Morning all,
I am still struggling to understand how England under 21’s have played two fixtures in the Euros and lost both! They have so many talented players and there is no way they should be heading home but they are.
Maybe Pearce will blame not having Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain in his squad, well blame away, but their exclusion has nothing to do with Arsenal. One needs an operation and the other is needed for the big boys….
Being English, I hope Pearce leaves/gets sacked now, get a manager in who has new ideas and who will bring something different to the next generation of the English game. Don’t the younger ones deserve that?
Some, not me think similar about Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Well not yet.
Moving on……..
Gossip for today:
The Northern Echo suggest Gervinho is in talks about a move to Newcastle. That has to be ‘rumour of the summer’ so far doesn’t it, absolutely no way is that true.
The Mail on Sunday suggest that over the next few days Arsene Wenger will smash Arsenal’s transfer record with bids for three of Europe’s fastest-rising stars. Gonzalo Higuain and Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan. Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender is also in the frame, if we fail with the bid for Gundogan.. Maybe if we fail with bids for both we could try Sven Bender….
Now that news should warm the cockles of every Arsenal fans heart. Higuain has been linked to us for a while now, in fact nearly every day the other two, well I’m sure I have seen their names on HH most days too, so they are both players the fans would no doubt love to see playing in the colours of Arsenal.
Firstly though, rumours are nothing more than that, rumours. Secondly, The Daily Mail is about as reliable as Nik Bendtner is in front of goal and thirdly, even if true, will the club bid enough for any player of such quality?
The best thing Ivan could do is tell Arsene Wenger to go on holiday, leaving behind a list of players he’d like us to sign because we all know, when it comes to a big cheque needing to be signed, Wenger seems to bottle it.
Ok I don’t know that for sure but the way we operate in the transfer market would certainly suggest that is the case.
With the last few days we have all heard big words from Ivan, assuring fans that money is there to be spent, we can afford to sign and pay big wages to the likes of Wayne Rooney and he says we are now ready to really challenge to top clubs…
My own view of all he had to say was basically about telling fans that if we don’t sign players then it’s not his fault.
Well, why not go one step further and make sure we do. Get that list off of Wenger and then get on with negotiating deals and getting players signed. That wouldn’t be interfering or taking control away from Wenger, it’s called being being proactive and making sure the job gets done and we start the season fully prepared for battle.
You said we have mega money Ivan, go and make sure it’s spent!!
Have a good day all….
Morning Rico. It’s all shaping up rather nicely isn’t it? The big transfers are on the cusp of happening. The season ticket money is in and Arsenal’s very own hate-preacher, Robson has proved that Hell Hath No Fury Like A Fat Git Scorned.
Morning Adam. It certainly is…
Few more weeks to wait I suspect..
Transfers on the cusp, so say the press barons. So says Ivan too. We have discussed this at length on another message board, this was one very pertinent quote made two days ago.
“” “My message to our fans is that we are doing everything in our power to make sure that Arsenal can challenge for trophies next year,” “That is what this summer is about and that is what we are focused on.
“We have a good team, we have a good young core of players and we need everybody involved to have belief so that we can push forward into next year and make a run at the Premier League trophy and for the Champions League. We believe we can do that.”
“The key for us is not the volume of signings we might make but that the signings we make add something to the squad.
“We are also talking to people in this summer’s transfer market, I think there will be something exciting for our fans to be happy about.”
Sounds promising doesn’t it. Except that these quotes come from last summer. “”
De ja vu all over again. ?
WordPress does frustrate me sometimes. It seems to like posting the unedited version of a post on the odd occasion….
Grrrrrr
Perhaps the blogs should all shut down for June/July. Come back in August and gear ourselves up for deadline day 🙂
Marca newspaper reckon Higuain deal is pretty much done and dusted…. 😉
Morning All.
I don’t really care about who we bid for but who we signed. Looking at those players sounds good though. The links we get these days are quite promising compared to other summers,so it makes me quite optimistic that things will change.
Lol. Pearce was not happy when they lost their first match in the dying moments through Lorenzo Insigne’s free-kick,I wonder what his mood now is like
Rico. What would we do with ourselves all day without you and HH?
Morning all, Nice one Rico, I know its close season and not a lot of football to talk about, England looked like us at the start of the season, They are on their way home, where we had to suffer a whole season to decide our fate, Transfer season is almost upon us , and the spiel coming out of the Arse is getting painful, Season ticket money is all in so many supporters must believe that Arsenal will spend big this summer, linked with every top player in the world and told we have a good healthy fighting fund. Not sure if we have secured our first freebie yet but the ball seems to be rolling. I have waited a very long time to see us buy top quality signings and still i wait . At the moment we have a free signing supposedly but i still can ‘t see £200, 000 wages being paid out. So i am still not expecting to much.
Rico,I read that Wenger met with Higuain’s agent in Paris. They had talks and further talks. It’s said he will earn 150k pw and completed in few days
Rico,Pearce’s contract will expire later this month
Xr’s – they look good because I suspect they are made up, well most anyway although I do believe the Higuain one…
A lot more than what you do now Adam as you wouldn’t waste time on here 😉
Morning and thanks Sp. You have dented all my high hopes …. 😉
I read that too Xr’s, we’ll see I guess. I had hoped for Rooney though…
Good re his contract, hope it’s not renewed, I’m sure there is another young Englishman who could do a better job…
Give Pearce’s job to Stewart Robson , it seems he has all the answers.
🙂 Potter
it seems the world’s best striker is finally leaving. He’s talking with 5-6 clubs(as usual) for a permanent move. Arsenal have agreed to that. It’s really a good move
I have a picture of Fellani in Arsenal shirt. It looks genuine
Should have gone a few seasons ago… His Dad always says he is in talks with clubs, funny how none ever want him….
Morning all,I think the market will start gathering momentum when the internationals are over and clubs can plot their moves .New managers are just bedding in and need to basically review what they have and what they need.I stiil think Wenger has lost confidence in his judgement in buying Top players .We shall see …..
As do I Jay, and once players are back from their holidays…
Good Morning Lady and Gentlemen.
Nice summarizing post Rico, but why should it be only an Englishman who replaces Pearce? Cant it be a Martian, M&M’s a Cadburian or a Malteser? 😉
Currently I am seeing all the Under 21 and Under 19 games and some of the technical/tactical levels are quite high. The English players are all technically good although level is not so high as other teams, however their tactical and technical brain level is not so good. It is really a question of pysche which in itself is quite paradoxical when you are coached by someone who is nicknamed psycho. If he is psychotic enough why cant he psyche up the players?
Football is a game where you play with 99% brain and 1% feet. English players where operating at only 50%. They still need to develop further at such a high level. Teams like Norway, Sweden etc all have a good level from young age. Even here at Malta we get good results from under 19 down. I still remember 5 years ago at under 17 level we beat a West Ham under 17 XI 2-0. Three years ago we beat Raith Rovers 2-1 and lost only 2-3 to Atalanta. And four years ago we were given a run around only by Roma u17 (1-5) while we lost the next game 0-1 to Brescia and then won 1-0 in the last game. All this at under17 level.
The English FA really need to take a long hard look at themselves and the setup and revolutionise it from top to bottom. And please………….no Sir T Brooking heading it. Its like a blind person leading the blind in this case. Because the majority of English coaches are all from the same boat.
Tell me again, how many of the top ten teams in the EPL are managed by an Englishman????? or more straight to the point……….how many of them are English who used to play in the top tier (that is…..EPL or the old Division 1) or for the English national team or played in any of the European top leagues?
Tanned and hansome for the pictures in their new kits eh Rico,Higuian will look good in the famous red and white
Rico. Do you think I am wasting my time? That is quite hurtful.
Morning Devil, I am all for the national team to be managed by a manager of the same nationality…
😆 Jay, Theo is looking rather tanned after his stag weekend…
Adam, not at all.
Xrs – Just watched a video compilation of his goals, he looks quite good 😉
What a dickhead………………
England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has slammed the number of players unavailable for selection as the Young Lions exited the European Championships prematurely.
After losing their opening group game against Italy, Pearce’s side were resoundingly beaten on Saturday night by a clinical Norwegian side in a 3-1 defeat that ended their hopes of claiming silverware.
And, in the aftermath of defeat, Pearce was disappointed that so many of his best players had missed the tournament, with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Phil Jones and Jack Rodwell instead featuring for the senior side in friendlies against Ireland and Brazil.
“The teams that come with their best players will win the tournament and the team that don’t won’t,” Pearce told reporters.
“I probably can’t try harder than I actually have [to convince the FA to make players available].”
England’s conquerors, Norway, brought a significantly more experienced team to Israel, and Pearce cited the young Drillos outfit as an example of a national side making their best players available for the Under-21 tournament.
“Four of their first-teamers flew in late from Albania last night,” the Pearce continued. “They’ve got a great team spirit. This team here had 14 full internationals.”
Despite England’s early exit from the competition, and a second successive tournament that ends in the group stages, Pearce is still eager to remain in the role.
“I enjoy this job,” the 51-year-old added. “Results don’t change my mentality, the plan with the FA is unchanged. [I’ll speak with the FA] when we get back from the tournament.”
Am I mistaken or isnt the under 21 merely a stepping stone to develop players for the full national team?
And isnt England a big enough country to have more players then the usual 11 first eleven?
I do not know whether to laugh or cry.
Devil, we knew that was coming didn’t we…..
Hope Powell could do a lot better with the under 21’s than he’s done of late…
The sentence he said “I enjoy this job. Results don’t change my mentality.” makes me cringe. If the results obtained do not change your mentality then it is time for him to move on. I agree if you are winning 10-0 every game playing a 2-2-6 formation you do not change your mentality. Especially if you are getting results against top teams.
But if you are one of the world’s largest countries, have a big pool of players to choose from and keep winning against the small fry but loosing against the top teams then there is only one adjective good for you…………CRAP
And thereby hangs the tale , Pearce in his own mind is doing as good as anyone and is not up for changing. Time for fresh ideas, time for change throughout the whole of English football’s structure.
It’s totally Arsenal’s fault we’re shit at U21 level…..nothing to do with the fact that Pearce is shit one dimensional manager! Let the media bashing of Arsenal commence…..wasn’t it Millwall that sang “no likes us we don’t care?”
Totally agree Devil, and Potter..
It’s long overdue massive change…
It started a few days ago when he had a pop at Theo, mind you, he’s now included Manure because of Jones 😉
Fergie won’t like that…
Ah, but hang on, he’s gone 😉
Lee you’re dead right, just look at all the coverage Cesc to United is getting. The media wants nothing more than Cesc to join them so they can all turn around and laugh at how our best players don’t want anything to do with us. They HATE Arsenal, is so evident in every piece you see on the web.
Why would Cesc join United??
First off, we have first refusal, if we want him we get him. We have a 50% sell on clause, untied’s 40m doesn’t match our 21m bid.
He has stated he wants to play for us again.
Why live in Manchester when his family is in London?? He may as well stay in Barca!
Wenger is like a father to him, which he has stated before, does he really want to go play under Moyes???!
Red nose was the only thing keeping that united team together, we all know it, we’ve all said they are the worst united side in years. What will Moyes do with them?
I strongly suspect that Cesc has no plans to leave Barca, let alone go to Manure…
That is one of the reasons why I would go for Rooney. It would put the idiots at Talk sport or the toilet rolls in a spot of catch 22 or like a rabbit in front of headlights.
On one hand he is the golden boy…..on the other he plays for the club they hate.
Now what. They will scratch their heads till they bleed dry.
Hellooo..
Does anyone think we should go for Sahin this season again?
ESP, you just wrote exactly what I was thinking. I reckon if Cesc leaves Barca, he’s ours, although I really think he’ll stay there for at least one more year and see how it pans out.
I think the best way to describe sturat Pearce as a coach is shit! The group of players he had at his disposal are more than good enough to achieve something, he just couldn’t organise and motivate them into doing so. That’s most likely arsenals fault tho. As devil said a top to bottom rethink is needed on how to develop the way youngsters are taught in the country.
I have a dream this transfer window, it goes, higuain, Cesc, fellaini and resigning squillaci. 😉
I did see England’s first game and they couldn’t keep the ball to save their life. Awful. He can’t coach a player to save his life. That’s why he wants well trained players. I am sure even Terry Burton will do better job than Pearce. And if FA has any sense they’d come to Arsenal and ask SB for job or even former Villa caretaker manager McDonald was it?
There are so many better qualified coaches than why’d FA keep Pearce? I guess they should ask ‘Arry.
Hi Rico, Devil, Lee etc
I think that coming to Arsenal for Rooney, would give him the new challenge that he needs. Also I hear that there are a lot of Grannies in the Hampstead area of North London…..
Either way, I still would like to see a Goalie signed. Last season we had the second best defensive record, but I still reckon that Chesny needs a few more seasons under his belt, if he is to become a keeper in the mould of Seaman or Jennings or Wilson or Kelsey.
Marinello.
Hi guys.
Hope all is well.
Same here Devil, Rooney would be a huge statement…
S2S, no re Sahin..
Hi Marinello, all well I hope? Cesar is the one most think we’ll sign…
Hi Scott, fab here thanks, you?
Another day, another lorry load of empty rumours…
At least England smashed the Aussies…
Yes Scott, ‘Your boys took one hell of a hiding’…. 😆
Hi Ak, didn’t they just, I loved the cricket 😛
I didn’t see it Rico, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment… 😉
If Arsenal make any marquee signings, they’ll make just one, and that’s looking more and more likely to be Higuain.
I don’t believe either links, to the BVB09 player or Bender.
Arsenal might have an interest in both, but I cannot see them paying the required fees…
Gundogen, as it is…
Looks as if the Jovetic rumours are being proved to be a lot of false rubbish…
In fact, his agent seems to be hawking him around like Bendtner’s parasite…
I think earlier SP said we won’t pay £200k pw to Rooney, I agree but we can pay £150k for Gervinho,NB,Santos….. The whole pay system is flawed, hopefully we’ll rectify it ASAP!
Didn’t Higuain say he preferred to go to Juve though, they have money it seems so why isn’t he still going there?
Reckon you are right Ak, Jovetic was all made up by the media, or by someone leaking a spoof story from the club..
Spot on Lee, shift the crap out and there is Rooney’s wage. But IG said we can afford to sign and pay him…
I’m not convinced we won’t get him….. Not yet.
I still remember the way the FA discarded Peter Taylor like a used tea-bag and replaced him with Howard Wilkinson of all people, Taylor was well respected and doing a great job with the U21’s at the time, he never deserved that.
Potter 9.43, that sheet of paper Gazidis keeps pulling out of his top drawer every summer must be getting pretty manky by now !
rico, 3 new signings this week and I’ll eat your hat, I haven’t got one.
I also agree that Arsenal/Wenger/KSE/Gazides, won’t pay £200k for Rooney, of any other player for that matter.
But they should, or they should find a way of making it lucrative enough, as with Sol Campbell in 2001, to make it attractive enough to get Shrek.
We are at a stage where the whole club needs a signing like Dennis Bergkamp, a signing that shows how serious the club are in competing.
A signing that lifts the entire squad.
And the entire fanbase…
This summer represents a golden opportunity to do that, given the turmoil at the three clubs above us…
Unfortunately, I fear that the management @ AFC will clumsily allow this opportunity to slip thru their hands…
As usual…
I haven’t got one either Micko, I ate mine when I thought we’d never sign Park…
Arsenal have a lot of money, if they want to make things work, I am sure they could….
But that asks another question…..
Cricket, what cricket lol
Get used to it Scott, more of the same heading your way 😉
I know Rico.
We really are in a period of rebuilding.
The Ashes will be interesting Scott….
What are you doing awake at this time of day??
We really are in a period of rebuilding.
Usually takes about 10 years , just ask Gazidis.
Afternoon all,
A really nice post Rico… this time I attribute it to the meat-less bbq 🙂
Real Madrids mouthpiece Marca are reporting that Juventus have struck a deal for Higuain this weekend with personal terms to be discussed next week
I wish this was a picture of Stan…
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4960548/Is-Cam-a-12ft-lizard.html
This has made my day…
ROBIN VAN PERSIE has revealed how Alex Ferguson’s resignation shocked Manchester United’s superstars.
Potter – I think Scott meant Australia’s cricket team .. 😉
Hi Ts, thanks. ..
Do Marca and the Daily Mail employ the same footie journo’s?? 😉
Have Napoli made a bid for Walcott??
I don’t believe it, they must have known he was going to retire. My reason for saying that is down to Rooney, he knew and he wanted out because he must have known who was taking Fergies place….
I haven’t seen anything suggesting that Esp…
There is a link
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/06/09/napoli-in-surprise-link-to-arsenal-forward/?
They probably do Rico, re Marca and Daily Fail…
Just read another post on another blog – yes, I must be desperate 😉
But why is it that so many fans think that Alisher Usmanov doesn’t care one dot about Arsenal.?
And, surely that means those same fans believe that Stan Kroenke cares more?
I really really don’t understand that.
Esp, CaughtOffside is worse and less reliable than Highbury House, and trust me, Highbury House are very unreliable 😉
I’ll be extremely happy if Higuain find his way to us.I’ve always wished him playing for us but did’nt think it would happen.
Rest is bonus Fellaini or Gundogan could play well in 4-4-2
But some of the comments are rico
Hi Stv, looks likely that you will be very pleased…
Some of the comments? what?
Just a thought – if Sagna really is going, wonder if AW will try to snap up Danny Simpson on a free??
He’s one of Jack’s buddies….
reliable 😉
All very quiet here so I’m heading off for the day…
Night all, have a good one and catch up soon….
TTFN
🙂 Stv…
going to bed?
ok gud night rico gud night al..
Not bed yet Stv, just a bit of ‘chillin’ 😉
Nighty you….
http://youtu.be/Sb05QPFhqp4
If we’re signing more kids this one has gotta b a good shout.
Seems like we’ve missed out on Fabregas ladies and gents. The Oracle of all things football Denis Irwin, doesn’t seem to think there is anywhere else he would want to go but to United!
Sorry to break the bad news!
On a real note, Juve are apparently in talks with Higuain…
Dennis Irwin.
Well that’s that then lol
Morning all..
Who is Dennis Irwin?? 😉
I bet Higuain chooses Juve, he said from the start that is where he wants to go…. If of course we have really been in talks….
Morning Rico, well there’s a perfect situation Dortmund won’t sell Lewandowski to Bayern so go get him Arsene! I’d prefer him to Higuain and Rooney…
Ah, Dennis Irwin that font of all football related bollocks…..
Morning Lee, now he would be a fantastic squad player 😉
Seriously, can you imagine having a player like him up front.. I too would prefer him over Rooney and Higuain..
I was thinking this morning, with all that AFC have spouted in the media lately re signing big players etc, they’d better honour it or face wholesale ridicule! Not that it bothers them….just saying!
I reckon, for what it’s worth: Higuain to Juve, Lewandowski to manure and Wooney to us.
Can’t disagree again, think the poop will hit the fan with the fans…
I reckon City might go for Lewandowski… or Jose.
It’s the Q&A with the fans tonight – no doubt all the questions that IG has to answer were sent in ages ago so he has the right answers lined up..
No doubt the big words a few days ago was all about tonight…
In your young age you’re getting cynical Rico…
Blame Adam Lee..
That’s nice.
Morning Rico and Lee.
Morning Adam. Were your ears burning 😉
New post up now…