Afternoon all.
Ever since that day in Manchester, Mike Riley has probably been the most disliked man in football by Arsenal fans. Of course our great run back then was going to come to an end at some stage but Mike Riley was, in my opinion, far too eager to ensure it came when it did. I’m not going to turn all nasty about him because at the end of the day, he’s a human being but I don’t think he was a good referee and a poor leader of the PGMOL. If he’d been interested in fairness within the game, he’d have done a lot more to achieve it. Instead, Premier League football has seen referees appear to be making up the rules as they go along. Consistency has been pretty much non existent. Honestly, I don’t think there’ll be one football fan who won’t be celebrating the news that come the end of next season, he’ll be leaving his job. The only annoying factor is we’ve still got one more year of him.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said:
On behalf of the Premier League, I would like to thank Mike for his valuable contribution and significant commitment to PGMOL over the last 13 years as well as his considerable service to the game as an elite referee for 20 years. During his time at PGMOL, he has worked hard to deliver and develop high-quality match officials across the professional game and led on the implementation of VAR into the Premier League three seasons ago.
Elite referee, high-quality match officials – Really?
A number of referees have ‘retired’ too. Mike Dean, Martin Atkinson and Jon Moss but don’t get too excited about that as they’re not going very far away from the game. Both take up backroom roles at the PGMOL with Atkinson coaching the Select Group 1 (the pool of Premier League referees), while Moss will manage the group. Dean is yet to decide on his future. (The Athletic)
Howard Webb is reportedly taking Riley’s place. The ex policeman should in theory, be so much better, or at least ensure fairness is the aim, along with consistency in the decision making by referees both on the pitch and VAR. Webb was a good ref I think. One of the better ones, although that wasn’t too difficult to achieve.
Referees will make mistakes, I’m sure we’ll all know that but the big ones are what’s killing football I think. One day, a tug on a player in the box is a penalty, the next day it isn’t. A two footed challenge by Xhaka is a red card but when Kane does the same, it’s fine. A Mane elbow swinging full pace into a players face is acceptable on a Saturday but when a Leeds player does something similar, out comes a red card. A Silva dive in the box is a penalty yet on another day, a different player could be booked for his efforts to con a ref. Big game changing decisions which could at the end of season, be the difference between a Premier League trophy for one club, or relegation for another.
In other news, other than the Martinez, Jesus and Raphinha long and drawn out saga, Daniel Ballard’s expected move to Burnley has broken down according to the newspapers. (The Athletic & others). Apparently personal terms could not be agreed. I’m sure another club will soon be interested in him. Millwall perhaps, where he’s just spent the season on loan.
Back to the cricket…
Just maybe in Ballards case , the baby and the bathwater comes to mind. Wherever he goes we need to insert a buy back clause . After all he is young and a full international, and whilst we can’t keep them all we need to protect ourselves too.
I’m surprised a PL club isn’t interested in Ballard, certainly one of the newly promoted ones. Totally agree on a buyback clause, good idea.
Why not loan him to a PL club. He has really impressed at Millwall who love him.£2m is a pathetic fee and we’d be better to see if he can develop at somewhere like Fulham, Southampton or Leeds and then decide if he is worth incorporating in the first team squad
Cristiano Ronaldo to Chelsea?
Neymar to Man Utd?
With contracts expiring next Thursday, June 30th, we might see a few more free transfers flying about?
Sorry you were stuck in moderation Bertie, welcome.
That would make sense too then if he shows the PL is right for him, either get him in the squad, or sell him for more than £2m.
Haven’t Utd said he’s not for sale Kev?
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
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34m
Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal, here we go! Personal terms fully agreed with his agent Marcelo Pettinati and his two partners. Gabriel signs until 2027, it’s 100% done.
Arsenal already agreed £45m fee with Man City as revealed on Friday.
Edu & Arteta, key for the deal.
We cant keep them all but they are the family silver and £2 million is a joke in this day and age . Try buying Matthijs de Ligt a 21 year old and see what they want for him. Sevilla asked Chelsea for £58 million for Jules Kounde . it’s almost as if we are embarrassed to ask for money . we are not a charity.
Trouble is, until these younger players get PL minutes, their price will never go up. That’s why I wish we wouldn’t keep sending players overseas.
I hope he stays at ManUre for the next couple of years Rico, let the Mancs carry on signing all the old ‘uns, that way they’ll stay where they are, nowhere!
If Barcelona manage sell Frankie De Jong to the Mancs for the reported fee of £70m I reckon they’ll go in for Raphinha
I’ve just realised who Fabio reminds me of, Borat! 😉
I hope he and his ego stay there too Kev…
Reckon you’re right re Raphinha and the player will say yes. Unless Barca need aren’t keen on paying out such a big sum for one player.
Morning guys.
While I won’t mind Raphina joining Barcelona I think it would be a disaster if Manchester United would sign Frenkie de Jong. OK, his 395k salary (ahead of Ronaldo, Fernandes and de Gea) should probably disrupt the dressing room balance – like Özil, Willian and Auba’s astronomical wages disrupted ours – but he is the best central midfielder in the world currently, so I hope he stay in Barcelona and won’t help the Mancs to climb back from the hole they have sank in the last few seasons.
Re Ballard, fully agreed with Bertie and Potter, that 2M is ridiculous. Also true that in the Championship it could only grow to 6-8M, but on principle I won’t rule out a quality foreign loan. It almost worked for Mavropanos, and definitely worked for Sancho and Bellingham who are both rated well above their reasonable value based on their stint in Dortmund.
Good morning Rico and all
I would get Ballard to sign a new contract and loan him out. That way he will get experience, he will grow and his price would go up the more he plays.
But in a way I understand Edu, Arteta and the club. They dont want to keep players unless they are exceptional. Sometimes its pointless waiting for a player to mature and grow up because he would be a burden on the club. And remember that in the academy there might be someone better whilst his path to the first team is difficult with White, Gabriel, Holding, Saliba already there. I would love him to stay however he will only if one of Holding or Saliba makes way.
Morning Devil.
I’m just going to wait and se who stays and goes. What the club think and what we think probably differs somewhat.
New post up now