I was reading the story about ex footballer Jamie Brooks this morning. A sad one it is too. Back in 2002 he was on the verge of joining Arsenal from Oxford Utd who’d just been relegated from Division One. He’d played in an Oxford v Arsenal second string match, skinned Lee Dixon many times and then met up with Arsene Wenger who told him a deal would be done. Two days later he was struck down with was later diagnosed to be Guillain-Barre syndrome. He’s fine now and as he said in his interview, he has three fine boys and he’s proud of that. And a signed Arsenal shirt too which reminds him of what he nearly achieved. Classy Arsenal sent him a great big bunch of bright red flowers…
They did get in touch. On the morning of their FA Cup Final against Chelsea, a bunch of bright red flowers turned up at my intensive care unit. It had been sent by Arsene Wenger and the note read, ‘Get well soon, Jamie, we’re all thinking of you. We’ll see you soon’. – Jamie Brooks.
Jamie never played football again as far as I can make out from the story. Can you imagine how he must have felt though after being spotted by a Premier League club, especially Arsenal who back then were the best in England, knowing that in a few days he’d be joining them. A massive thing for any player, let alone one from a division two club. To then have the dream taken away through no fault of his own was cruel. When I read stories like this one, then think about the gifted footballers who waste the chance they are given, it’s hard to understand why they do it. I was thinking about AMN really. Regardless of what you or I think of him, he has talent and he’s wasting it. If the reports about him sulking after having to play at right back are true then he should be ashamed of himself as so many footballers would love to be in his position. No pun intended. The same goes for Saka, albeit it appears his alleged unhappiness at play fullback isn’t affecting his attitude towards training. I’m not picking on these two, it’s just they are the here and now.
Thing is, what these footballers forget is that desperate times call for desperate measures so when managers play them out of position, it’s often because there is no other option. There’s a big difference between just making a favourite fit into the team and being left with no choice.
Aaron Ramsey was an Arsene Wenger favourite, of that I think we’ll all agree. A fans favourite too but once he returned from injury and was shunted left, right and centre, I think his game suffered and a section of fans began to get frustrated with him. I know it’s said that playing in different positions can help a players game but I’m not sure that after coming back from a long term injury is the best time to do that.
Anyway, Aaron Ramsey has been talking about when he first arrived at Arsenal and how he was kind of star struck when walking into a dressing room with the likes of (Cesc) Fabregas, (William) Gallas and (Kolo) Toure.
“I’m 17 years old, I’m just like, ‘What’s going on here?!’. I just felt out of place but they were really cool guys, made you feel really welcome but still, you had to pinch yourself.”
Jamie Brooks said something similar about the day he played against the Arsenal second string too and meeting Arsene Wenger. The first thing which sprung to his mind was, ‘He’s tall’…..
These posts over the lockdown period are just to keep the website up to date. There’s not any real Arsenal news about. Unless Aubameyang only being valued at £50 million is to be considered real news. Personally, if a club offered that amount for him right now I’d snap their hands off.
Happy Easter guys, stay safe and stay healthy…
Morning all.
Rico, sad story, but at least the mans alive and a father of three.
I’ll bet he has moments of sadness, but he’d also appreciate what he has and that’s what life is all about.
Some will always whinge and moan about what they don’t have, no matter how much, where other will always be grateful for what they do have, no matter how small.
It’s what we make of it.
Absolutely Scott and I think that’s what he was getting at too.
Absolutely, Rico.
We can only admire this man.
Afternoon rico, Scott. Happy Easter all. Good advice, be grateful for what we do have.
Afternoon All, afternoon Rico, thanks for the post.
Scott, I’ve just been reading about Australia and it seems that China are becoming quite a big influence down under, buying up businesses and infrastructure especially in Victoria.
We maybe all need to take a slightly more suspicious view about the growing influence of the Chinese and what the long term effects of allowing them to infiltrate to the degree that they have, I mean at the end of the day they are still a totalitarian regime ruled by a dictator.
Do we really want to sell out to them any more than we have?
Of course there are wealthy people at the heart of our politics, business and establishment who would sell us out to anyone if it benefited them because they have no loyalty to Britain and would just fcuk off to Bermuda to live after selling us out.
Anyway, now that I’ve cheered you all up have a Happy Easter Sunday.
Up to date or otherwise the posts are a most welcome diversion from fixing the garage roof , laying paving stones and doing the work that has been put off until tomorrow for about 5 years.
As you say there is little or nothing to hear about Arsenal , so best we just keep to being topical without sinking into the morass that is Covid 19 . Albeit it will raise it’s head from time to time.
As long as there is a media there will be rumours but chances are they will be unfounded . Contracts , pay cuts , champions league or Europa league qualification ? All up in the air .
Kev, we went to Cambodia for a day on a cruise 15 months ago. Real contrast of slums (after 2 million killed in their war) and a giant building site of posh new hotels going up, all by the Chinese! They apparently pouring money in like no-ones business. I couldn’t work out why.
Kev,
Chinese businesses have been buying up a hell of a lot of our farms, dairy companies, mining companies etc etc for years now.
They’re also buying homes here at an ever increasing rate.
We have had issues the last few years with Chinese people (Uni students here) buying up tins of baby formula (of all things) and sending them back to China for huge profits.
These students here paying their way by being personal shoppers for Wealthy people back home.
A few hours work a week makes them a decent living lol
Obviously, so much is manufactured in China now it’s incredible, but there are plenty of of products wealthy Chinese nationals are happy to pay top dollar for quality items that are made here in Oz.
I blame our governments, past and present, for selling us out and not protecting Australia from being in the exact predicament we are in right now.
Happy Easter all!
Stay at home!
Afternoon Andrew, Kev, Potter, Jm.
Not sure if that’s a compliment Potter. Lol
Agree, so much is up in the air at the moment. No one is able to make a decision on this season right now and until they can, everything else is on hold.
I did that VAR has seen some changes.
The referee WILL have to use the pitch side monitors next season.
The ‘accidental’ handball in the penalty area will only be so if it leads to a goal.
Also, something about penalties and encroachment but I’ve forgotten…
They are looking to change the offside rule on review too so that it’s clear and obvious..
Apparently Arsenal players are or have been asked to take a 12.5% pay cut for a year…
Tim Brooke-Taylor has died. Coronavirus 😢
Peter Bonetti has died too….
Hi Rico. Stirling Moss too. 🙁
Hi Adam, yes, Sterling Moss too. Horrid day..
Do do do the Funky gibbon.RIP Tim Brooke-Taylor.
To anyone born around the time I was The Goodies were comedy gold.
I can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel atm as the death rate continues to rise in the U.K.
Terrible figures from the United States as their cases of Covid 19 are exploding, but I just don’t get the figures from China, the birth of the virus, how can the country with the worlds largest population have so few cases of Coronavirus in relation to its numbers – that is unless they’ve been lying to everyone, now wouldn’t that be a shock?
Yes Scott, maybe the people of Australia need to take back all the things that your politicians and business types have allowed to be flogged off to the Chinese.
Yeah Andrew, according to a friend of mine the Chinese are flooding into Thailand as well and buying up everything there, spoiling everything as they go.
Kev,
I should have added that the people need to accept some responsibility here.
Plenty complain about the Chinese domination when it comes to manufacturing, but if they see a bottle of tomato sauce for $2.00 and one for $3.00, guess which one most go for 🙂 🙂
How do this work?
Last week, I purchased some crumbed whiting.
Australian caught, frozen, sent to Vietnam for filleting and crumbing, and sent back to Oz.
I only discovered this after the purchase but I’m gobsmacked that it can be cheaper for the supplier to do that than have the fish processed here in Oz.
Fresh fish only for me from now on but to be fair, when I saw “Australian Product” on the packaging, I just assumed the fish was freshly crumbed here.
There’s is hype around now about buying Australian, but let’s see how long it lasts.
Good morning all.
Two bits of Arsenal news, neither of them good.
Emi Martinez would welcome a move back to his old club Indipendiente.
Roma are reluctant to meet Arsenal’s £22 million asking price for Mkhitaryan.
A chilly old morning here in Norfolk -2 at the moment. Think I’ll give it it another hour before getting up. 😉
Morning all.
I don’t blame Roma.
New post up now