Morning all.
So Mesut Ozil say’s he would have signed for us for free, he was that convinced he was making the right move. Bet Arsene Wenger was gutted to hear that.
One free agent we are being linked to is Romania’s Ciprian Marcia – he’s free because Shalke either didn’t offer him a new contract, or the player simply didn’t want to stay put. early in the transfer window, his agent suggested he was very close to a move to Arsenal:
He’s close to joining Arsenal, but we have to wait for the next week.
Obviously, that never materialised but since then, we failed in our attempt to sign Demba Ba so will Arsene Wenger now be tempted to sign up this international player who just a few days ago scored again for his country?
Would he be a better alternative to Nikla Bendtner?
Apparently, it’s between us and West Ham, that is of course if these latest comments/reports in the news are to believed.
It could of course be all a load of rubbish, just old news from an agent who is desperate to find his employee a club..
One thing that isn’t rubbish in the media and that’s ‘photo of the season’ and we have won it. Well, the guy who captured it did, our boys just happened to be in it.
Nice…..
Adrian Dennis took the photo, so well done to him…
Finally…
You know, sometimes in football we hear many many bad things, especially regarding players whose off field antics bring a slur on the game. There’s been alcohol abuse, drug abuse, gambling, shoplifting, racism, the list is endless.
But yesterday football brought out the best of some past and present stars of the game and all in support of Stiliyan ‘Stan’ Petrov’s charity match.
Football Cares….
A Celtic XI Squad consisting of:
Tom Boyd, Momo Sylla, Tosh McKinlay, Jackie McNamara, Joos Valgaeren, Bobo Balde, Henrik Larsson, Morten Wieghorst, Chris Sutton, Pierre Van Hooijdonk, Jorge Cadete, Tommy Johnson, Brian McClair, Bobby Petta, Martin Compston, Didier Agathe, Neil Lennon, Rab Douglas, Stevie Graham, Warren Brown, Lubo Moravcik, Johan Mjallby.
Faced an all star 19 Legends Squad consisting of:
Brad Friedel, Radostin Kishishev, Freddie Bouma, Marian Hristov, Richard Dunne, Chris Kamara, Nicky Byrne, Robert Pires, Dimitar Berbatov, Jamie Redknapp, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Hristo Yovov, Paul Lambert, Patrik Berger, Martin Petrov, Gareth Barry, Stiliyan Petrov, John Bishop, Habib Beye, Carlos Cuellar, John Terry, Shay Given.
Celtic Park was packed to the rafters and after the game Stan had this to say:
Just eighteen months ago, the Aston Villa midfielder was diagnosed with with acute leukaemia – he was just 32 years old at the time and a fighting fit player. March this year, he officially retired from the game.
Thankfully, he’s now in remission having undergone intensive treatment and he’s coaching the under 21’s at Villa.
He’s one of the lucky one’s and football came together to make sure he knew it and does:
You’ve made today special for me, my family and for all these players. Thank you very much,
It is just great. I nearly started crying but I held it. I was in a dark place a year-and-a-half ago.
They have always been brilliant to me. It’s been amazing. Today I’m here with all these friends and the Celtic family. It’s incredible.
So for all the bad press the game sometimes brings upon itself, it can on other occasions bring the best out of those who play the game, after all, none of those who featured yesterday had to, they all chose too and that’s what the game does sometimes. It brings people together. That goes for the celebrities too, they to sometimes find themselves on the front pages of newspapers for the wrong reason….
Long may ‘Stan’ continue to recover well and have a long, happy and healthy life with his family…….
That’s it for another day…..
Hello all – Nice post Rico – Can’t see any value at all in this Marcia transfer. We will have to muddle by till January due to the issue not being sorted as it should have been. He offers nothing just wasted money in my opinion. Lovely to hear the news on Petrov. Hope it continues well for him, the support must make him feel special. I think the press got the wrong end of the stick with Ozil and the ‘free’ comment. He was highlighting for all he was concerned the transfer could of been free. e.g. the fee will not effect him.
Morning all, I missed the house … and a good read too.
I am glad to read Petrov is getting better…
how’s life tsgh? been away myself a few days, enjoying the Ozil love in’s haha
When footballers like Terry turn out on day’s like yesterday, football is good…
Oz, I think it’s old news re-printed, I saw the story in July/August and then one of the headlines on NN reprinted it. Think others have latched on and put recycled the old news..
I don’t know anything about the player so don’t know if he’s a better option than Nik. Plus, he’d want more than a year and we could be left with another average player..
Not bad at all mate…
Its just dull and gray and work is boring waiting for 1 oe 2 new bids to come through so I am HH blogging as always. 😛
I was in Portugal and a lovely country I would say…
Hope all is well Oz?
You on ebay then Ts 😉
😛 Cheeky…
I have my 2 of my fave pages on blast on one computer; HH and Airliners.net with some work documents on another…
Ebay is not one unfortunately… its barred on work computers. 🙁
Morning Rico and all. I wish Stan and all others and their families fighting and coping with this horrible disease all the very best. My heart goes out to you.
That’s me Ts…
Morning again Adam. A truly horrid disease.
Funny how on a day that so many players turned out for Petrov, that idiot Kyle Walker was in the press for all the wrong reason. Plank!
no hope for some Rico
Imbecility remains incurable Rico.
No wonder he totally missed that shot against us Oz 😉
Indeed Adam, had to look it up, but couldn’t agree more… 😉
Morning guys.
Rico, i emailed you earlier…….
Lovely story on Petrov.
Ha ha ha Rico… you make a great point re the spuddie.
I do not blame him though in this instance,as most of the rich do worse but are smarter not to get caught… In this case I wiII blame the media for releasing such news months after its occurrence…
I have it Scott, just haven’t got round to replying yet … I will shortly..
Ts, he shouldn’t have done that in the first place, he’d know the media would print it at some stage. I know it’s hard to believe, but some youngsters look up to him..
Ozil is wonderful though isn’t he Rico? 🙂
No drama Rico….just wasn’t sure how often you check your inbox, that’s all.
Me…not too often 🙂
Bit of an old s*****r though Adam 😉
I was accused of that very thing Rico but made sure no-one caught me.
I see Real are now playing the ‘he’s uncontrollable because of women’ card – trying hard to excuse selling the wrong player ha!
Franco would have had him shot.
I try not to Scott 😉
A few sites are going ‘mental’ with the news that AW is about to be offered a new contract…
Do people honestly think Mesut and Mustapha did not ask about AW staying before he signed?
AW is staying; fingers crossed he is a changed man…
Good Morning to the Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
I’d be very surprised if Arsenal signed Ciprian Marcia. It sounds like an agent trying to drum up some interest in his client.
Arsene well knows how hard it can be to move squad players on. We haven’t got rid of all our current failures and misfires. Why sign another expensive bench warmer?
Scott – “Scott from Ozil” – is this another sign of the creeping Asenalization of Australia?
Was it you that had Arsene as a write-in candidate in your recent federal elections or is this the shape of things to come?
CG, did you hear about that?
It was a lady friend of mine…..she is a true Gooner and sent us a pic as she was voting.
I can’t believe you know about it!
Morning Cg, do you know much about the player, I don’t?
If he’s average, no way will AW sign him up..
I think it’s straight fight between Marica and Bendtner , if Wenger feels that Nik’s attitude is still wrong he may feel that a 1 year deal for the Rumanian might be a shirt filler with a view to better things if it all comes off. However it might just be an agent trying to tie up a deal knowing that an Arsenal connection could be valuable elsewhere making offers come in quickly.
Rico – I know little of the player, but if he were any good (i.e. average or better) I would think one of the other Bundesliiga teams would have signed him. Unless he was like our Danish Dud, demanding an exorbitant wage package. Either way we already have one and don’t need anymore.
I’m sure one or more of our Young Guns could do the job and would benefit from the playing time.
Morning Scott and Cg..
AW for EU premier all day long 😛
Rico, Cg like you I am suspecting Ciprian’s agent is trying to prize more dough out of Fat Sam by alluding to AW’s interests.
On the other hand AW would have gotten info from club physios on B-52 to gauge or indicate fitness and likelihood of B-52’s being available for selection asap. The players who are not on international duty will be practicing so if AW is not positive B-52 or Sanago can contribute, I suspect the player will not mind a 1 year deal in order to place himself into the EPL shopping window come January or next summer.
Another player available on a free is DM Sissoko who left PSG; I do not share that sentiment but at least for those concerned about our lack of DM options he is a CL winner and is EPL ‘proven’.
West Ham want him Potter and I strongly suspect he’ll end up there..
Akpom for me Cg, although he’s very young still..
I agree Rico re Akpom… he needs trying out. Against Napoli in his short appearance he looked quite impressive and unfussed…
I heard a pundit going on about why Zelalem and Akpom should be going on loan and I thought some of this guys are definitely clueless… lol
Considering they are ex-pro’s they should be aware players are considered children until they turn 18…
I would rather see Park get a go over NB as he has definitely not had a fair crack at the club a bit like Inamoto when he was with us. And if Akpom is fit then he looks a better bet than Sanogo right now so give him a shot and see if he is good enough.
Why does everyone seem to hate that Chelski skipper ‘randy’ Terry? Every English fan seem to find him intolerable(except his home fans though)
I really don’t like this loaning system , apart from the odd one or two ,players and the parent club rarely benefit. Mostly they are used as bench warmers only getting on as a last resort. Opening up a whole new debate , should the F.A have spent all their dough on the Burton white Elephant or should they be sinking their cash into a proper reserve team league where youngsters get the chance to develop playing with their peers and receiving coaching at their parent clubs whilst playing against adult experienced professionals at other clubs. Too many players reach a end of teenage plateau , go on loan and disappear without trace.
Sissoko is quite good isn’t he?
I had forgotten about Park V10…
He is an interesting player imho but he is more of a Teddy Sherringham than an out and out striker.
At Celta Vigo he and Iago Aspas played well together on the occasions I saw him play.
He only managed 3 goals I think out of 21 but considering he was not match fit when he joined them due to the Olympics and his lack of playing time with us and Celta was struggling he did quite well.
Rico- He is a tough tackler… when people talk about DM he is the one that comes to mind that is why I guess I am not a huge fun of the phrase..
He instrumental for the dippers when they won the CL. His issue is that he gives the ball away too many times so he may not be suitable for a team looking to play more than 3 passes together…
I’d rather him than Nik Ts.. But as someone mentioned the other day, would AW throw him in if the pressure was on? Good question I thought..
Have to agree there Potter. Jack seems to be one of very few who benefited..
V10 – said the same the other day, I’d much rather see Park get a chance..
England fans have been stabbed in Ukraine….
Ts – he could change 😉
Nobody expects The Spanish Inquisition…
ozil selling more shirts than bale by 5/1.
afternoon all.
afternoon all
tsgh, are you in Cascais ?
Afternoon all, nice one Rico. Shows that footballers do have hearts. Petrov showed fight in playing and Hopefully he has beaten this as well.
I can remember reading that the FA went to Wenger and asked him if he could see his way clear to bring some English talent through, this was a few years ago now, but he did and they have come good. He helps out when he can 🙂 Ozil likes shagging, Christ is that wrong then ?. Plus, no one does nothing for nothing so i don’t take to much notice of stories like that. Ozil is supposedly a superstar, why haven’t i heard more of him. I just hope he’s half as good as i am hearing then i will sing his praises.
Giroud must be licking his lips at the thought of cazorla, ozil and jack supplying him killer passes all season. Im backing him to score 20 plus goals in prem this year.wonder would u get good odds on that bet?.afternoon everybody.
Think that lovely snapshot was Citeh away, a late goal from Kozzer.
Kev, or a Spanish expedition for that matter.
Hi JM, I am back in the UK… I only spent 3 days there… stayed in Quinta Marinha…
Cascais a very lovely place. I will definitely go back for sure.
Afternoon all.good read rico.
I think Neur and szczesny are very similar.difference is in decision making.hope he finally fulfils his potential.
Kroos says he would like to test himself abroad… I will take him in a heart beat. A Ramsey like player who can play anyway through the middle and on the flanks too…
Mick, relax mate, only 112 days before the transfer window opens…. Happy Days….
Bendtner is like a coiled spring, desperate to be thrown into the action…
Park Chu Young is poised to make us eat our words…
Yeah, who needs Suarez
no thanks to kroos ginge
I like kroos ts.he has yet to convince me in a deep role though.he has only looked like a world beater as an AM but now we have a better player in our ranks.
Kev, swap ‘action’ for ‘skip’ and your spot on !!!
Hard to have much sympathy for Bendtner but Wenger did stick him out on the left wing quite a lot, was like a duck outta water most of the time, being a bit of a dickhead didn’t help his cause either it must be said.
just saw this on twitter…
Giroud Özil Cazorla – Godzilla
Valencia Giggs Nani – Vagina
🙂 🙂
Evening peoples….
It was Micko, well spotted 😉
Evening Rico.
Evening Adam…
Funny old times in football right now…
Very quiet Rico – but I can’t believe we have Ozil.
He’s fantastic isn’t he?
Allegedly Adam, yes….
I just carved a pistachio nut, with a surgeon’s scalpel, into a miniature statue of Ozil and fitted him into my pistachio Arsenal team as a double pivot with Jack Wilshere. I think it could work.
Now now Adam 😉
Our water has gone off, deep joy… Good job we have a few bottles in the house..
That’s what happens in the country I hear Rico. Water, electricity and Internet all on and off regularly. 🙂
Don’t I know it Adam, annoying it seems to always happen at dinner time 🙁
Back shortly…
Still no water….
Now now Adam…. 😀
Hi Kev 🙂
Now now Kev…. 😉
Evening All…. 😛
Evening Kev.
Calm down Kev. 🙂
Certainly had a lot of rain in London today…
And here, could do with some of it in my kettle, I want a cuppa….
I am just enjoying the crepuscular time of day, listening to some appropriate music.
Yes Adam, I must confess that the excitement has driven me to drink…
I am sinking 4 or 5 bottles of Effes lager every evening, it’s the only way tnat I can get off to sleep mate…
What does that translate to?
Take it easy Kev. 🙂
Rico. I know you like those sort of words. I do.
It translates to getting up 4 or 5 times during the night for a slash Rico…. 😉
Kev. 🙂
That is fully nocturnal, not crepuscular. 🙂
I keep google translate on Adam, just for your comments….
Thanks Kev 😉
You can tablets for that apparently …
I’m off folks, catch up tomorrow..
Night Kev, Adam and anyone else out there…
Glad to hear it Rico.
Off to watch a horror film now.
Night all.
International breaks rico…….zzzzzzzzzzz…..roll on Saturday ! sleep well.
Adam, with Ozil in the side I truly believe we can dominate Europe for the next decade now and I don’t say that lightly, keep the faith.
Kev, tie a knot in it, nite all.
Morning all…
Morning Rico…
It’s bloody nippy today….
That’s nothing to do with Miyaichi btw…
Gnabry going out on loan?
Was that just ‘paper nonsense’ or what Rico?
I’d rather he stayed until January at least and played in the League Cup first…
But a year at the Reebok definately did Jack a lot of good.
The games, as you mentioned the other day, are gonna come thick and fast so I’m not sure, with the size of our squad, that it would be sensible to loan out anyone at this time…
Well, maybe Damien Martinez, as we now have three senior goalkeepers, could be loaned out, but only if he’s gonna play.
U21 football isn’t really any good to him at this stage, but then sitting on the subs bench at a Division 1 or 2 club isn’t much use either…
Morning Kev, not seen the Gnabry loan story… Bizarre if he is..
🙂 re Ryo
Ok, I’ve got a cold Meze for breakfast with a cup of tea, so lata…
I saw the Gnabry thing on NewsNow, but I didn’t load the story as if was on one of those advertising generated sites…
It seemed to be linking him to Bolton…
Maybe the story came from up there?
Offski for a bit
Trouble is, which club would any of our players really benefit, as Potter said yesterday, all they seem to do is sit on the bench..
New Post up now…