Morning all.
Monday night football – it’s boring and takes too long to come around. Big match for us too as Brenda brings his ‘new look’ side to the Capital of London. Unlike Arsene Wenger, he’s been spending money like a kid in a sweet shop, just like he did last summer.
This time though he seems to have acquired a few good players, whether or not he manages to do something with them remains to be seen…
Some of the Arsenal players have been killing time by playing cricket, Theo and The Ox were pretty good by all accounts, Ospina on the other hand was dreadful. Well what do you expect, he’s Columbian….
There’s a video of the boys having fun with Ravi Bopara HERE if you are interested. It’s worth watching just to see Ospina…
Joel Campbell – what does his future hold I wonder. There’s been many a story linking him with a move away from the club this summer but the manager wants him to stay:
“At the moment he is here and personally I would like to keep him.
“I will have to sit down with Joel because I rate him highly as a player and personally if he stays here I am very happy.”
It’s an odd situation. Last summer and after a very positive World Cup, Wenger confirmed that Joel Campbell would be part the first team for the 2014/15 season.
On 2 August 2014, Campbell scored in Arsenal’s 5–1 win over Benfica in the Emirates Cup. Eight days later he made a cameo appearance in the Community Shield as we beat Manchester City 3-0 and then made his Premier League debut on 23 August in a 2–2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park, coming off the bench to replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on 74 mins and I think that was about it, other than being part of the side which got knocked out of the League Cup by Southampton…
Even though Ollie and Theo were both injured, Campbell didn’t get playing time, in fact once January came, he was gone again on loan to Villarreal…
Campbell hasn’t been involved in any of our pre-season fixtures and hasn’t made the bench for our opening matches either. I’m not sure whether he’s been injured or not but I don’t recall reading/hearing that he has.
Should he be given a chance to prove he has what it takes at Arsenal?
Perhaps the player wants out because of lack of playing time and apparently Palermo want him but according to reports, they won’t pay the £7 million asking price. But can Arsenal really afford to let Campbell go right now if Arsene Wenger has no plans to sign a winger/striker?
In ten days time, it’ll all be over. We’ll know exactly what squad we have for the season as the transfer window will be locked and bolted until January.
But should it be closed already? Does Arsene Wenger make a good point when saying that before the season kicks off, clubs cannot make any further signings?
My view is yes, he’s right as it’s not fair on the clubs who get raided for players in the last few days of the transfer window.
But perhaps more importantly, Arsene Wenger would complete his transfer business much earlier and we’d start the season knowing exactly where we are, unlike now when having only added a goalkeeper, we are sat hoping that a couple of surprises will be in the door over the next ten days.
Can we expect any more signings Arsene?
‘I expect like you but at the moment we are not close’.
Not for one minute do I believe that. If he has a player or two in his mind then surely he and the negotiating team will have been hard at work for a few weeks/months now and as the clock ticks by, any such deals should be close, very close.
That is of course if targets had been identified before now and I’d like to think that’s the case rather than just sitting around waiting for a last minute bargain. After all, that’s the way an ambitious and pro-active club would behave…
Isn’t it?
Arsene Wenger always maintains it’s hard to get signings made but I just think that’s an excuse as Petr Cech didn’t take long, neither did Alexis Sanchez or the rest of the players who signed last summer. And what about that OT 8-2 trolley dash?
Just an attacking player and a central midfielder Arsene, is that too much to ask…..
Gossip:
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has said no to selling Arsenal target Karim Benzema in the transfer window.
Florian Thauvin has revealed that Arsenal were the only other Premier League club to show an interest before his £13m move to Newcastle.
Paris Saint Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi has been offered to Arsenal this summer, according to Tribal Football.
Gedion Zelalem has agreed to join Rangers on loan. No, not Qpr, the Scottish club….
That’s enough for one day, have a good one all…
Campbell was on international duty, like Sanchez.
Thanks Neal, silly me… 😉
The latest Benzema heading:
‘Arsenal flying in Benzema on private jet for his medical’
😛
Wikki doesn’t say Campbell was at the 2015 Copa Cup Neal…
Checking the teams competing, Costa Rica weren’t one of them…
Morning All
Morning Rico
That post was like a strong cup of tea.
Picks you up for the rest of the day. 🙂
And so, just in case anyone missed it, in not so many words, Joel Campbell is like a new signing, or is that what Arsene means?
Morning Kev, I’ve had two of those… 😉
I rate him very highly !!! No you dont Arsene,if you did he wouldnt spend all that time on the bench,he cant even compete with Mr. inconsistent (Oliver G) so please stop all the bullshit we know what you feel about Joel C.
Rico, I was listening to Phillipe Auclair, the French football journo, yesterday and he seems to think that Wenger’s transfer business is done…
He tends to be rather measured with his observations and he knows Arsenal/Arsene quite well, so I guess that his opinions carry some weight?
So, no point us beating ourselves up over transfers…
As far as Arsenal are concerned this summer it seems it’s fin…
My thoughts too Danish… He’s gone imo..
If he’s right Kev and Wenger isn’t signing anyone else, then firstly I’d be very surprised and secondly, when/if it all starts to go wrong, AW will deserve all that comes his way…
Costa Rica was at the Gold Cup tournament if I’m not mistaken.
Morning rico and everyone,if wenger does not sign players we need,then this should be his last season at arsenal
Morning Rico and all. It’s Wenger that rolls the dice. It’s Wenger who is sitting on an enormous pot of gold that would strengthen the squad. It’s Wenger who has been preaching Jam tomorrow for the past several years. If he wins the PL or the CL with this squad then he will look down on those who criticised his lack of activity in the TW and say, with a wry grin, “I told you so”. If he doesn’t he will say it was injuries, luck, referees decisions and the usual. He will say that people want him to strengthen but he prefers to look internally for solutions. Oh, he’s already said that. If you ask him what he will do when Coquelin gets injured or suspended he will look towards the injury-prone Arteta.
Yes, the transfer window is difficult, but more so for Arsene than any other manager it seems. We were a long way from Chelsea last year. They will strengthen, as will the rest, some will be enormously better equipped, so what is it exactly that has convinced Arsene that we can beat all those other teams this time round to the PL and overcome the power of European competitions in the CL? If it’s the signing of Cech then fair enough. But, THIS is the season. For me there can be no more excuses.
Mind you, with an implicit offer of another contract on the table already, I doubt there are any performance related clauses so, same again then.
Morning Drake, but who will sack him?
2 players,only TWO PLAYERS! I always try not to look at other clubs but cant help but i admit that 3 clubs are more stronger than us,manu are trying to sign a french winger who plays for A.MADRID and chelsea also trying for pogba,mancity going hard for de bruyne too.
Morning Adam..
It’s all rather odd isn’t it. Yet so predictable….
Rico no one should sack him,but he need to start being honest and admit that he is no longer best for the job
Agree Drake.. Just two players would be a really big boost to this squad…
As Adam says, one injury to Coquelin and we are pinning all our hopes on Arteta. Hardly ideal is it…
Rico. For me that is the worry. Talk about déjà-vu. How many times have we been here? Certainly every close season since HH was formed has been crammed with the same comments as to Arsene’s unwillingness to increase quality to cover the gap between us and other clubs. Even when he has signed big players, marquee players, there has always been the feeling that if he stretched a bit further, we could really be in at the death with a shout at the title. He hasn’t and we haven’t.
Last season Potter wrote a quite exceptional post about how Wenger’s age might well be playing a part and I have been thinking about that lately.
Who knows what this season holds for Welbeck? The injury must be a concern to the club to the extent that he cannot be totally relied upon. Jack will come back, but as his second touch is invariably an ankle shattering tackle, how long will he last?
So, as we enter the home straight of the TW, we might get a top striker, or we might not. What the hell have the club been doing for the last 100 days that they can’t find a quality DM, a striker and even, as some of us believe, a top class winger?
I get the fact that Wenger finds the whole transfer thing, with its sky-high prices and crazy wages, slightly offensive. But the big-money clubs aren’t going away. It’s how it is and if he really finds it all so distasteful then perhaps……
We’ve said that for the last two years after the FA Cup victory Drake….
The problem is though, he honestly believes he can win the PL by not spending and until he realises that’s not possible, we’ll be stuck in this rut.
£200m in the bank and he has spent £10m of it… Laughable really..
They gave wenger too much power,the dictactor at best.it only took chelsea just 24h to sign pedro why didnt we put our name too?23m that a bargain than a last minute signing who is likey to cost us about 50m
The idea of yet again making do and we solve from within and no one is available is totally shambolic in my opinion.
Other teams make things happen we sit and watch as the water flows down the plug hole.
Hopefully things are going on behind the scenes but Wengers utterances are quite pathetic when we create our own finances and he moans about inflated transfers and in the ame breather wants 7mil for Campbell. If he wants inflated prices look closer to home and look at ticket prices that fans pay to watch the team play and then wonder why ppl get pissed off when the accounts look rosy and he is penny pinching.
Lets hope it’s the proverbial smokescreen and he makes things happen but if he doesn’t he will be hanging himself out to dry when things go pear shaped.
Oh and morning all.
Morning Wath. I make you right mate, particularly about the transfer prices. Hypocritical or what? Can you imagine someone like Pep sitting his hands and moaning about prices while a prick like Mourinho is spending what he get to make the Chelsea squad stronger?
Adam we may not even see welback this season like ganbry last season.we prayed for a injury free season but we already had four players injured this season
Morning Wath. Couldn’t agree more…
Drake. Many disagree but I still say that THIS is our season to win a big trophy. Wenger simply has to do it. If he doesn’t then the repercussions will be precisely zero as I doubt the board want the responsibility of finding a successor.
We’re not winning the PL or CL with this squad…. manure came 4th and have added Schneiderlin (fuck up that we didn’t get him!) Depay and Schweinsteiger. We add Cech so far, it’s just not good enough it really isn’t!
Morning Brudder. Arsene believes we have enough to win both the PL and the CL. But he has believed that, or told us he did, for over a decade now. The problem is that the board see that as success.
Personally, I don’t. 🙂
wenger this summer has not been complaining about the transfer prices, but the availability of real quality players, in fact he said “we have the funds”,
I have yet to see anyone give good reasons as to why any club with money will sell their top quality DM or ST, also why if said top quality DM or ST is for sale to Arsenal, why wouldn’t even richer clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich not also in for said player, and why should the player pick AFC over any of those clubs
Who are all these quality DM’s and ST that are cash strapped clubs, that we can force into sales. Look at the trouble Chelsea are having forcing Everton to sell John Stones. £35M for Benteke shows the lack of quality strikers available. You also have to remember that many players are very happy where they are, at the club they are at, or in the league they are in. We all love to have players who are loyal to our club, “Tony Adams the one club man” etc etc etc, but yet we seem to forget that most signings made means that the player was disloyal to a club. Its no wonder the transfer window is called the “silly season”
We can have “no excuses”, that is true, but we can have “legitimate reasons”. but hey “legitimate reasons” is not as good a soundbite as “no excuses”
11.13 Adam, how can I disagree…
It’s all rather sad being an Arsenal supporter, here we are, one of the wealthiest clubs in the world of football ( self sustained that is) and we have a man at the top who from the outside, seems to clearly lack proper ambition..
He words about winning things seem rather empty to me… Still, we have collective spirit and cohesion eh….
I would also add that Wenger has explained in the past that unless we are at the point where we have at least an agreement with a selling club and a broad contract agreement with a player “we are not close” to the signing.
Rico. Schneiderlin, Pedro, Vidal, Schweinsteiger, Memphis, to mention but 5. Would none of these players, all of whom have moved clubs, have strengthened our squad?
Eduardo, what about a plan b as Potter was talking about yesterday.
Why did we not sign Schneiderlin?
Is there really not a CDM out there who is better/fitter/younger than Arteta who can be signed? A player to help/support Coquelin?
That midfielder at Sevilla has a buy-out clause. Offer it and he’s ours if he wants the move…
Adam, you already know my answer to that… 😉
It;s not me you need to convince… lol
I know Rico. Just as you know my views on life after Wenger which is something that the board should be concerning themselves with. 🙂
Alas…
Rico it is totally wrong to say pay a buy out clause and the lad is ours, all it does it allow us to talk to the guy if he wants to. Is the lad interested in moving to a new country and a new league, I don’t know. Is he really any good, I don’t know. Does he want to join us, I don’t know.
Also I ask what do you mean by a player to help/support Coquelin. Does all of the midfielders we play alongside Coquelin not help and support him,
I like how the quality of Arteta is totally downplayed, for me it will be very difficult to get a better player than Arteta, from what I can tell Arteta is as fit as he ever was, so that leaves only age as the main criteria and I don’t see his age as a big problem at this time.
There’s loads of players within our budget that would make us contenders let alone the ones that have already moved. To say otherwise is short sighted imo.
It’s like Wenger what’s to give the footballing world the middle finger do it his way…..we’ll come up short again and the usual bullshit will be spouted and then repeat the process all over again! All really tedious.
No Adam, what views are they? 😉
Rico. I can’t remember. 🙂
What’s = wants
And to do it his way….
Schneiderlin is not a DM, Wanyama was always the out and out DM for Southampton, Schneiderlin in fact played more of a box to box role, much like Ramsey has for us.
As to why we did not sign him, well I don’t know, but have you maybe considered that he preferred Man Utd, or they could offered him more than we could, or guarantee him more of the role he wanted. The fact is none of us know why, there are all sorts of stories about why a supposed AFC move for him broke down.
Eduardo – did I not write ‘if he wants the move… he’s ours’?
My comment about Coquelin is, and as you probably know, IF he gets injured to replace/support him! And in some of the bigger games, having two dms on the pitch wouldn’t be a bad idea…
I agree Lee, good honest hard workers would really strengthen this squad and they don’t have to be world class players.. Look at Coquelin, he’s far from world class and I mean no offence by that, but what a great job he does…
🙂 Adam.
Gazidis expressed dissatisfaction with our season and I was rather hoping that he would drive the club a little more and convince Arsene to strengthen. Realistically of course, that could never, ever happen. Of all the club hierarchy he does seem the man who is closest to the fans as Wenger has distanced himself over the years.
Once you accept the status-quo you are in no position to complain if complacency sets in. But, we could still make the signings we need and there are always the last day panic buys.
That’s all we can hope for Adam. There’s still plenty of time for signings, even though the club are not close to anyone… 😉
Off out into the garden now, catch up later…
Good morning all, good post rico. The moment MA and TR was offered new contracts the club ambition was evident. The board at AFC does not recognize that AW is no longer the only smart person in the room. Without addition we wont win the league, so whenever the game is on and i’m around I watch it, other that i don’t give a f***. The NFL starts in Sep, NBA starts in Oct and the Yankees doing well this year in the MLB, that enough sports to keep me entertain. The way Arsenal go about improving the playing staff with the money they have is disgraceful.
Hi GDNA.
Adam, How you doing Sir?
Not bad mate. Bit disappointed with our lack of transfer business, as usual. You well?
I’m good bro, i used to let it get to me but i distance myself from all the ish AW give to fans about this that and the third. 90% of Arsenal fans sees the deficiencies in the team and the manager who everyone thinks should know better is doing worst. Its modern times, ain’t listening to bs anymore. What hurts more the way people takes what AW says as gospel, its indescribable.
I was hoping to be wrong
when I stated a couple of months ago.
Wenger has for the first time in years got
a strong squad and will wait right till the
end of the Transfer Window.
That bits right.
But after two games,
Has he seen what we have
Has he seen what the two teams
that finished above us have done.
Can he be sure he will develope the
players we have.
Wenger keeps repeating how hard it is
to get a player to sign.
The old three way quote..He say’s
It seems like every other day a player signs
for a new club,the player turns round and says
The Arsenal wanted me.
I’m starting to think wenger has a few shares
in the ……Metro…
I hear you Gdna.
Hi Fred. Metro? Such a distinguished publication with a depth of integrity and an awesome reputation for the truth. 🙂
Wankers.
If it ain’t in the Metro, it ain’t worth a toss.
I know we are all fed up with Wenger’s seeming inertia, his lack of activity is so frustrating but, what if he really does think he’s ‘got enough’ and he goes on to win the EPL and the CL or one or the other, don’t want to seem greedy, he can then turn round and say ‘I told you so, ner ner na ner ner! Ya boo sucks’ and slip into senile retirement! However, he will have left Sir Chips’ transfer funds untouched. The incoming Coach will be unencumbered by Wenger’s misfits and able to go out and buy whoever he wants. That would be a really good bit of bait to catch a new man!
In truth I don’t believe this to be the case at all but if we buy no more and we finish fourth, again or even fifth, I think we will see Arsene’s wave bye bye. Leaving behind his legacy and a very full pot of cash as he wont have pissed the funds up the wall on useless unsuitable misfits that we, the supporters have screamed for.
Wavy. I think that the CL and PL double is exactly what will happen. 🙂
Adam,
I’m telling J.Arther
Illarramendi
WH 0 – Bou 2. lol
hi all. As I have said before our last few home games should be ringing alarm bells. West Ham getting torn a new one by Leicester and now Bournemouth!
Afternoon guys…
What a beautiful day it’s been. Shame I’ve been scrubbing down a chicken coup all afternoon… 😉
Eduardo, what about him?
Thanks Gdna… You gone all American with sport…? lol
The West Ham game sounds great…
Rico we were in talks with real madrid about signing him on loan,some say we want 2 midfield signings one being on loan
Drake, where does that come from… ? 😉
Man Utd were poor today. Crappy really.
They have been since LvG arrived. How Moyes was sacked for him beggars belief…
If you listen to him Rico you understand how truth is one of the first casualties of propaganda. Apparently he reckoned that Utd were fantastic today. 🙂
It media talk rico lol…moyes was sold sold by giggs
adam 1 goal scored in 3 says a lot with world class players being average under lvg
I only watched part of the game but enough to know LvG tells porkies Adam…. 😉
Media speculation Drake, surely not…
And there was me thinking it was true…. 😉
Who’s being cynical now, Rico?
The media are the conduits of the truth to the eager and hungry proletariat!
Drake’s sources must be truthing! How could you think otherwise?
Some cracking results today. Most of the shadow top four hopefuls failed to produce any meaningful results or performances today. Marvellous. The only way is THIRD.?
Ha ha Wavy. At a time when exams results are in, I have an A* for cynicism…. 🙂
What are you going to take as your AS’s next year? And do you have a career path outlined? Isn’t there a degree course on offer somewhere, it may even be Reading Uni, called, ‘politics and cynicism’ . It sets you on course for the world of the Blog!
Sorry, I forgot, although I don’t usually use lols at the end of sentences but, Lol!
?? Wavy….
I guess everyone has the bbq burning…..
Chelsea are going all in for pogba.we really need a signing
In out in out, you shake it all about !
Arsene messing with Joels head, nothing new there, why not do the decent thing and set the kid free, let him get on with his life with a club that will appreciate him.
Best thing about transfer windows these days………finding out who we nearly signed !
Micko Cant wait for those stories by wenger proudly telling the media who he missed out on
As for the transfer window rules, he just comes across as a spoilt brat or a big cry baby, why comment on the amount of money other clubs are spending when he could go out and make a statement himself ! Numpty.
Mick, do you also moonwalk when you do the Hokey Cokey?
Pogba – go get him Arsene lol
8.52 Micko. I think you may have nailed it…..
Night all, chat tomorrow…
It’s usually all a bit of a blur by that stage kev…..delirium tremens !
Dads Army is nearly as funny as AW in a transfer window…. ??
Mick, I’m sure that you are a groovy mover after a few pints of Guiness.
Rico, I hear that Benzema is flying in to sign in the next 48 hours.
Apparently the jet and hotel have been booked and the Star reckon it’s a Done Deal… Zzzzzzzzx
Night rico,micko and kev
Nite rico, keep an eye open for Welbeck on Casualty tonite.
yeah Micko, why not go the whole hog and give frees to the entire squad, after all that would be the decent thing to do.
Considering how Chelsea just swanned in and blew away a mega club like Man Ure, when they snatched Pedro, it’s hardly surprising that Wenger keeps his cards close to his chest and also leaves it until the last minute…
Man City and Chelsea would love to see Wenger negotiate, come close to completion and then just nip in and steal the player we want leaving us no time to sort out an alternative…
Night Drake
Night Rico
Nite Drake, keep your ear close to the ground, butt end of the window and all that, only 10 more days of torture !
Kev, the latest fad is a Guinness and a protein shake with a packet of tayto’s, like you didn’t already know, nite matey.
Eduardo, who loves ya baby !
Sounds delicious Mick…
Cheers mate, night…
Talking of moaning wtf is Wath?
Geeez, a belting at the cricket has you lot back to your miserable, whinging selves 🙂
Ten days to do some business, and if he doesn’t, you’ll never hear me defend Wenger again…..unless we are speaking of past situations.
He is crazy, or senility has set in, if he believes by not improving an already lacking squad, we can win the League.
Ten days though, guys, and history shows we’ve done a lot of late business over the last few seasons, so I’d suggest plenty are being overly negative at this point in time.
reports tonight that Wanyama has asked for a transfer, with Totts and AFC said to be trying to sign him.
Joel get out while you still can
League Cup ties next week, 25th/26th….
So we should know next week who we’ll get in the 3rd Round (or is it 4th round?)…
Always enjoy the League Cup, hopefully we’ll get a home draw again a 1st Division side and some of our youngsters can get a run-out alongside the likes of Gabriel, Flamini and Walcott…
Utd have spent up and are still shit though, so it’s nice to know it’s the right players, and not the price tag, that makes the difference.
Scott, our batting has been a disgrace…
But why are your guys bowling properly when it’s all over?
Siddle should have been in from the start.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/arsenal-keeper-wojciech-szczesny-made-stunning-double-save-for-roma-v-verona-gif/?
Wanyama…?
Underwhelmed tbh Eduardo…
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that our goalkeepers aren’t coached up to the same level under Gerry Peyton, that they were under Bob Wilson?
Kev, Siddle should be our first bowler picked because he toughs it out when other can’t,
There’s been more discussion about selections than I’ve ever head during a tour.
Usually, nobody speaks of them, but I’d suggest plenty know we got things very wrong.
In saying that, we still out out quality players and your guys outplayed them.
home again. I’ve watched Palace-Arsenal. We did play well? Not my opinion. We were lucky on the starting of the second half when the ball hit the post…
Cesch again… we will win 12 points with him… well in balance now, we must win 15 points for he sentence be true.
New signs: I’m not agree with AW. This season, we are not in the pre-game of the Champions League. This is the great advantage fot not be the 4th of the League. Those teams who must play this game, only know if they go through (and win money….) at the end of August. It’s difficult to understand in this time, with 4 games played for the League (12 points), a Cup played (we won but if we lost?), no pre-season, not build the team before all those games. Moreover, with the start of the internacional competitions, it’s difficult to find a or more player(s) able to play in all competitions now.
Last week, I wrote would be a very good transfer for us and the ideal player for our attack.. Mourinho think like me and if he was in the way to MU, now is in London. Probably it was not so difficult . Hope i was wrong but I’m quite sure I’m not.
DId you call Kev……?
Eduardo. if you don’t like someone’s comment on here then disagree in a civil manner if you can’t do that then you’ll get binned. Seems all you do is moan at other people moaning and come on just to contradict or disagree with everything everyone else has to say yet you toe the party line and no one tells you your off your trolley do they..! It goes both ways so leave out the swearing please.
Evening Wath…
How’s things in Camden ?
All good fella, how’s you..?
allezkev would Wanyama not fulfill exactly what so many have been asking for, an out and out DM, who can rotate with Coquelin, or partner a box to box player, like he did with Sneiderlin at Southampton. And of course when a game needs to been seen out, he and Coquelin could play together. is he not the BBB type that so many call for.
Just relaxing mate and trying to imagine Mick doing the Hokey Cokey after 10 pints of Guiness…
I’m not sure Eduardo, I’ve heard a lot about him but when I’ve seen Soton, either on TV or live, he’s never stood out to me…
Doesn’t mean that I’m right, just means that maybe I’ve not been observant enough…
Where are you based Eduardo?
Am sure Micko is Dublins finest hokey cokeyist………. I also bet he don’t spill a drop of the black stuff whilst cutting a rug..!
Krychowiak has flown to Paris today with his better half, it might verywell be just a romantic trip(nost likely), but it has not stopped many new transfer rumors, off to PSG with Raibot or Veratti off to AFC, he is in Paris to get his paperwork for a move to England, etc etc.
allezkev I’m another Irish Gooner.
It was rocking and rolling in the West End today Wath, bloody rammo…
Loads of tourists, quite a lot of Americans, which is great…
Didn’t go near Camden though, think they’re all too tight to get cabs up there. 🙂
Nice one Eduardo, you’ll feel at home on here mate, it’s like Kilburn on a Friday night… 😀
No mate we not tight we just don’t like getting ripped off you know how it is…. Dodgy cab drivers and all…!
You going Monday..?
Ah, that’ll be the MiniCabs Wath…
Yes, I wouldn’t trust those toss-pots either… 🙂
No mate, I’m working…
I might get over there and see if I can meet up with my boy and his mates before the game?
Have a pint in the Rocket.
Right, that’s me done…
Offski now.
Night Wath
Night Scott
Night Eduardo
Cheers Kev… Have a good kip mate…. Might as well put me feet up and watch a bit of last of the summer wine, reminds me of Micko and Lee…
Night all.
it seems southampton are set to sign Virgil van Dijk. from Celtic
Seems strange that convicts played really well in the last test, when we’d already won the Ashes! Maybe if they’d played to that standard in all the tests they probably would of retained them! 😆
Wanyama no thanks… Krychowiak yes please, I guess we’ll go for the cheaper option!
Wenger fucked up big time with Campbell he should of sold him straight after the World Cup.
I reckon England just dropped to the Aussies level as nothing to play for… 😉
Morning Lee and all..
I think he’ll keep Campbell….
Hahahaha.
The Aussies managed something incredible…..we lowered ourselves to a standard that allowed your boys to dominate.
That takes real ability. 🙂
Morning guys.
Morning Rico and all. England won the Ashes but still have several issues to address within their team.
Arsene is feeling “pressured” to spend? If he really doesn’t want to, then he shouldn’t, I would say.
Adam, I agree…..he shouldn’t be pressured into spending.
I also agree with what your thinking…..why the hell shouldn’t he want to 🙂
Morning Scott, Adam..
Lyth should be gone imo, and perhaps Bell too….
Scott. I would say it is loyalty and belief in the players he sees every day. The fact that he gave Rosicky and Arteta new contracts must mean that he prefers consistency within the squad and who could argue with that? I believe he has mentioned that bringing in too many players can be disruptive and I get that completely too.
My thinking too Rico but I think that Moeen and Butler are also questionable. Moeen is not a top spinner but a decent batsman and Butler is a decent keeper but his test batting has been poor. He is destructive in the one-day game though. Bairstow? Probably deserves persevering with. Root at 3 perhaps? Moeen to open with Cook might be worth a shout but I am not sure how good he is against the quicks. A top spinner is a must for me.
All interesting topics.
Morning All
Morning Rico
Fernando Llorente was mentioned again yesterday, by the transfer gurus on Talk Rubbish…
Reasonably priced back-up/competition to Giroud?
I doubt that anything is gonna happen until the Bank Holiday weekend…
If at all.
Moeen to open seems a strange one to me…
Do England really not have any other opening options at the Counties?
Compton didn’t do anything terribly wrong imo…
Have another look at Robson perhaps?
Morning Kev. Moeen has technique and many reckon he could be given a go at opener. I don’t know th county scene well enough to suggest who else is doing the business out there these days.
You have to hand it to the Daily Star, they’re going into overdrive in an attempt to out do the Metro…
Not only are they reporting (that’s the headlines, I won’t click on those fucktards) that Benzema is gonna be completed tomorrow, but that Cavani is jetting in and it’s another done deal.
Blimey Sanchez, Benzema, Cavani, that’s one hell of an attack…. zzzzzzzz
Adam, I’m sure he’s right…bringing in too many players causes issues.
You, me, and everyone else is unanimous in our calls for new signings, but not too many want multiple guys brought in….just one or two that will improve us.
I have no problem extending The contracts of Arteta and Rosiscky, but with the players we have sold/released, there must be room for some new guys.
Adam, KP back is a must for me but I wouldn’t give up on Buttler yet… 😉
Morning Kev..
Morning Adam, how’s it going mate?
Yeah, I see that about Moeen, he has done really well with the bat and it’s handy to have someone with stick ability lower down the order, especially when the likes of Stokes, Bairstow and Broad come in, throwing the bat…
But to open?
It might work, but it’s disappointing imo, that there aren’t other bona fida openers in the frame…
Just saying 🙂
Kev, England have loads of options imo, they just lack the balls to give people a chance. Perhaps their faces don’t quite fit…
Rico. I imagine KP’s ship has sailed. He is such a plonker. But you never know the new manager’s thoughts on him. You’re probably right about Butler though. Mind you, Bairstow can keep too. Surely there must be a super quality spinner out there though?
I don’t see signing Arteta and Rosicky on for another year as a negative.
Wenger knows what he gets from them and they’re fully integrated with the squad, so no untoward personal problems in the group etc.
We have some really promising and talented youngsters coming through, who are maybe only a year away from being ready for 1st team inclusion…
12 months down the line Bielik, Maitland-Niles, Hayden, Toral, Crowley, could all be pushing for the senior squad…?
Alex Hales, Rico, what does he have to do to get a game?
I never understood why Onions was cast aside with such haste Rico..,
I really liked him…
Always thought that Finn was totally mishandled…
What about Woakes, isn’t he worth a go?
Kev, Arteta and TR7 are so intelligent, technical and skilful, they could be brilliant coaches.
Tommy, especially, doesn’t play enough.
I’ve never seen him NOT make an impact when he gets a run.
There is a spinner Adam but I can’t recall his name. There was a lot of speculation that he might play in this final test in preparation for the next tour…
Really looking forward to the ODI’s and T20, should be some big hitting going on..
Did you ever read KP’s book Adam?
Like I said Kev, their faces clearly don’t fit… I like Willey too, watched him play the other night and he hit 100 off of 40 odd balls. Stunning batting..
On first impressions, the Scottish Championship is not the most obviousplace for Zelalem to develop as the world-class player he hopes to become, but US soccer’s next great hope is hardly pitching up at Alloa Athletic or Greenock Morton. At Rangers, under new manager Mark Warburton – a refreshingly progressive and forward-thinking coach – Zelalem will receive a more fitting induction to the senior game than seems apparent.
From the Guardian
The Glasgow club haven’t always been the best for developing wünderkinds. Ally McCoist’s side were a distinctly one-dimensional, hoof-and-hunt outfit last season, and had Rangers approached Arsenal for Zelalem this time last year, it’s fair to assume Arsène Wenger wouldn’t have been so willing to send the youngster north. Now, however, Rangers are a different team.
Under new ownership and management, Rangers – for so long a toxic headline – look like a functional soccer side again. While McCoist’s side was a mishmash of washed-up and worn-out names, Warburton’s team are dynamic, incisive and exciting – making them the perfect fit for Zelalem. Scottish soccer is better than is often credited, but it’s also true that at such a level the German-born USA youth international would be a shining star in a winning team – and nothing builds confidence and stature like winning. In soccer terms, a move would appear to suit all three vested parties.
A number of English Championship sides were reported to be interested in taking the 18-year-old on loan this season, although the player himself is thought to favour a spell in Scotland after visiting Rangers’ impressive Murray Park training facility for talks with Warburton on Tuesday. Wenger must make the right call on what is best for his young prodigy, with the allure of keeping Zelalem close by at a London club like Fulham surely strong.
Raschid Rico. But he can’t bat!
Why would Wenger want another prima Donna marquee signing added to the squad. Like KP a new face could really upset the unity of the team and I’m not sure that Benzema or someone similar would be more than a squad player. Instant unhappiness and discontent. Better to go with what we’ve got!
And yet the Arsenal boss must also recognise the additional benefits of sending Zelalem – who has only made two senior appearances for the Gunners – to Glasgow. Perhaps more so than ever before, Rangers are expected to win every game this season, having missed out on promotion to the top-flight last term. Such pressure, and playing in front of crowds of more than 50,000 on occasion, can only serve the teenager well at Arsenal – where the mental demands of delivering Premier League can crush even the brightest of young talents. A loan spell at Rangers could in fact be the ideal education.
“It won’t be long before he is ready [for the Arsenal first-team],” Jack Wilshere mused of Zelalem last year. “He sees passes that not a lot of players can, and he’s so comfortable on the ball. Even in training, he’s a nightmare to play against. He keeps the ball away from you and shields it. He’s not very big but he’s strong. He drifts in and out of players. Technically, he’s right up there. He can use his left and right and he sees so many passes.”
Such qualities have drawn Warburton to Zelalem, as he looks to build a side out of keeping with how soccer in Scotland is widely regarded. Scotland can be a challenging place for players of his mould – Spurs loanee Nathan Oduwa was lambasted by an opposition defender last week for having the audacity to attempt a piece of trickery – but Rangers would appear to provide Zelalem with a platform to vindicate some of his own hype. Glasgow might be the perfect home for America’s next top soccer star.
No more copy and paste from me today Rico 😉
Scott, I agree re: TR07 and Arteta..
Seems an odd move to me Kev, Championship would have been a tougher challenge for Zelalem…
😛 re C&P..
Morning Wavy, that’s him and yes his batting is poor…
Rico. I didn’t read his book Rico. I heard a couple of stories about him from a girl I know who is involved in catering at sporting events.
I have always liked Rosicky but last season there were many occasions when he could have come on as a sub but Wenger ignored him so I figured that his time at the club were over. I can’t see the point of denying him playing time somewhere else if you don’t trust him or his fitness at Arsenal.
I won’t ask Adam… 😉
But as far as cricket goes, his book is a real eye opener…
For six years running… I’ve always ordered Rosicky jerseys. Even this season when Carzola’s became too tempting, I still ordered new Rosicky 7.
My six-year old son wears Walcott 14 while my wife just dropped Arleta 8 for Carzola 19. My four-year old daughter wears Sanchez 17.
My first daughter? She wears Mikel 12…! The only Chelsea fan in the family!
How I wish Rosicky becomes a coach that’d end up managing Arsenal… he’s one of the most technically gifted players of the modern era.
Adam, it’s weird…..TR7 comes on and has an impact….every time.
Wenger uses him less and less, suggesting he believes the guys makes less impact.
I don’t get it.
Scott. I know which is why I thought Wenger might let him move on this season. I guess there’s a plan in it somewhere.
Chelsea fan in the family, how did that happen Tai…. lol
New post up now..