Morning all.
Isn’t that what football is about, building the right squad with the funds a manager has at his disposal? Not every player has to cost the kind of fees the likes of City, Utd and Chelsea pay. Sometimes a club has to go for an alternative, perhaps someone younger, or simply cheaper which is what Brendan Rogers has done. They sold Ben Chillwell to Chelsea for £40m and replaced him with Timothy Castagne for £16 million. One sale, two signings as Wesley Fontana, William Saliba’s old teammate at St Etienne, also joined Leicester for around the £30 million mark. According to TransferMarket, Leicester City’s total expenditure amounted to just under £8million. Plus, they snapped up Cengiz Under on loan. The previous summer they sold Maguire to Man Utd for a crazy amount of money although it’s fair to say, Leicester were the winners in that deal.
Arsenal don’t have a £70m or a £150m player as Liverpool had to sell, unless Saka, ESR or Tierney go on the market which is simply out of the question I think. So as Kev alluded to after the City loss, the best way the club can generate funds is by selling in numbers and that number could increase should we not have European football to contend with next season. If Arsenal were to sell just the players we talk about on here, somewhere around the £150 million mark could easily be raised in my opinion, if not more.
We all know Covid 19 will have an impact on what clubs without a sugar daddy can afford this summer but that’s all relative. If Arsenal have to sell cheap, they’ll buy cheap too so in reality, there’s no excuse for the board not to back Mikel Arteta this summer.
This summer, the Euros take place. The following summer, it’s the World Cup. A pain in the backside for players and club managers. I don’t know why this summers competition wasn’t cancelled. Give all those involved in the game a long break and then come back next season well rested. Had the majority of clubs voted in favour of the five substitutes this season then perhaps we wouldn’t be seeing so many injured players but ironically, it appears to be the clubs who voted against the idea, are now suffering. ie Leicester City. I suppose they thought five subs would give clubs with strong and deep squads an advantage during a game. As it’s turned out, they’re right but because of rotation rather than in game changes. Perhaps if there’s a vote again this summer, those who said no will say yes.
Talking of internationals, later this month, they’re here again.
England World Cup Qualifiers.
- England v San Marino – 25th March.
- Albania v England – 28th March.
- England v Poland – 31st March.
That’s just England but I’m sure every country hoping to be part of the 2022 World Cup will have a similar two week schedule.
Whoever thought cramming three international fixtures into seven days is a good idea needs serious psychiatric help. No, that’s not me being cruel or unkind, it’s just an honest opinion. As said already, this season has been hectic enough for all footballers and the last thing any club needs is to see their players, the ones they pay astronomical wages to, go jetting off around the world to play even more football than what’s already been crammed into a shortened season. But just watch what happens over the next two weeks. I bet clubs start to pull their players out of the international fixtures as some mysterious injury occurs. If I were Mikel Arteta, I’d be tempted to do the same. With five minutes to go in the match against West Ham and with us winning 3-1, take Saka and Tierney off. A bruised big toe needs ten days to recover doesn’t it?
See you in the comments.
Morning all.
All International games, including Europa and CL’s should’ve been canceled off this past 12 and the next.
Crazy stuff and just proves it’s all about the cash.
Isn’t it all Scott?
True, Rico, sad but true.
Afternoon Rico/everyone
The recruitment for Leicester has been very good ,didn’t they sign Jamie Vardy from the English lower leagues,even £35m for Tielemans looks a bargain,he’s only about 23/24.
I’m totally underwhelmed with the Euros,to me it was better when it was 16 teams.I normally enjoy the World Cup,but the Qatar World Cup due to be held in November/December 2022 just seems crazy. I’ve read that hundreds of migrant workers have died in the construction of stadiums,largely ignored.The whole thing stinks,greed I suppose.
Afternoon Rico and the House
I think a bruised big toe is good for 14 days at least
Limey, Australia was right in the mix to host that World Cup.
Bet everyone wishes the right call was made rather than the dodgy decision someone, somehow came up with.
Amazing that against all common sense and logic, one of the wealthiest countries in the world wins the bud.
Nothing to see here 😉
Good post Rico, yeah you don’t have to spend fortunes, I mean Kieran Tierney at £25m was a great signing and certainly better than Ben Chilwell, Liverpool did great business getting Robertson from Hull City, so with smart scouting and not relying on a Stats based regime alone you can still find uncut diamonds and in the present climate I’m sure that there’s some bargains to be had. But if we find the right player and he’s a bit costly I hope we do the sums and if he makes the difference then sign him.
There is some absolute garbage on NewsNow today, Football.London must make a fortune pumping out complete bollocks to fill the coffers of the Daily Mirror.
It’s odd, nobody believes a thing the Mirror puts out but then clicks on F.L to read the same crap, as I occasionally do as well and then I feel a wally afterwards after realising I’ve been mugged off again….
Kev, almost everyone alive knows the media can be full of crap, yet plenty still cite their rumours/stories/fabrications when forming an opinion.
Good Morning Rico and all
I have just read that Arsenal are taking a look at Kyle Joseph of Wigan. He is 19 years old and plays as a CF. He will be acquired on a free wherever he goes. Maybe that is why not much pressure is being put on Balogun???
At 19 years old Joseph has played 14 games for Wigan and scored 5 and assisted 5 as well. He has represented Scotland at U17 and U19.
It seems that both Lacazette and Nketiah are going to be sold. Maybe Auba will still be leading the line while Joseph will be his understudy??? And Moller promoted to senior squad??? We wait and see.
In the meantime Odsonne Edouard rumours are gathering pace. Odsonne is similar to Lacazette in playing style but younger as he is 23 years. In 159 games for Celtic he has scored 82 goals. That is a good haul percentage wise.
Morning Devil, all.
Quiet day I see. Lol
Where’s that info from out of interest Devil?
Rico, I can’t vouch for Devils source, but Sean told me the same story a few hours ago so it may have legs to some extent, but you know what’s it’s like 🙂
Morning all.
Morning Europans, talking of rumours Scott I heard from a fairly reliable source that the agent of Balogun wants him on more wages than Saka and when I look at Bakayo’s contract and I see that Martinelli is on three times as much it does make you think and maybe the agent of Balogun might be thinking that his player is as good as Martinelli?
He is still our player until he’s not and maybe there isn’t the money around that there was for Balogun to get a big elsewhere?
Morning Rico, no point doing a post today as everyone seems to be having a time out from the constant football, we can keep the pot boiling I suppose…
Man City have created some record for wins haven’t they, I’ve not really been paying attention as the Premier League is finished for this season already.
Did they break a record held by Arsenal?
Nketiah and Nelson seem to have been sidelined and both of them are with the same agent as Balogun, so I wonder if this is some way that Arteta is sending him a message, f*ck with me and I’ll f*ck with your clients etc?
Kev, I can’t cop kids placing demands on clubs.
Baligun is a kid, he’s totally unproven at the top level and his agent is an agent-in it for himself.
I’m glad the club hasn’t fallen to its knees on this one and as much as nobody wants the kid to leave, I’d prefer that than setting such precedents.
Saka is doing the job.
Martinelli was doing it before his injury, and will do it again without question once back to full health and fitness.
Balogun is nowhere near proven to the extent of those lads.
Oh and sorry Kev, you could well be right about Arteta making his stance.
And people thought he’d be soft bahahaha
I saw a list of the players he’s sold this past 12 months.
It’s only Martinez doing well but we all knew he would, and Arteta didn’t actually want him to go so that’s a different scenario.
None of the others have set the world on fire, nor even close.
I read it on one of the articles on newsnow Rico. dont have the website address as it was early this morning. and when I went back on NN it was not there anymore.
However there are more on NN with regards Odsonne Edouard to Arsenal.
Yeah, I get that Scott but I was being the Devils Advocate and seeing from the agents prospective and what he thinks his client is worth, thus the Martinelli comparison and also he’ll know what’s on offer from other clubs.
All the same I’m glad that the club has drawn a line in the sand and won’t be brow beaten into excessive deals for young players who’ve done nothing so far. Balogun could leave and be a sensation elsewhere and then of course the online fan base will then have its customary melt down, but the club cannot allow itself to be blackmailed – well not anymore.
That’s it Kev, and no matter what, some fans will complain.
We want players who wish to play for the shirt, not the salary.
On Edouard, I’ve a mate who’s a rabid Celtic fan, we had a chat on the weekend and he reckons since the lad had Covid, he just hasn’t been the same player at all.
I don’t watch Celtic games so can’t comment, but this gent wouldn’t miss a single game all year so should have some clue.
I agree with what you said Kev with regards the agents and young pros’ salary.
That is why I feel that the Kyle Joseph rumours free from Wigan have legs. He is 19 and if he comes he will be replacing Balogun….with the added experience of having played for Wigan’s first team on a regular basis.
Arsenal have been linked with Edouard since and before we got Tierney, it’s a contract situation with him now as he is down to one year this summer, the same as Lacazette, so if the figures work out you’d be exchanging a 23 year old for a guy who is nearly 30 and most probably on a lot less wages for the younger guy initially.
Celtic are probably not in a good place financially and I did read that he was available for £15m a month or so ago. I thought that that seemed a bit too low and of course with more clubs interested the price will and has increased. Arsenal and Celtic have a good relationship so that may help ease any deal…
Yes DG, I like the links to Joseph but I didn’t know that he was Scottish, although if he’s spent his formative years in England he’s still classified as home made…
Must be somewhere on the Internet then Scott. Probably tosh.
Rico,
Quite probably.
Though him being on a free transfer, and with some obvious ability, maybe it’s a possibility.
Morning Kev. When I logged on, you weren’t there, in fact there was 10 comments. Now there’s 25. 😳
Nope, no post today. I’m waiting for the budget. Lol
Possibly Scott.
I did a conservative totting up of how much money the club might make with sales this summer if they’re ruthless and I reckon somewhere around £150m
Rico, that happens every time I log on, I just log on and refresh, it’s weird, is it some fun and games from Microsoft or Google or one of those other idiots trying to harvest information, wankers….
I think it’s Google Kev. It’s certainly weird…
Google are a load of weirdos Rico, they have their U.K. HQ next to Kings Cross Stn just where taxis rank up so I see them coming and going and they look exactly how you’d imagine them to look, none of them have done a proper job in their life.
U-18 and u-23 were not resultas…
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/03/klopp-will-ban-liverpool-players-from-internationals-if-they-face-quarantine
Seems as if the dippers will be putting their foot down.
I hope we do the same as well.
Key absentees push Arsenal u23s into relegation battle
afcDW
3rd Mar, 2021
With seven games left to play, the Arsenal u23s are much closer to a relegation battle than fighting for the title, with a few key injuries exposing a lack of depth in the current squad.
Steve Bould’s side lost 4-0 to Liverpool at the weekend, to end a poor run of matches against the other big-six-club academies. The last five games have also included draws with Spurs and Chelsea and defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City.
Arsenal sit four points clear of the relegation zone, having played two games more than Friday’s opponents Southampton. If Southampton win those games in hand, only Leicester City (two points behind, having played a game more) will sit between the young Gunners and the drop.
After a run of five consecutive league wins from November to January, it looked like Arsenal were turning a corner. But the recent results against tougher opponents have brought them back down to earth. Having played all 10 league fixtures against the big-six clubs, they’ve lost seven, drawn three, and won none.
Injuries and contract issues;
Undoubtedly, part of the problem this season has been injuries and other absences.
One big miss at the moment is January signing Omar Rekik, who joined to play at centre-back but is out injured. Arsenal have had to name pairings of inexperienced u18 defenders who have each made at least one or two individual errors leading to goals or red cards in recent weeks.
Midfield talents Miguel Azeez and Charlie Patino are also unavailable through injury. Summer signings George Lewis and Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand haven’t started a game between them since October.
Then there’s Folarin Balogun. Speculation around his situation seemed to be affecting him as he blanked in his last three games against Spurs, Chelsea, and Manchester United. After that, he dropped out of the squad completely, with no official clarity on why that was.
Some claim the striker and u23 captain has had an injury setback, whereas others point to the fact he’s deleted all his Instagram photos as evidence that he’s on the way out. For the record, Mikel Arteta is still insisting the player wants to stay and they’ve had positive conversations with his agent. Whatever the case may be, he’s not available to start right now.
Balogun isn’t the only one whose contract situation appears to be affecting his minutes. Kido Taylor-Hart only made his second u23 start of the season in February, and he surely would have played more if he’d signed professional terms with Arsenal. But like Balogun, he’s running down his deal.
Loan absences having an impact;
The squad would be a lot stronger if Arsenal hadn’t sent so many players out on loan. At centre-back in particular, the likes of Daniel Ballard, Harry Clarke, Joseph Olowu, Zech Medley, and Mark McGuinness would certainly have improved the back-line hugely. Of course, it’s better to see them all playing senior matches.
Tyreece John-Jules would have ensured that Balogun wasn’t such a big miss if he hadn’t gone out to Doncaster Rovers. Matt Smith’s absence in midfield has been felt keenly as well.
To sum up, it’s true that the u23s have been a bit of an inconsistent mess so far this campaign, but there are plenty of external factors influencing that situation. It’s not entirely on the tactics or coaching.
Sharp turnaround needed;
The problem is that no amount of excuses can prevent the lasting impact relegation would have on the academy.
Arsenal need to be testing themselves against the other top youth sides, all of whom are currently in the top flight of PL2 football. You can’t send everyone out on loan, and those that remain need to have a competitive environment to aid their development.
Reiss Nelson has been playing with the u23s lately, and he’s been one of the few bright sparks in the team. I’d much prefer to see him in the senior setup, but if Mikel Arteta isn’t going to use him, it makes sense for him to help the youth side out and get some minutes for himself.
I’d argue that Eddie Nketiah, who hasn’t made a Premier League squad for five games and hasn’t started a league game since before Christmas, should also have been involved.
But the fact is that Bould shouldn’t need the pair to bail his team out. He has seven games to turn things around, with all of the big-six fixtures out of the way and many of his injured players hopefully returning to action soon.
You can somewhat understand how we got to this point, but the pressure is rightly on the coach to get some results now.
I’m with Klopp, no club can afford players to be in isolation after the international break.
The only alternative, if the international break goes on as planned and clubs are forced to release players, is that football is suspended for 10 days after the international games.
I dont see this as feasible although players will get 10 days rest which will be beneficial. However, players will be required to isolate….can’t see how much training they will do if they are cooped up at home. so imo the international games should be scrapped or else postponed after the season.
I think the easiest and the most safe, is to not be travelling. As said yesterday, I think a lot of players will withdraw from international duty.
I only hope that ALL PLAYERS will withdraw from international duty.
It’s time that international football learned it’s place. For many years the F.A here and in other countries their equivalents have been happy to sell their souls to the highest bidder but now the pandemic has created a situation that was not foreseeable
.
Wenger once said “”It is like taking a man’s car from his garage without asking permission or paying the cost. Then the car is abandoned in a field without any petrol left in the tank. It is broken down, we have to recover it, but a month later they come and take your car again.”
If the powers that be want the game to survive they need to rail back and give clubs and players a break.
–
Agree Devil, the best action is all out.
A big well done to Sheffield Utd for beating Aston Villa with 10 men…
Villa looked knackered which makes me wonder if they wish they could use 5 subs?
Serves them right for voting against it in December, mugs!
Morning all.
Bugger the internationals!!
This season of all seasons, abandon them!!
It’s common sense.
Kev, for player development, you’re spot on in saying it’s best for our kids to be playing first team football elsewhere than youth games for us.
Utd played the last half hour a player down.
Massive effort.
Thanks Scott, but that was a cut n paste job-by although I totally agree with the sentiments.
Well done Sheffield Utd, I’ve always liked them 😆
Me too 😉
Looks like they’re going down though. Such a shame. 😜
Burnley v Leicester was a draw which helps us. We really need to thump Dyche’s lot.
Kev, my best work is cut and paste hahahahaha
Welcome back Rico hope all is well now.
Morning Cicero, all.
I think so Cicero, thanks to someone other than me. If it was left to me, HH would be permanently crashed. lol
New post up now
https://highbury-house.com/2021/03/05/links-to-arsenal-man-are-silly/