Morning all.
This weekend’s football is off but I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do, especially when all other sport seems to be carrying on in one way or another. History tells us that the Queen didn’t stop working because of a bereavement, in fact she began her working life because of one. I get it, not everyone is a royalist and not everyone will feel the sense of loss that others might but what better way to pay tribute to a lady so much admired by so many, than with 2 minutes of remembrance before kick off. Silence or applause.
The PSV Eindhoven fixture on Thursday is set to go ahead. Then is Brentford away on the Sunday before the international break. Talking of which, Brazil head coach Tite has left Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes out of his squad for the fixtures against Ghana and Tunisia. “Snubbed” is how their omissions have been described but in all honesty, I think Tite has done Arsenal a favour. I’m sure all three will be at the World Cup later in the year. I bet EtH, Klopp and Conte wish their players were staying put during the break.
In other news, David Dein has written a book which the Daily Mail are serialising. Today’s little snippet about the way Arsenal sacked him, his admiration for Arsene Wenger and losing Ashley Cole to Chelsea because of an extra £5,000 a week salary which Arsenal wouldn’t pay him. Fifteen years have passed since Dein left and he still seems bitter and upset about it. I’m pretty sure a vast number of fans are too because after he left, the club lost its way and only now, after a number of poor decisions made by the club, does it feel like Arsenal are truly up and running properly again.
One bit I found interesting in todays article is this about Arsene Wenger:
He was a miracle worker, and they just let him go. He left in a similar way to me. I thought the club owed Arsene a duty of care, at least a discussion. We need a change but how do you want this to be done? Do you want to be involved? What can we do? Would you like a different role, would you prefer to exit elegantly? You must have dialogue. It didn’t happen in my case, didn’t happen in his. And that really hurt him. I would have done it differently. Look, you don’t find a brain like his every day of the week. He’s an Arsenal man, 22 years at the club. Wasn’t his knowledge worth cultivating? Look at where he is now? So he’s not good enough for Arsenal, but he is good enough to be head of global development for FIFA, in charge of 211 countries.
I thought Arsene Wenger did leave elegantly. He certainly wasn’t sacked on the spot and told to pack his bags. He bowed out at the end of a season with The Emirates faithful cheering him on. Should he have stayed in some kind of capacity? No, not in my opinion. Arsenal needed a fresh start, a new beginning. Mind you, several years later that new beginning was needed again and in 2019, it arrived. Edu and Mikel Arteta are doing now what David Dein and Arsene Wenger did back in their day. Then it was French, now it’s Brazilian. Lol
Seriously though, they do seem to have formed a strong working relationship, or at least that’s how it appeared in All Or Nothing. Finally, we appear to have a united group of players too which is why things on the pitch look so much better. That and a lot of quality players with the right work ethic.
I understand why people who’ve been in the limelight choose to write books about their career. It’s cathartic I’m sure but whilst David Dein wants to write about the past and what he would and wouldn’t have done had he not been sacked, as far as Arsenal goes, the future is certainly looking a lot brighter than it did on the day he left. A lot brighter.
See you in the comments.
Good morning Rico, why do people write books? Money! Simples. 😉
Interesting post Rico, thanks for that.
Glancing through the comments section on Arseblog News was a rather depressing experience yesterday as I trawled through a series of negative, unnecessary and downright nasty comments regarding the late Queen, it would have been a good day for keeping your feelings to yourself but some people just love to hang their anti-English thoughts and barely camouflaged politics out like their dirty washing. I was a little surprised at the lack of moderation on the site and can only imagine that those who run it are generally in sympathy with the more extreme wing of the blog. I wonder how far I would get if, following the death of say Mary Robinson, that I went on Arseblog News and slagged her off?
It’s all rather tacky….
There were reports of sectarian songs being sung at Irish league games following the announcement of her death and although large crowds showing respect would have been a fitting tribute it could not be guaranteed.
I do read Arseblog and the online gooner , they have a large Irish element and as I grew up in North London there were many Irish enclaves and the Republican sentiment was alive and prominent in the pubs of Camden Town and Kilburn High Road and like the Sally Army coming round with the collection boxes so did the the one for the bhouys.
The nature of the beast is that a number of drink fuelled people could not be relied on not to try and make their feelings public.
Hi Rico, excellent post.
I think we lost our way after Dein left, but staying was not an option at the time, we could have ended up with Usmanov. I agree with you that Arsene was right to leave completely, Man U have suffered from Fergie hanging around. It was great to see them suffer on Thursday, obviously foreign referees don’t know the rule about not awarding pens against United at Old Trafford.
Morning again guys.
Cicero, I didn’t want to sound cynical 😂
Thanks Kev, Brian.
That’s horrid to read Kev. I just don’t get the human race sometimes, if one has nothing kind or decent to say, then say nothing. No wonder the world is in such a state with so much nastiness and hatred about.
Brian, I too think Fergie hanging around at Utd has done more harm than good, not that I’m complaining. Lol
I have just read through my post and I think it comes over that I am a bit anti Irish , that is not the case . The reason that I was in those pubs was because I played with a number of both Irish and Cypriot boys in my team and we were very close as a group and socialised together.
Things will start to get back to normal following the European matches and I reckon the best way to handle the postponements will be to add a date to the end of the season. ..
Or cancel the international break Potter. Do managers really need more time to work out which players they’ll select? It’s not that long ago they were all playing.
Arteta is not Wenger. He will never win the league and never get to the Champions league final. I hope he proves me wrong
The international break is not solely for us and affects the other countries many of whom are concerned about the Queen’s demise. It’s our problem and we will have to fix it.
Not concerned (edit facility ?)
In a small Scottish village the owner of a chip shop displayed a sign saying “Lizard Liz is dead” while dancing and spraying champagne in the street. Villagers pelted her and the shop with eggs. Police arrived and shut down the shop, as the woman was escorted away in her car by police the car was stoned and had rubbish thrown at it. I wonder how much fish and chips she’ll sell in the future.
I firmly believed at the time, and still do, that Wenger should have left of his own accord two seasons previously.
Yes but I’m sure no clubs would complain if it were cancelled, even this early in the season.
I’d love the edit option to be available but I can’t isolate to just being able to edit your own comments.
None hopefully Cicero.
Agree re Wenger but that was his downfall imo, not admitting he wasn’t getting things right or seeking help.
That Scottish chip shop owner if probably a card carrying member of the SNP.
I believe Shamrock Rovers fans were singing ” Lizzies in a box ” to an old Liverpool chant .
Afternoon Rico and all
The people who come out and say rubbish about the late Queen need to remember that they are doing more harm to them self and their cores than good.
£35 million for Mustafi is a fair indicator that things weren’t right.
His name pooped into my mind this morning Adam, and Silvestre…
Afternoon Geoff, I doubt they care.
Going back to your headline Rico, there has been four games played today in Rugby Union’s Premiership and there are two more scheduled for tomorrow. The England v South Africa test started today at The Oval and will continue for another three days. I really can’t see why the whole weekend’s Premiership football was postponed. Although the rail and postal unions have called off strikes planned for the next two weeks.
Our own home match against Everton will be rescheduled perhaps as the last game of the season. A repeat of the one in which Tony Adams scored the last goal of his Arsenal career.
Ozzie rules are still playing this weekend, but every match will have a minute’s silence at the start of each match and the players are wearing black armbands.
After abruptly stopping part way through the cards on Thursday horse racing will restart today with the meeting at Doncaster. If it’s okay for racing, rugby, cricket etc why not for professional football?
‘morning all.
Cicero, I think it’s down to the fear of the football fan. Other sports appear to have a very different kind of fan/follower.
Morning guys.
You could be right Rico, I read that the FA were warned by the head of the Metropolitan Police that there may not have been enough officers available to control crowds. Although why that should be so I have no idea, unless they are all working from home that is.
Sadly , you are right Rico , the powers felt that they cannot trust people to act in a responsible manner. take your average 40.000 crowd and 39,500 stand in silence but 500 decide to make their political point .
Who gets the headlines ?
Can you see the sun or the mirror saying 95% of the crowd showed their respect . Or will it read football hooligans disrespect our late monarch.
Question for the day .
Ha ha Cicero. I suppose if the Met are policing football matches, they won’t be able to deal with crime against the ‘ordinary’ person for a few hours. Not that do a very good job of that either.
Oh I forgot to add
Unless it’s at Anfield of course.
The latter Potter. Sums the media up eh..
Spot on re Anfield too. They’d probably blame any rowdy behaviour on the away fans. It’s always someone else’s fault.
South Africa all out for 169 England need 130 to win the series. Play will go on till around 18.30 with all day tomorrow in which to complete the run chase.
It should be an entertaining day’s play.
PSV beat Walwijk 1-0 with a 95th minute apparently soft penalty .Walwijk are 12th out of 18
Bodo/Glimt lost 3 – 2 to Tromso . who are 7th
If the FA is worried about the behavior of the fans due to lack of Police during matches, then why not play matches behind closed doors.
I’d happily put up with a couple of days without football rather than matches being played in empty stadiums, Geoff.
Cicero I would rather play one or two games behind closed doors then have to play every 3 days to catch up especially if we have more injuries down the track
Good morning all.
It appears that our Thursday night football match against PSV is in danger of postponement, due to lack of policing resources in the Capital. A large number of World leaders are heading to London in order to attend the late Queens funeral. Consequently, a major security operation is being put in place so there will not be sufficient policy officers to cover the match.
I see no reason why the game could not go ahead but without the presence of away supporters. In fairness the return leg could also be played without away fans.
A precedent has already been set by UEFA in the case of Rangers vs Napoli both games will be played without away supporters.
Unpopular opinion coming: Football should have been played this weekend.
Respect can be shown in many ways: Black armbands; Silence; Applause; Revelry; Abstinence
The portrayal of the football fans in this country as the knuckle dragging group that can’t be trusted plays well into the media stereotypes that get trotted out regulalrly.
@Ozzie Geoff
Footy ain’t just for those that watch on TV in a reformed penal colony.
I have a ticket for Thursday evening as do many others. I’d like to attend. Playing behind closed doors is a stupid idea.
The police presence is minimal at Arsenal and has been for years. I was at a game a number of years back where zero police were present. They were all at the Poll Tax riot in Trafalgar Square.
Why not extend the season by a week, job done. Put the FACup final back a week, it can be done. Next week in London security is going to be absolutely enormous, probably higher than at any time in living memory, London is going to be rammed.
I agree regarding away fans in the Eindhoven ties, it’s so easy to do and then the problem goes away, maybe UEFA could have reversed the ties so that Arsenal play away first?
Keep calm and carry on!
Pete it’s not about watching on tv it’s about our players being made to play every 3 days and getting injured or tired from playing too many games in a short period to catch up.
Pete I find it very offensive that you have a go at my option just be Couse I don’t live England It does not matter where I leave, up until Arteta was made manager, I paid my membership every year knowing that I would not get the chance to see us play live.
UEFA have postponed our match with PSV due to “severe limitations on police resources”.
However, they have ruled that Chelsea’s home game against Red Bull Salzburg, on Wednesday can go ahead. UEFA is satisfied all security needs around the game will be met at Stamford Bridge.
One rule for them and a totally different one for us.
Other matches going ahead are, Tuesday Liverpool v Ajax at Anfield, Wednesday Man City home to Borussia Dortmund and Thursday Man U at home to Sheriff Tirasol of Moldova.
Apologies no intention to offend Geoff, just pulling your leg. Have been to Oz many times and have family and friends there, Sydney way/East coast. Wonderful place.
The gane was (another) sell out. 60k fans dumped on yet again. Behind closed doors doesn’t make sense to me.
Agree with Cicero, the hypocrisy of the authorities is astounding.
Chelsea play Wednesday. Arsenal Thirsday. What is the huge difference? Ok Eindhoven fans might travel in bigger numbers and have more of a reputation for bother.
But there is very little difference between Wednesday and Thursday for the police. There will be crowds at the Palace. Not as large as the BBC are trying to make out.
The game on Sunday will almost certainly be called off if they’re using the same standards. So next game is in October against Spurs.
Jokers.
Pete all is forgiven mate put it down to a miss understanding.
I would rather see a full stadium any time but as I said I don’t want to see our players get too many games in a short period and have no recovery time.
According to reports in OZ today all premier league games will go ahead this weekend.
A reprieve for the Brentford game but it will kick off two hours earlier than originally scheduled at twelve pm.
Good morning all.
I really can’t get my head around the fixture nonsense.
Chelsea play Wednesday, ok. Arsenal postponed Thursday, erm ok.
The justification I’ve read is down to stretched police resources. But then Spurs play at home on Saturday at 5.30, which goes ahead with 60k in attendance.
Brighton game vs Palace on Saturday is cancelled. That’s down in Sussex, a good 50 miles away from London.
Arsenal’s game at Brentford on Sunday is on, but Chelse’s home game vs Liverpool is off.
It’s becoming clear that Sky are heavily involved in these decisions and want to fill up their channels with football, but just enough to be seen to placate the police and the forelock tuggers.
I wonder if Mike Riley was involved in some way?
Reports today that we may have to forfeit the PSV points with a 3- 0 defeat for not complying .
Pete, I’d imagine it’s because the Queen’s coffin will be back in London on Thursday.
If anything, why not just declare Thursday’s match a 0-0 draw, that imo would make more sense.
New post up now