The government here in the UK stepped things up a gear yesterday as the fight against Coronavirus continues. Pubs, clubs, gyms, cafes, restaurants etc have all been told to close. For now, shops remain open although I can see that changing if things don’t improve. If you are off to shops today or over the next few weeks and months, be thoughtful and keep your distance from the person in front of you in the queue. Thankfully there’s a restriction on the numbers of individual items you and I can purchase, also, the elderly and vulnerable are able to shop before everyone else.
Be safe, be healthy but be kind and thoughtful too.
As far as football goes, the hope of finishing this season’s fixtures fade as the days go by. I’m sure you’ll all have seen that this campaign has been extended indefinitely, having been postponed in England until at least April 30th.
I can’t see how ‘indefinitely’ works. The longer this break goes on, the less match fit players will be. Expiring contracts will overrun their agreement date and the summer break will shorten. I guess clubs will come to some kind of agreement re the loan deals as so many will be affected, or UEFA, perhaps they’ll step in with a solution if needed. Imagine though, you’ve been waiting all season for your contract to end, only to be told you’ve got to stay another month, maybe two when all you want to do is pack your bags and get the hell out of the place. Will those players who are out of contract get paid the extra salary I wonder? Thank goodness it’ll be someone else’s job to sort things like that out.
The only players we have whose contract expire this summer are our three loanees and Matt Macey but next summer of course, Ozil, Aubameyang and more importantly, Saka will be out of contract. Honestly, I couldn’t give a toot about Ozil and Aubameyang, other than making sure we get as much money as we can for both this summer but I don’t think the club can afford to lose our young English winger. I don’t think we will either because as soon as we have two fully fit and functioning left backs, he’ll be a lot happier and I’m sure that’s something he’s being reassured of. But if the advice he’s getting from his family and agent is to move on for the money, then again, make sure the fee is big. Or at least as big as it can be for a player going into his final year of contract. Personally, if he makes it very clear he has no intention of staying beyond next season but wants to wind his contract down, I’d not play him again.
After so many seasons of watching our players walk away for nothing, it’s about time the club played hardball over contracts. Be more ruthless and not one player or member of staff is above that. Not even Raul or Edu whose job it is to sort these things out long before their contracts run into their final year.
Whilst I know the Arsenal staff are in isolation or just enjoying some time off, we live in a digital world so during this period of downtime, there’s nothing stopping Raul and Edu talking to Saka’s representatives, or those of the players they hope to bring to Arsenal before the start of the new season. Deals can be agreed now, within the transfer rules of course and then pending a medical, they can be through the door at the earliest opportunity. At least there’s no Euros now so player fees won’t be exaggerated. Well, anymore than they are already.
There are a few rumours linking Arsenal to soon to be out of contract William. On paper, his experience is just what this Arsenal team needs but age is hardly on his side. Nor his probable wage demands. More interesting though is Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser who has been linked to us before. Perhaps now he’s available for free this summer, Edu and Raul might be keen on signing him.
My point is, just because the game has stopped, it doesn’t mean Arsenal FC has to. We’re at the beginning of a new era under Mikel Arteta, the squad needs refreshing in a big way. It needs Arteta’s stamp on it rather than just a group of players he’s been left. We’re not super rich so we need to sell so if Aubameyang doesn’t want Arsenal, then why should Arsenal want him? Don’t beg him to stay and don’t pay him stupid money to do so either because the last thing we need is another Ozil situation.
Mikel Arteta needs players who want to be at the club because we’re The Arsenal and not just because of how much we pay them.
Stay safe all, stay healthy.
Rest in peace Kenny Rogers. Your voice will live on for ever…. 😢
Rest in peace Kenny Rogers.
End of April? I don’t think ….
Ruby, my all-time Kenny Rogers favourite.
Rest in peace.
Just played it on you tube, and I was struck by how well it fits with your headline, Rico.
Coward of the County was one of my favs, or as the newsreader on the Beeb said this morning, Coward of the country….. lol
I don’t think there was a song sung by Kenny Rogers which I didn’t like.
Cicero, not the photo then? Lol
No Rico not the photo, that just reminded me that my lawn mower is in for service and as the grass is growing like wild-fire I wonder when I might see it again. 😕
Out cutting ours today and the dtrimmer has packed up . So we might have a nice bit in the middle with a jungle on the edges.
Country music was never my thing but his songs were easy listening whilst driving . If they came on the radio I would not turn them off , but any longer than 5 minutes was enough.Life was always hard enough without an hour of dogs dying peoples lives in ruins which seemed to be a constant theme.
Looks like the nice day we’ve had has kept everyone in the garden. Nice… bloomin cold now though..
Good evening, Rico… nice post. I’ve just noticed on Sky you can rent a couple of movies that should’ve been at the cinema…The hunt/The invisible man… want to see both!! £15.99 each.. at least you won’t get ripped off for popcorn, chocolate etc 😄
How are things with you? Plenty to keep you busy?
Hi Sue, I wouldn’t give Sky another penny of my money other than my usual package. They’re a ripoff.
Yep, much to do in the garden before planting.. love the spring and summer…
Weather was lovely today in sunny Essex. Cut my grass.
Sat out all afternoon on my sun trap decking, drinking tea and selecting my veg and flower seeds to buy. Going to try something new this year…..Medame Bean seeds, together with all the usual veg. You cannot beat home grown vegetables.
I suggest to the non gardeners out there, just try planting some veg seeds and watch them grow and eventually eat the fruits of your labour. Its a great therapeutic pastime.
Even try some strawberries. They are so easy, and can be grown in pots on patios if you haven’t got a large garden.
Like you rico, I love this time of year.
Keep well fellow HH’ers.
You have green fingers?! 🙂 Have you got a pond? I need to cut the grass before anything else, it’s that long Coco vanishes haha!!
Just been looking at the effect this is having on animals in parks, zoos etc.. some are struggling to find food for them…☹
I sure have Sue. When I retired I treated myself to a nice Greenhouse. I love the fact you can pop a seed into a pot and a few weeks later, after transplanting into raised beds, you can eat the fresh vegetables.
I haven’t got a pond. Not my cup of tea.
Yes, a lovely day out there, my son has been planting seeds and potatoes everywhere and having horses we have some well rotted manure.
Wife is in isolation in our self contrained chalet, I really miss her……………cooking.
I have been setting up a bew business to teach fit women the Heimlich Manouvre as it came to me in LIDL`s today!……………….I`m standing in the queue 6 foot from the person in front yet the numbskull hehind me must have thought I had swallowed the walnut from his Walnut Whip as he was so close to me…………”Cheers Dave, thanks for the Heimlich Manouvre demonstration!”………………..muppet!
A man after my own heart Vcc. Love home grown produce. Seem to struggle with my Brussel sprouts but this year I’m more determined. Love the challenge…
No pond for me either, don’t like them.. just a big bird bath. 😆
Ha ha re Coco…
Morning all.
All is well here, the Virus has hit my part of the world but in very small numbers at this stage, and obviously I’m hoping it stays that way.
It’s still to fathom the actions of people but I guess uncertainty and anxiety makes people behave strangely.
Those buying to on sell at a profit are the truly describable ones.
Stay healthy, everyone.
The Tescos in our nearby market town is not huge but operates an oldies only hour Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8.00 to 9.00 am. My neighbour, same age as me, went in on Friday, she said it was packed with people gossiping and nattering in widespread groups all over the store. It was like an old people’s reunion, some of them hadn’t seen each other for as much as two days. With the pubs, restaurants, and the British Legion Club all closed, the supermarket is the only for them to meet their friends.
I bet Jack Cohen never envisaged his stores becoming community centres. 😉
Good night Gooners…..everywhere. 😴
Touch wood we dont have queues here in Launceston as it`s not a big town yet we have Tesco`s, LIDL`s, M&S, B&M, Iceland, CO OP, Greggs, other smaller convienience stores and numerous farm shops and butchers etc etc…………………….plus I work for a pie and cake company………………I wont starve, but then again I dont go overboard with food with my healthy diet and execise, in boxing terms I`m a ripped Welterweight……………there`s more visceral fat on a cucumber than me! hahaha
Lets hope no Gooners become Gonners!
Morning Lc, all.
I like the stories about football agents potentially losing money. Couldn’t happen to a nicer group of fraudsters..
I Can’t help thinking that Don McLean kind of foretold all this . So many of the words of American Pie sum up the selfishness of the western world. Here in Norfolk
“”And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast””
Here in Norfolk the A12 and M11 has heavy traffic as the exodus of camper vans , caravans, suv’s head for their camp sites and second homes.
Earlier this week it was announced that Norfolk was one of the lowest areas for confirmed cases ( 4 ) .the number stands today at 24
Well thanks a bunch for bringing it with you.
Our supermarkets are empty , the pubs and clubs , restauranrts are closed and the virus is here . Yet places like Yarmouth and Southwold are heaving with holiday makers going to boot sales and walking the promenade . My friend has a shop in Sheringham throughout the week he has hardly seen a customer , yesterday and today he says the car park opposite is full .
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan’s spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight .
On the Titanic as the ship went down the band continued to play .
We haven’t learned much have we.
Dorset is in the same situation. Tourists etc are flooding there yet common sense would suggest it’s the worst place to go. The most inconsiderate because the area is highly populated with elderly people. Some people just don’t think before they act.
New post up now