can’t stay healthy enough for long sustained runs of games.

Here’s some pickups I’d like to see. I’d love to see us send Nasri on his way and bring it Juan Mata. Couple Fabregas and Mata in the midfield and I think we would have a definate upgrade and add some depth. I’d give my right you know what to have Leighton Baines as well to fill Clichy’s spot. I think he would be worth every penny we could spend.

Some think Fabs is gone. I don’t. I think he may be gone when his contract is up. Barca just doesn’t have the cash after signing Sanchez to pony up for Fabs. I say he stays and Nasri goes. Nasri has his eyes on greener pastures anyways so I say let him go. Barca is the only place Fabs ends up. I just don’t see it happening this season or next.

We’ll be kicking off the season at Halftime Sports Grill for the Newcastle match. Tulsa Gooners will be watching at the Paradox in Broken Arrow. Great bar and we’re grateful to them for letting us come out. See you on the 13th.

-Brian

Meet Us:

Tulsa: The Paradox

Welcome all OKC and Tulsa Arsenal fans…

This is the official blog for the Sooner Gooners, based in Oklahoma City. Currently we have two groups. One meets in OKC and the other meets in Tulsa. We are official members of Arsenal America. We meet for almost every live match we can. This page is always updated with the most current information. Here’s where we meet:

OKC:

Halftime Sports Grill

Tulsa:

The Paradox