[frankbutcher]

Has anyone been to watch Reserve / Youth games at Underhill or somehow watched them on TV? (I'm sure Liverpool TV showed one this season). The defending and tipy tappy is 10 times worse at this level. The players have no bollocks, no organisation and no leadership. They regularly get turned over by more physical teams. The defending is comical. If you are ever in the area in the Spring, go to a game and see for yourself. It's free. Wenger and Rice normally turn up. You may even get to see Gavin Hoyte or some other wage stealer who is destined for League 2. The only reason Bould is being allowed near the first team is because he has spent the last few years being brain-washed in the set up. Tippy tappy is now the priority, not defending. This change is not controversial. It's simply swapping Pat for a younger model.

[I Hate Hleb]

Agree with Donaldo and frankie. Anyone expecting Stevie Bould to bring the 1989 circa type defending to our team will be sadly disappointed if the man's own words are anything to go by...

“I believe that for every sport every seven or so years they become almost revolutionised in that they become, faster, more powerful, more technical than before and football is even more different. In our game, we also have the rule changes. I could not tell you what the offside rule is now.

“You could not step up with your arm out and scream offside like we used to. That is not an area you can really coach any more. Also, you cannot get away with going to ground or any real aggressive tackling the way we used to nowadays. So, while there are some principles that persist, passing on what I used to do as a player has to be adapted to the modern game.”

Even a cursory look at some of the U18's results will show that appointing a great defender like him to the staff doesn't automatically mean an improvement in our defending - although we all hope it will and that, at the very least, Bould will let the players know the standards expected and kick some arse when it's required!!

[LDB]

Agree with Donaldo and frankie. Anyone expecting Stevie Bould to bring the 1989 circa type defending to our team will be sadly disappointed if the man's own words are anything to go by...

“I believe that for every sport every seven or so years they become almost revolutionised in that they become, faster, more powerful, more technical than before and football is even more different. In our game, we also have the rule changes. I could not tell you what the offside rule is now.

“You could not step up with your arm out and scream offside like we used to. That is not an area you can really coach any more. Also, you cannot get away with going to ground or any real aggressive tackling the way we used to nowadays. So, while there are some principles that persist, passing on what I used to do as a player has to be adapted to the modern game.”

Even a cursory look at some of the U18's results will show that appointing a great defender like him to the staff doesn't automatically mean an improvement in our defending - although we all hope it will and that, at the very least, Bould will let the players know the standards expected and kick some arse when it's required!!

Completely disagree, on championship manager I made Steve Bould defence coach and I barely lost a game.

So nerr

[Herd]

this board is classic - just found out by pm herd is upset with me
people getting hurt feelings after criticism for slating Arsenal club legends...

Hilarious ,I sent you a pm to explain myself and to also tell you to grow up but Im happy to have a spat in public .

You called me a mug because I chose to question the importance and significance of Pat Rice whilst raising (IMO) the very valid point of what has he done for us lately .
I'm happy to debate, but even you must realise that if you called anyone a Mug to their face in the real world you would most likely get a slap.
If you did it to me I would feel morally obliged to fill your mouth in with cement before nailing your head to the ceiling in true Dougie and Dinsdale Piranha stylee !

I fart in your vague direction

[Basil is a Gooner]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archiv ... rs-at-club

[rodders999]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/rice-to-leave-arsenal-after-44-years-at-club

44 years and all he got was a fairwell BBQ, well thanks a bloody lot!!

[gunner_ace]

Only on the OG can a tribute thread to a true Arsenal legend and great club servent turn into a slanging match.

In the grand scheme of things Pat Rices contribution to the club both as a player and a coach will be infinity greater then any of ours. So if for whatever reason you are stupid enough not to see what part he has played in our history, and also feel the need to question what he has done for Arsenal, then why dont you do as a wise chinaman once say. "If you cant say anything nice about someone, then dont say anything at all". Especially not on a TRIBUTE thread, duh

[rodders999]

Only on the OG can a tribute thread to a true Arsenal legend and great club servent turn into a slanging match.

In the grand scheme of things Pat Rices contribution to the club both as a player and a coach will be infinity greater then any of ours. So if for whatever reason you are stupid enough not to see what part he has played in our history, and also feel the need to question what he has done for Arsenal, then why dont you do as a wise chinaman once say. "If you cant say anything nice about someone, then dont say anything at all". Especially not on a TRIBUTE thread, duh

Wasn't it Ronan Keating said that?

[gunner_ace]

Only on the OG can a tribute thread to a true Arsenal legend and great club servent turn into a slanging match.

In the grand scheme of things Pat Rices contribution to the club both as a player and a coach will be infinity greater then any of ours. So if for whatever reason you are stupid enough not to see what part he has played in our history, and also feel the need to question what he has done for Arsenal, then why dont you do as a wise chinaman once say. "If you cant say anything nice about someone, then dont say anything at all". Especially not on a TRIBUTE thread, duh

Wasn't it Ronan Keating said that?

ha ha, it took me a second. I think his poor grasp of the english launguage meant he actually said "If you say nuffink at all".

[Nos89]

Thank you and enjoy your retirement Pat. He's always shown great respect to the travelling Gooners

I thought the club could've done a presentation to honour his loyal service at the last home game. It wasn't exactly a secret, nevermind, its a corporation now no time for sentiment.

[Perryashburtongroves]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/rice-to-leave-arsenal-after-44-years-at-club

44 years and all he got was a fairwell BBQ, well thanks a bloody lot!!

If they'd have given him anything shiny, Wenger and the board would have counted it as a trophy.

[flash gunner]

Thanks Pat best of luck in the future. Glad Bouldy has the job as number 2

[I Hate Hleb]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/rice-to-leave-arsenal-after-44-years-at-club

44 years and all he got was a fairwell BBQ, well thanks a bloody lot!!

If they'd have given him anything shiny, Wenger and the board would have counted it as a trophy.

[rigsby]

As much as I've called for the backroom staff to be freshened up for a while now, nobody can doubt Rice's commitment to the Arsenal cause.

A great bloke and I hope he enjoys his retirement.

[safcftm]

Just heard about this- wish Steve Bould every success in his new role, the blokes a fucking gem and I'm dead chuffed for him