Daily Bits and Bobs

Defender misses training, on his way to Arsenal? Arsenal can win the league this season….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

I’m not a fan of the Mirror, never have been and probably never will be. They have journalists who claim to know which club is buying what players, John Cross who thinks he knows everything which is going on at Arsenal and seldom do their stories have much substance. Some might say the same about many newspapers and it would be hard to argue otherwise….

But this article is bang on the money imo:

Jose Mourinho is doing what Jose Mourinho does — humiliating the loveable Juan Mata, kicking off at managerial rivals, instilling tactical discipline and spending lots of money on established players.

Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, is doing what he has never done before — building a team from the bottom up.

So while Manchester City’s hierarchy have got the manager they always wished for and Manchester United have got the manager they had grave long-term reservations over, Mourinho’s men ought to be title favourites.

That’s if anyone ought to predict anything, given last season’s glorious mayhem.

The word inside City is that while Guardiola is deeply impressive in training, his messianic properties may not be instantly apparent. Patience will be required.

In the build-up to the Community Shield, Mourinho also claimed it will take time for United to adapt to a new footballing philosophy – the ‘possession for possession’s sake’ mentality of Louis van Gaal being swept away in favour of something more purposeful.

But in truth, City’s players have a whole lot more adapting to do.

Guardiola is undertaking a quiet tactical revolution – and without signing established A-list world stars such as Paul Pogba or Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

City’s Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane may well turn out to be better long-term recruits – but Zlatan and Pogba fit Mourinho’s blueprint for short-term success.

A 34-year-old striker on £10million a year and a £100million-plus world-record deal to re-sign a player who’d been allowed to leave United for next to nothing.

Meanwhile, City’s players are being challenged as never been before, being asked to re-think every aspect of their games and reinvent themselves – starting with keeper Joe Hart, who will be expected to initiate patient build-up play and operate with the ball at his feet .

Guardiola’s charisma will instil belief in his methods, even if initial results are underwhelming. But despite being sainted throughout world football – as a fawning Sky Sports documentary exemplifies this week – Guardiola is unproven at radical re-builds.

Why the article you may ask..

Well, it’s clear to me that yet again, Arsenal have a great chance of winning the league if Arsene Wenger pulls his finger out and get’s the players we need. Up in Manchester, there’s a lot going on as the two new managers try and get their players playing ‘their way’. The same could be said of Chelsea as Konte goes about settling into the Premier League, a league like no other in football. Mourinho is treating experienced players dreadfully, something which other players at the club might not like. Guardiola is getting rid of a few too but perhaps not in such a ghastly manner. Nasri was too fat he is rumoured to have said, after the defender returned from his holidays, and he’s expected to move on sharpish as Pep rebuilds. Navas, Mangala and Bony are also rumoured to be on their way out.

Bored with football, bored with Arsenal, or is your partner bored with the game wants something else to do whilst you sit and watch the game? Here’s a few ideas if this is the case thanks to Jacamo Blog.

At Arsenal we have a group of players who have been together for a while, they know each other and the league well and with a few tweaks and additions, the season could be a really good one. Wenger has been in the Premier League longer than any other manager and he should know better than any other what’s required to win it. He hasn’t managed it for a while now, of that we know but apart from Mourinho, who had a dreadful final season at Chelsea and Ranieri last season, no other manager in this league has won it either.

So as the pundits sit back and admire all that is going on at Chelsea, in Manchester and even in Liverpool, perhaps Arsene Wenger, apart from last season, will never get a better chance of making this Arsenal team Champions again.

PS – Apparently Mustafi missed training yesterday according to Spanish website Super Deporte.

Maybe he’s still injured, maybe the club don’t want him to get injured, maybe there’s nothing in it, but maybe he’s on his way to Arsenal and according to The Sun (cough) the club are willing to pay Valencia’s £30m asking price. In fact nearly every back page is suggesting this deal will go through and before Sunday’s season opener….

What was I saying about newspapers……?

rico

134 thoughts on “Defender misses training, on his way to Arsenal? Arsenal can win the league this season….”

  1. allezkev says:

    I prefer Brighton, Rico, but Eastbourne is ok…

    Morning Adam

    Is it the birthday of Bruvver Lee today?
    Many Happy Returns mate…

  5. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Happy Burfday Lee.

    Nice post boss.

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    If it were for me though I would still go for Fabian Schaar. I like Shkodran but Schaar I would really like to see at our club.

    Then again I would go for both.

  9. allezkev says:

    Maybe Wenger will sign two centre-backs Rico, but to me Evans ticks all the boxes, experienced, won the league and other titles at ManU, knows the EPL, doesn’t have to learn the language, settled in the UK, perfect for a quick fix and not expensive…

    Just saying

  11. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Evans might turn out to be the leader at the back we have needed. As Kev said he ticks all the boxes (Evans I mean, not Kev)…..and the fact that he has been in title winning team plays an important part.

    I would still go for him and one from Shkodran and Schaar.

  14. Lee says:

    It is indeed my birthday today, I’ve reached half a century!

    I’m catching you up Rico!

    Birthday signing(s) please Arsene (not Jonny Evans) I don’t want to be greedy but a striker and CB will suffice!

  15. potter says:

    50 Lee < You're only warming up. Happy Birthday may you get the signings you want and and if not go out and enjoy yourself tonight anyway.

  20. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    Thoughtful article Rico. I just hope that Arsene takes note of it, but I’m not holding my breath, just being hopeful.

    Yes! Kev does tick the odd box, but I don’t think Rico would let us specify which ones.

  21. Canadian Gooner says:

    Lee – Happy Birthday! I hope you get your birthday wish as all Arsenal supporters could appreciate and share it.

  22. rico says:

    Morning Cg, me neither. I don’t what I was thinking whilst typing this morning, I needed a lay down after being positive…. lol

  27. rico says:

    We can be as positive as we like Merlin, but the problem is, AW needs to get on board with many of our ideas…

    But I doubt he will…

  29. Merlin96 says:

    Nay Rico.
    An emergency buy on the cheap with premiership experience will be Jonny Evans as a stop-gap measure. At 15-mil, it is worth a gamble for a 28-year-old given a 2nd chance.

    We need Evans more than we need Mustafi in August.

  30. Merlin96 says:

    Arsenal will make a £30million for Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi this week.

    They are also interested in West Brom’s Jonny Evans, but only if a move for Mustafi, who is rated at £40m, does not materialise.

    Wenger does not have a single fully-fit senior set-back at his disposal for Sunday’s clash against Liverpool after Gabriel suffered an ankle injury in the friendly victory over Manchester City last Sunday.

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3731103/Arsenal-make-30m-bid-Valencia-defender-Shkodran-Mustafi.html#ixzz4GpRr4DO2

    Fingers crossed.

  31. Hell Raising Devil says:

    there is one thing that no one has thought about Evans yet………….he is the one who is most equipped to go to Stoke, West Brom and the small clubs in the winter with bone hard pitches. Yes Shkodran is very good, technically skilled and also a good organizer. But Evans knows what to expect from the likes of Stoke, PAlace, WBA etc.

    Plus he has been schooled in the dark arts by SAF and Tony Pulis.

    At this point in time with this team we do need a type like Evans or Shawcross.

  33. allezkev says:

    It would make for quite an interesting week if it began with ManUre signing Pogba,
    then ManCity signing Stones
    and conclude with Arsenal signing Evans

  34. potter says:

    As far as Liverpool are concerned we are going with what we’ve got . Time now for players to step up and prove their worth. If we do buy in , they won’t have time to assimilate so lets just sit back and go for the ride. Be aware it might get a bit bumpy.

  37. scottfromoz says:

    Pep is building a squad from the ground up?
    Please, John Cross, he’s buying one lol.
    Building something is totally different!
    Then again, Stone is a building item, I guess 🙂 🙂

  39. rico says:

    That wasn’t John Cross Scott 😉

    How else can Pep build his own squad but to spend money on players he thinks fit his style?

  40. scottfromoz says:

    Well, Rico the Mirror journo who shall remain unnamed 🙂
    He can build a squad by investing in youth, but Pep is there for 2-3 years and off to the next one.
    He will never build a squad.

  41. Wavy says:

    Evans? Will he have any resale value?………..I don’t think so! Will he fir in the dressing room? Well, he’s not over tall or fat like Nasri so he might. Value for money? £15m at today’s inflated prices, possibly…two years ago half that or less. Are we desperate, yes we are! Get him bought. Sell him next summer when we’ve worn him out. He’ll surely come with a buy back clause from WBA!

    I just hope that Pogba turns out to be a pig in a pog! Nothing personal but, I would really, really love it if he turns out to be as good as Veron was, back in the day. Not to mention the embarrassment it would heap on the head of the poison Pygmy. A few more abject failures would not come amiss in the journey to his absolute ruin.

  43. scottfromoz says:

    But not a Citeh Junior…..
    Anyway, it matters not, as people will always think Pep is a genius.
    I’ll always think he’s over rated and handed world class squads.

  45. rico says:

    Actually Scott, I’m not a huge fan of Pep either… I think he’d be a good manager for Arsenal but whether or not he’d get the kind of money he’s getting at City to spend, is something none of us really know…

    But he’d certainly get rid of a few… 😉

  46. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, I should have added I’ll believe he’s over rated until he does build something up instead of merely taking over an already great squad.
    He’s still definitely unproven IMO.
    Yes, he’d get rid of plenty.
    Shame he didn’t hang around at Bayern one more year and taken us over next season….it would have answered plenty of questions, and he’d have been very well received.

  47. frednerk says:

    Afternoon All

    With all heard it before..But
    It’s clear we will not be mixing it
    with the big boys..Now..is it.

    Rico the thing to come out of a
    newspaper…
    Chips..plenty of salt’n vinegar

  52. Lewis says:

    Good day all.

    Ashley williams off to everton for 12 mill?!

    He could do a job for us, certainly prefer him to evans!

  53. TT says:

    Hi Rico

    You guys talking about Pep Guardiola? The best manager in the world today? There is no question he will do well with City IMO. He has track record both with Barcelona and BM that Wenger could only dream of.

    He does not only buy players he develops them to, something that Wenger no longer can do. One just has to look at the stagnation of Ramsey, TW and OX to name but few.

    What Pep will do is to use this season to reshape the team and install his way of playing and a mentality in the players that will make them relentless in pursuit of trophy’s, if a player don’t take his method aboard he will ship them out ASAP. He is not afraid of big names and has shown in the past he will and can rebuild a team.

    I’m gutted we did not go for him and it shows not only how short sighted the owner and board are but also their relentless support for a manger that lost his mojo some years back. With Klopp, Conte, Maurhino, Kooman and Pep now in new jobs the potential managers to take over are far fewer.

    I fear this will be used as an excuse to hand Wenger 3 more years and 3 more years of failed challenges. And the sheep will be bleating that there is no one there to take over so get behind the team etc etc etc.

    Only when the atmosphere will be toxic enough will he leave but we will again do just enough to reach the CL (what fore I don’t know as we will never win it) and the cycle will continue. I don’t think Leicester, Liverpool or Spurs will challenge much this year so it should be a shoe in for 4th.

    Rant over 😛

  56. Obi says:

    Devil at 11:30, yes until AW coaches all those attributes out of him. As Kev would say, “just saying”

  61. Bradster says:

    Hi all, new players and managers struggle in the first half of the season and then they gel, just when we go into our injury crisis/drought.
    I think Mourinho has great players and the nous to get them to work. Conte is an excellent tactician even if the team is not that good and should be difficult to beat. Klopp has Liverpool playing well with lots of depth this season.
    I think Tottenham will be just as good and a whole lot smarter this time around.
    West Ham look to have bought well and probably gonna be a surprise this season. Leicester has the same team bar Konte and the new winger/striker will add extra pace to their counter attack.
    I still think this season will be tough to win and not a walk for us.

  62. Hell Raising Devil says:

    OmG Rico. Is that you lying on the sofa. What a pose. Stunning I must say. Tell me again how old are you???

    Erm….I hate to say it…..but what did I tell you……5-8 weeks for Gabi if he pulled the ligaments. Let’s hope its just only pulled ligaments and not something else.

  63. Bradster says:

    I left out Man City because I have no idea how they’ll perform but I have a feeling they’ll make a run of it after Christmas.

  65. rico says:

    Brad, I have a feeling top four will be out of our reach this season, I really do. With the squad as it is now and if no-one comes by Sunday, Liverpool will beat us imo. Then, if no-one before we go to Leicester, same result, and so it’ll go on….

  70. frednerk says:

    Just heard Ivan Gazidas has been seen
    at heathrow duty free bag shop.
    When asked what he wanted a bag for
    He Replied..Arsene has told him that clubs
    have more money now and I should get a bigger
    wallet,
    Wait tell Arsene see’s this..
    It’s called a ManBag.

  71. rico says:

    Afternoon guys..

    I’m looking forward to the return of summer Devil..

    🙂 Fred

    Brad, a friend of mine lives in SA, says the winter is lovely. Warm days, cool nights – perfect….

  72. allezkev says:

    Rico, all that positivity was making me feel quite edgy… ?

    Where’s Wath, we need some good old fashioned Camden moaning, from our resident misery guts….

    (That’ll draw him out ?)

  75. frednerk says:

    Kev

    We must not let anyone at
    The Arsenal think we are happy,
    a lot read some of this.
    Twitter is full up with depressed
    gooners.
    Money burning holes in pockets
    where did that phase come from?

  79. Bradster says:

    You sound like you’re in Saudi Devil. My friend’s dad works there, said they had record temp this year of 55 degrees Celsius.

  80. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Just a question for you all.

    take out of the equation that Stones is English. And forget the money City paid for him. Imagine for a second that both Stones and Shkodran cost 30 million each.

    If you had to choose between Stones and Shkodran who would you choose??

  82. frednerk says:

    Easy one for me Stones.
    Why..A future leader has an edge.

    Hoping Holding comes good,I think
    has an edge.
    Noticed against City Chambers giving
    a few little nudges.

    Sorry for the monolog.
    But if we never had BFG I would maybe think
    differently.

  85. Bradster says:

    I’d choose an experienced international at 24 years old over an inexperience 22 yr old with potential.

  92. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Exactly Rico. That is my opinion as well. That is why I really would love Ancellotti to be the man who leads us forward. We need a tactical brain and where better than to get one who is schooled in Italy and knows how to grind results but win handsomely.

  93. frednerk says:

    Trying to think of a experienced player
    brought in who done well.

    stepanovs
    cygan
    squillaci
    The chuckle brothers
    swiss tony and Djourour
    silvestre….
    Scares the life out of me.

    Devil please don’t do this again.

  94. Le Coq Monster says:

    Thanks Rico.
    I make Chavs to be favourites…………..No CL !……. No EL !……. No distractions !………………plus they are a bogey team we cant beat !.
    Then Manshafter Std……….No CL !………….and Maureens not mug enough to play best team in EL !.
    The Mansour City…………………Just the spending power !
    We will probably get 4th trophy as our manager still refuses to learn from previous mistakes and even worse now is that he doesn`t have the excuse of not having the money !…………………you know the saying about Leopards, they………………………………….

    Happy Birthday Lee !……………………I was 5 years old when the Spuds won the league in black and white and just starting school and instead of being a glory hunter and supporting the bastards I chose The Arse`…………..before I went to school pre-five years old I wasn`t interested in football as I was into older women !.

    Proper bonafide rumour……………………………………..

    https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/762976798070206464

  95. rico says:

    Anyone but Wenger for me Devil, but I like Ancelotti, someone like him and a few of the old boys on the coaching staff. Like Keown, Henry, Bobby, Freddie etc…..

  97. rico says:

    I reckon you could be right LC, no distractions other than the domestic cups, Konte will get his boys in shape that’s for sure…

  98. Bradster says:

    He had his moments. Sagna, Kos, Lauren, Sol, Vermaelen his first year, Gallas was good his first season too.

  110. Obi says:

    Devil Shkodran, all day. I am flabbergasted that Stone went for nearly 50m. when Stone is bad he is really bad… his concentration is a problem. It pays to be English. Btw AW gets no points for Sol, he was at the time top 1-2 CB in EPL and came for free. If he had to buy him…………….

  114. Wath says:

    I hope Lee got the zimmer frame I bought him for his birthday, even has a bell on it to get other slow old farts out of the way… it’s a newer model than Kevs so the bell will come in handy..!

  115. allezkev says:

    Hey, Grumpy, where have you been?

    I will leave you all with two words to consider…

    Wilfried Bony…

    Don’t have nightmares…

    Night All, and Mick

  117. allezkev says:

    Morning Rico

    £30m for old Bony, how’s does that grab ya..?

    Wenger seems to relish picking up other clubs’ rejects although the fee is a £5m increase on what City paid…

    And he could disappear to the ACN just when we need him the most.

  119. allezkev says:

    Probably Rico, but Bony is within budget, and as Arsene doesn’t seem to have a plan any port in a storm eh?

    Bony and Evans for less than half a Pogba, job done…

  120. rico says:

    He certainly doesn’t seem to have any plan whatsoever does he, otherwise we’d have seen players signed by now. He really is hopeless…

  121. allezkev says:

    According to an injury website, our walking wounded are thus:

    Wilshere….. This weekend…?

    Gabriel……. October

    Jenkinson… November

    Mertesaker.. December

    Welbeck…… February

  122. allezkev says:

    Rico, for a man who spends hours and hours studying players and who has, supposedly, put together an extensive scouting network, he does, all the same, seem to aimlessly stumble through transfer windows, making endless excuses about the criteria he relies on to justify spending money, sell-on value being his latest reason for not spending, it’s all very predictable and boring.

  125. allezkev says:

    Pre-season window ………Mid-season window
    9 June – 1 September…..1 January – 1 February
    Scotland

    1 June – 31 August……1 January – 2 February
    France, Germany, Italy, Spain

    11 June – 1 September…..5–31 January
    Turkey, Denmark

    1 July – 1 September 1…..January – 1 February 23:00 GMT
    England

  128. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Feeling the heatwave yet???

    We have so much of it that we are even willing to share it with you rain filled miserable lot. 😛

    Kev……AW knows so much info about players that he keeps falling over the figures while trying to decide which player suits the team best.

  131. frednerk says:

    Morning All
    Whats even more worring now
    Wenger could have one them
    panic buying attacks,and blame
    everyone when player/s turn out
    to be duds.
    He needs looking at……

    NURSE..NURSE…NURSE..

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