Morning all.
Last nights Champions League fixtures dished up some entertaining football. I opted to watch the Napoli v Man City match a decision made purely on hatred for the other two clubs. It was a good game too, entertaining, quick passing and a few goals. Everything we once used to be like but those days are long gone. City look unstoppable but if Arsene Wenger was watching, he’d have seen that their defence do take risks with their fancy passing in and around their own box. Will he look to exploit that certain tactic? I doubt it..
At Wembley, the Totts brushed aside Real Madrid with ease apparently. Real weren’t at it said Roy Keane, they were poor and their first goal was clearly offside. Regardless, to beat the reigning European Champions is some feat. It sickens me to see our neighbours doing well, just as it sickens me to see us so poor. Lack of spending by the Yank is often blamed for our demise but as we know comparing the total spending of both clubs, it’s Arsenal who top the table. Throw in the wage bill and it’s embarrassing. Whether or not the neighbours manage to keep all their better players who are on a lower salary I don’t know and frankly, I don’t care. What is clear though is the Totts are on the way up, whilst we are heading in the opposite direction.
Tonight it’s a Red Star rematch. The first fixture a couple of weeks ago was hardly exciting but in a hostile arena it was a good result but that’s about it. Perhaps at The Emirates we’ll be better. Walcott might fancy this one for a change, Ollie too, who apart from his goal, was very quiet. Yet these two players should be pushing themselves more, certainly if they want a way back into the first team.
No doubt it’ll be the younger and fringe players on show again and rightly so, especially with Man City up next. If they play like they did last night though, it’s going to be a long long ninety minutes on Sunday, especially if our lot haven’t been drilled well enough.
Anyway, win tonight and we’re through to the next round I believe but it’s going to get tougher as a few tasty sides from the Champions League are on their way in. I certainly wouldn’t fancy our chances against the likes of Napoli, Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig. To be honest, I don’t fancy our chances against Celtic, let alone any of the others.
Just shows us how far off the pace Wenger’s team are…..a damning indictment of how much we will need to spend to compete!
Just piss off at the end of the season Wenger, enough is enough!!!
We could generate a few pounds too if there’s a clear out…
Morning All
Morning Rico and Lee
Well I’m really looking forward to seeing Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Willock this evening.
Arsenal’s future defensive midfield pairing perhaps?
Morning Kev.
Have you guys seen the size of our young right-back?
Morning all.
No Rico I’ve not seen the size of our new right back, what is he called?
You do know Rico that, size is not everything!!
High cloud and cool here. Not very inviting.
Thanks Rico.
Nice diversion from the norm tonight, no stress !……..then there`s Sunday………..back to norm, although I was bricking it against Mansour City and Chavs in our last two FA Cup meeting`s and look how they turned out !…………………..funny old game, but I do expect us to be sponsored by Sketchley`s after Sunday after being taken to the cleaners !.
Wavy, Jordi Osei-Tutu, he’s built like a brick outhouse….
Pitch sizes matter as proved by my extensive research resultinng in our fantastic current record at Wembley and Emirates !
Blazing here today !
😎
Lets hope he doesn`t play like one, Rico.
Think I’ll be watching from behind the sofa on Sunday Lc.. 😉
It’s the magic of the cup le coq best not read too much into those results the league is a different ball game . No extra half hour if it’s a draw at 90-minutes and no penalty shoot-outs involved. The match officials decisions though are just as likely to be wrong and Wenger got the rub of the green against City at Wembley . If the City goal tht was wrongly ruled out had stood it might have been a different result ,but some you win and all that… City though ,unlike us under the old man from Alsace, have moved on and are currently the best side in the Prem and arguably in Europe as well .The same can’t be said of our lot .I know which side Sanchez would sooner be playing for .So much for winning FA Cups then !
Good idea, Rico……………….I shall go to DFS as there`s a fantastic range of choice to hide behind and I hear there maybe a sale on !
Maybe we can move the game to Wembley at short notice, Jeff !……………………….
🙂
The spuds have beaten us to that le coq anyway you know what they say about lightning !
We will get a game there later this season.
That trip to Wembley could be interesting by the time it comes around….
It’s in Feb so Ozil and Alexis will probably be gone…
Tutu? Does he only play in 2-2 draws or is he related to the South African prelate? Or perhaps he is a ballet dancing maestro!
Only joshing.
If he’s as good as you imply then perhaps Hale End have unearthed another junior gem.
Tonight? I expect a win 1 or 2-0 to the crab team! That’s us incidentally!
Saw the sun a few minutes ago………gone now!
Cromer FC
Wavy, haven’t a clue if he’s good or not, just that he makes Kolasinac look small.. ?
Aka The Crabs ?
Very sweet and succulent! Bought a couple straight from the pot back in the day. Delicious!?
Tutu sounds so………..?? For a big lad! Perhaps he will become the ‘missing link’ who knows? But good to see we are grasping the nettle, so to speak and employing a different type of man frame!
What about Cromer Lee ? Their ground is going for new houses and a surgery they are being shunted out of town. The builder is looking to build 300 new homes and says that if he gets permission he will get them a new pitch.Very sporting of him I say.
The idea of the better teams taking us on in Europe is par for the course. Get through the group stage and then K.O.
Potter I was referring to Wavy’s crab analogy re Arsenal’s style of football of late…Cromer crabs are delicious!!!
Hi Rico and HH.
Thanks Scott, high praise indeed! Occasionally I have a good thought and it translates well on paper. Or in this instance, a blog.
Thanks too Lee, there’s plenty of hard gristle for us Gooners to chew on.
Mainly that there’s no-one left at the club who cares enough to stop us drifting into mediocrity.
Hi Cornwall, I tried to say hello the other day, but my comment disappeared. And as my comments go into moderation I tend not to comment so much.
On your point about the lack of ‘Wenger-bashing’ on BK, some people just bury their heads in the sand and ignore the core issues. People like TA, Terry, GN5 etc. were so hypnotised by his first 10 years it is incomprehensible for them to see the reality of what he has become.
Hope you’re good, Rico.
Crabs are awful… Apparently.
Evening all…
What sort of crabs we talking about ? hahaha
I know I keep going on about it, but January really is going to be a weird time, so many permutations and Wenger is saying we wont be going back in for Lemar and on the other hand doesn`t know if we will sign anyone as the squad is full !…………………….not if Alexis and Ozil leave !
It could all depend on where we are in the EPL and even if we`re still in the EL, if we`re in both still, surely he doesn`t sell them, if we`re out of both then surely there`s no point in keeping them !……………if he sells, then who will he get better as in both we will not get more than £30M each with only 6 months of contract left and their proper valuation with a long contract at todays prices is what ?………………Lemar £90M……………….they are better…………………….£100M+ each, so thats what we have to pay to replace them !…………………..can you see Wenger paying £200M+ for two players ?…………………………..it will be the most interesting of TW`s given their contarct situations !…………………and as I alluded to earlier, does anyone want Ozil ?………..could he re- sign ?…………………………..questions questions questions
Hi Herb. I’m good thanks, hope you are to. What’s Bk?
I worry about post January Lc, nearly as much as I worry about Sunday… lol
Morning all.
Rico, now back to your
“Crabs” episode 🙂 🙂 🙂
A rate 7am kick off, Aussie time and I’m off work today so can actually watch a game at a humane hour!!
It’s bliss.
All I need now is my wife to call ok me breakfast and I’ll be king for a day!!
No chance lol
BK = Bergkampesque…………..Rico !
Must admit Herb, in the early years of BK I was more Wenger in as I was persuaded by Terry Transplant that FFP would put us on a different level, but gradually FFP turned from meaning Finacial Fair Play to Fcuking Flying Pigs !…………………….at the time I thought you were off your rocker, but you was right all along ! ………………………………….obviously I was always off my rocker on there ! hahahaha
Team news !
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/926163317961445377
FFP-what a letdown!!!
Everton are woeful!!
Got it Lc, thanks..
Scott, I’m saying nowt ?
Great save by Macey..
We’re making hard work of this Rico. 🙂
We are Adam, but at times we look ok. 😉
Willock has grown on me..
That was a let off…
They’ve had the best chances though. Better finishing and we’d be 2 down.
Perhaps it’s good experience. 🙂
We are very disjointed, so far.
Rico; silence is golden lol
Very true Adam. I’m actually nodding off…
Wake up Rico. Don’t forget we are a one-half side these days. 🙂
Lots of empty seats I see.
These kids are offering more than the established guys!
I’ve got to get sleep Adam, the excitement has hot too much… lol
Night guys…
Hey Rico
I really feel sorry for This youngsters ……..imagine what they think when a perennial failure is going to be their captain…and have to feed him every time.
Cannot wait this coach to live .
Alex, the kids took their chance and did well, imo.
I just hope the changes happen at the club to keep them there, because they’ll be transfer fodder for some big spenders if they keep improving.
“El calvario de Cazorla” – Marca newspaper.
“He lost 8cm of tendon, did numerous surgeries, suffered an infection that almost cost him his foot, had keloids in the scars, did his whole body skin graft and lives alone in Spain, far from the family, to try the MIRACLE to return to play.”
In European terms, we are a disgrace!
Well, we have reached the knock out stages of the ropey cup. How far shall we get? Next round knock our or will we progress to the next round and then bug out? I reckon next round, first round. I mean, let’s show a degree of consistence!
Oh, and then we can concentrate on the league title!
I know he’s said this stuff before and it’s meant nothing, but I’m hearing that Wenger expects Cazorla to be playing again in January…
Very impressed with Macey, he has a presence in goal, I know he’s big, but he looks a very competent and confident goalkeeper.
Nevermind Ospina when he’s fit I’d keep playing Macey in the cups…
Good to see all the kids do well, can’t say the same about most of the seniors.
Kev, for a baby, Macey looks pretty decent.
Let’s hope he continues to progress.
Our older guys looked like it was a chore to be there while the kids were excited, and it showed.
Sorry, apart from Jack and one or two others ……
Morning Rico. Absolutely horrible game and performance last night. No cohesion whatsoever.
Another quality display last night….
Bring on Citeh I say…
Morning Adam, all.
Awful game, we looked like a group of players just thrown a shirt and told to get on with it.
Macey looked decent though..
I feel sorry for our younger players, I really do. Wenger is going to ruin them…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5045013/Arsenal-star-Santi-Cazorla-lost-foot-gangrene.html
Rico & Brudder check out the pictures of Santi’s foot….
When you look at the club, the ground and the money involved, our football is embarrassing. Yes, we got through the group but we have stunk the place out while doing so. If ever a club needed a complete reboot, Arsenal is it. Whatever happened to out style and footballing quality?
Do I dare Lee? lol
Brudder. I saw a glimpse in the paper earlier and don’t want to see it again. 🙂
His ankle looks nasty…
They’be grafted a bit of skin on to the wound it seems with a bit of tattoo on it…
Spot on Adam. Our club has sunk to very low levels…
Happy birthday Wrighty!
You’d never think it with the stadium, training facilities, infrastructure and the annual salary bill….
You see what Evra got up to???
Dick head!
There’s a certain poetry about Evra because I have always quite fancied kicking him in the head. 🙂
Agreed Lee. Everything is there for us to be up there with the best, change the manager/coaches and perhaps we’d make a start at getting there..
Morning All
What’s all this talk of gratuitous violence?
Macey could be a surprise package Rico, I think he’s about 22, so he’s about ready to step up into the senior squad, I certainly feel safer with him in goal than Ospina.
You look at some goalkeepers and they look edgy, nervous and you almost expect them to drop a bollock and they usually do, but some goalkeepers just look safe, Seaman, Lehman, Cech and this fella has that look about him to me. I hope he plays in Cologne because that’s gonna be a bear pit and we’ll see for sure what he’s made of. I see no benefit in playing Ospina whatsoever, he’s off next summer and we need to plan for the future.
Morning all.
I wonder if Spurs fans will be told they must endure several tough years after they move into their stadium.
It’ll be very interesting to see how things pan out for them over the next decade, because If they cruise through it, we will look even sillier than we already do:
Kev but Wenger thought the Spanish waiter was good enough to play in excess of 100 games for us…..
I really liked the look of him too Kev. He’s 23 😉
6′ 6″ but flexible. Him over Ospina any day of the week. Stick a strong defensive unit in front of him and he’s be fine imo.
Hi Fellas:
I think it is hard to blame the players for last night; it is the manager’s fault AGAIN… how does he justify consistently playing players out of position. Last night, 5 players were playing out of position, it’s pathetic… frustrating, am at the I dont care mode now until there are changes.
Spurs will be fine Scott, all their players, well, most of them have been tied down to cheap long term contracts. Totally opposite to the way Wenger works..
I know how you feel Obi…
New post up now.
Obi, it’s like Wenger just wants to stick two fingers up to everyone and just do it his way… sticking with shit players,over paying them and then playing players out of position!
The list goes on and on…