Defensive Problems – Coaching Or The Players To Blame?

Morning all.

Back on this day in 1934, Ted Drake scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 battering of Tottenham!

Nice Shirt!
Nice Shirt!

I think Mikel Arteta models himself on Ted Drake, especially the hair…..

Arsene Wenger has been talking about why results aren’t going our way. No, not in that tricky interview after the match with the BBC but to the official site, a place where he’s a lot more comfortable:

Hull defended well and we struggled to score – that’s why it’s an urgency not to give easy goals away like we did.

It’s not easy against a team who plays with five defenders, four midfielders and one striker. Where we are guilty is to give away two goals from nothing. We showed some great quality today in the build-up.

Finding the balance is an issue. Look at the number of shots on target we’ve had in the last five games – you’ll be surprised. Hull had two shots on target and [scored] two goals.

We have progressed since last season in the way we dominate the games and the way we combine. Last year we had 17 clean sheets with the same defenders but we have not started to do that yet. Our defensive efficiency is not there and we cannot survive at the top level by always conceding two goals.

I don’t know about anyone else but it seems like we have heard/read these words from Arsene Wenger for many years now. Hiding behind the ‘we had 100 shots’ line is wrong as those shots mean absolutely nothing unless they find the back of the net. Players might as well hit row z with a shot as a miss is a miss regardless of where the ball ends up. Same can be said about the amount of possession we have during many of our matches, unless we make that possession count, it’s pointless, especially when we concede goals at the drop of a hat.

And if a team has two shots on goal during a game and they both go in, most of time that will result in them getting something from a game. Wouldn’t many Arsenal fans love the team to be able to defend in the manner in which clubs like Hull City do? I know I would.

In my opinion, if the coaching staff are working on defending in training and they have been doing so for as long as Arsene Wenger has been highlighting our frailties then at some stage he and his staff have to concede defeat and admit that perhaps those players being asked to do their job in defence and just ahead of them are really not good enough.

It might cost the club money but something seriously has to change and not many of our problems can be solved from within. In January we need a CDM and a CB and we need them as soon as the transfer window opens but until then, gawd only knows what Arsene Wenger and his coaching staff are going to do in order to address that balance issue he talks about…

We head off to Belgium on Wednesday to play Anderlecht in a very important Champions League fixture and we go there with two rookie keepers as both Ospina and Szczesny miss out through injury and suspension respectively. I suspect Koscielny will also miss out but Chambers, Arteta, Wilshere and Ramsey should all be available and who knows, we might see Gnabry and Walcott in the squad too. Yippee!!

That’s it for another day…..

 

174 thoughts on “Defensive Problems – Coaching Or The Players To Blame?

  1. rico says:

    Scott, from the old post. Why do you think a new manager would be a short term fix?

    I personally don’t believe that any new man coming in would be given as much freedom or power that AW get’s. Seems to me that Kroenke is scared to rock the AW boat as he came in after AW had already got his feet well and truly under the table.

  2. Drake says:

    Morning everyone,@rico kroenke knows that no top mananger would accept what going on at arsenal for example the transfer kitty will be increased

  3. Drake says:

    Morning everyone,@rico kroenke knows that no top mananger would accept what going on at arsenal for example the transfer kitty will have to be increased for a top class manager

  4. rico says:

    Drake, look at how much we have in the kitty, we are a cash rich club and I strongly suspect that another manager would:

    A – not keep hold of some of the players we have.

    B – Would at least make sure we have a midfield general or two and a one or two more defenders…

  5. . . . and gawd bless Dennis Bergkamp says:

    Morning all, I don’t get the opportunity to post very often but I do read as much as I can.

    I Just wanted to put something out there to see what people’s opinions are. Wenger has a lot of power and people want Stan to take much of it away from him. My concern is: how much power does Stan want? Could the fact that Wenger has a lot of power balance out the desires of a single owner (with his son on the board)? There have been quite a few instances of owners getting involved in the playing side of things to the detriment of the club, well, there’s no chance of that happening at Arsenal at the moment which can only be a good thing, right? Could it be a case of better the devil you know?

    I don’t sit fully in either the AKB or the WO camps (the splinters in my bum from the fence are really starting to hurt!) so no accusations please.

    Discuss!

  6. rico says:

    Gbdb – I’d like to see a younger and more dynamic board, not one which acts like puppets for AW..

    Real Arsenal people, ones who care and have a plan for the club and take us forward to another level…

  7. Drake says:

    @rico klopp is having a bad season i think we should appoint him as our mananger next season and wenger to be his no.2

  8. franc ole says:

    Its all rotten at Arsenal FC, I always have had high expectations from any man or woman in a white skin with long nose. But to say the least I am disappointed with Wenger. as to all my fellow fans I am sorry we are not getting any where at the rate we are playing. Allow me to air my opinion on a few so called Arsenal Stars.
    – Per Meatsacker – too slow to stop high pace attacking players – must leave
    – Flamin – let the man go home and prepare his next life
    – Ozil -sorry very good but too weak to fight for anything for the club
    – Jack – the star who no club would want to buy, he must find another club that is if any club can take him on.
    – Arteta – Sorry let the man go home and prepare his next like.
    – Wenger – very embarrassing coach, no wonder Jose calls him ” failure specialist”. the man has no shame whatsoever, and when a man reaches that stage, he is either mad or the extreme opposite.

    So guys I am very disappointed with wenger.

  9. Canadian Gooner says:

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

    gbDB – You are not the only one with splinters in their posterior, I too sit astride the same fence.

    Alas, I doubt we will get the true story of what is currently going on with the BOD and management at Arsenal until much later, if ever. Someone will have to break the Code of Silence.

  10. frednerk says:

    Morning All,
    Wengers wrong to say we had the same defenders as last year,Tommy and Sagna are seasoned internationals,who could play in most top teams.
    Wenger really is insulting us fans with his ignorance,the basics of the game seem to be lost when he is questioned.

    Is the BFG playing in lead lined boots,watching that programme the other week about the stoke city kit man,I would back Nello to beat him in the air.

  11. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rocky – A belated congratulations on the recent addition to your family, Did she arrive before the close of the transfer window?

    I don’t see Arsene moving upstairs when he steps down as manager. The new manager should be given free rein and not be lumbered with a backseat driver. Arsene will not be able to step back.

  12. Adam says:

    A more dynamic board and owner would ask Wenger why are we making the same old mistakes season in, season out. There would be a high level inquest being held at the club this morning and Wenger would be held accountable. His job is to win matches and not just plod along. Yes, the players are letting him down but that is his responsibility. No doubt he would resent being asked to justify the terrible performances, but that is how business works. Who, this morning, has even dared to mention to Arsene that there is something seriously wrong and enquire just what he is doing to rectify it?

  13. Canadian Gooner says:

    The BFG and Koscielny are a great pairing. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but they complement each other and cover for each others’ weaknesses. However, whether it was the hangover from Germany’s disastrous games in the Euro qualifiers or just a bad day at the office, he should sit out a game or two till he gets his head straight.

    OH! wait, we can’t do that unless we promote one of the Young Guns into an already makeshift defence because of our slim squad. For far too long many of our players have had feelings of complacency and entitlement because they don’t have real competition for all positions. If the club wish to compete in all competitions we should carry a full roster of 25 eligible senior players.

  14. Wavy says:

    Adam there is a huge hole in your argument! Your premise is is based on ‘the Board seeing the same mistakes repeated week after week’ I don’t believe they have the first idea about what they are watching, how the team is set up, they probably can’t tell the difference between Ted Drake and Arteta!
    Given that as a truth, how can they possibly ask the manager what he is doing as they would not understand the answer, no matter what he says! The BoD are a total mass of inertia with marginally higher intelligence levels to those of an amoeba!

  15. Canadian Gooner says:

    We desperately need some new blood on the BOD. Personally, I’d like to see some former players on the board in place of some of the staid and traditional business types who are well past their sell by date. It seems to work well for Bayern Munich.

    Someone and/or something is required to shake them from their lethargy. Keeping ones’ traditions is all well and good, but not at the expense of a vibrant club with a more contemporary/modern outlook and business plan.

  16. Adam says:

    When the whole of your AGM is devoted to putting your manager on a pedestal so high that he becomes an almost God-like figure within the club, then who can question him? If you accept such accolades then you had better be sure that you deliver the goods all the time. Nobody can do that and that is why it is best to have a mortal as your manager. Someone who makes mistakes but sees them as such and tries not to make them again. A good way to keep your feet on the ground is to surround yourself with footballing people. Otherwise you are in danger of losing touch.

  17. Adam says:

    Wavy. I get that. It wasn’t really meant to be an argument, more like a pained observation. :). We are all hurting at the moment.
    Arsenal have always been a bit of an old-boy’s club, ever since I was a kid.

  18. Canadian Gooner says:

    Wavy – Some of the current board members may have actually met Ted Drake. They too have become complacent and feel entitled to their positions for little or no effort. The whole club needs a shake up.

    They have made a start with the coaching an medical staff. However, they need to carry on right up the ladder. Too many of them are still stuck in the mid Twentieth Century.

  19. crispen says:

    Rico, I for one would NEVER want to see Arsernal play defense like Hull was doing. The way we play is a major reason why I am an Arsenal fan. And when was the last time a team had two shots on goal and scored both? With one being a donation from the ref.
    Canadian Gunner…BFG is NOT in the german squad anymore.
    How many games left in the season ? more than 30.. Could we still turn things around? Hmmm.
    Yes, we would love to be winning every game but lets keep a reasonable perspective on things.

  20. Adam says:

    crispen. We don’t really play that way any more except for the odd small spell here and there. In short, we’re not playing winning football at the moment. I believe that HH contributors do keep a decent perspective myself. Everybody is enormously frustrated and understandably so.

  21. ozgunner says:

    The BFG and Koscielny are a great pairing – i don’t happen they are anywhere near as good as we think – only MO of course – the basic errors these guys make are constant and when pitted against real quality, well the results, over all, speak for themselves. Yes they have had the odd good ones against quality but overall they are overrun

  22. rico says:

    Crispen, why not? Not all the time of course but to be able to go to City, Anfield and Stamford Bridge being able to defend as sides like Hull do, would earn us a lot more points than we get at those places these days..

  23. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Sorry Rico / CG – Posted that comment and had to go into a meeting! Not too bad thanks Rico.

    Thanks CG. Born 3 days after the window closed, so at least I could watch our lack of activity in the market unfold!

    Adam – Spot on. No-one dares question the All Powerful Wenger. It’s a joke.

  24. Canadian Gooner says:

    crispen – I take your point about not wanting Arsenal to play like Hull. I doubt many, if any, of the regular house guests would want that, but Saturday’s game was another example of a long standing problem due to a lack of investment in our team.

    The club have started to address that, but almost to a man/woman, everyone here has been baying for years for another experienced CB and a true DM, not a makeshift one. Except for some long term bonds, the bulk of the Emirates stadium has been paid for. Yet, the management and owner’s parsimony continues and again we will be forced into make-do/panic buys in the January transfer window.

  25. ozgunner says:

    Rico – you are talking tactics now which involves admitting you have to respect the other side might hurt you and countering with your game plan and personnel – none of that computes with Wenger

  26. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Crispen – Are you happy with the way we play away from home? The same gung-ho (and not really effective anymore) all-out attack? I know I’m not. Wenger used to mainly use his 4-5-1 away from home in the Champs league very effectively (VERY effective away in Madrid when we beat them 1-0). Now we have no holding players capable of sitting, breaking things up and shoring things up at the back. So we have only 1 style of play. And that will win you very little.

  27. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rocky – Enjoy your fatherhood, I’m truly enjoying my grandfatherhood. I get most of the joys, but without the mess, stress and sleepless nights.

  28. Adam says:

    The excuses about the club having no money have, thankfully, subsided only to be replaced by the ever-present injuries and what appears to be a lack of competence. The thing is with football that there are lots of views but the truth lies in the points tally. That doesn’t lie and isn’t disrespectful to journalists either.

  29. rico says:

    🙂 Oz, good point well made, how silly of me to think like that… lol

    Rocky, you’ll be pleased to know that ‘Doctors’ is off of my planner, a hard decision but I made it… lol

  30. rockyrocastle07 says:

    How does a reserve goalkeeper keep getting injured? First his thigh, now his ankle. What the fuck are we doing in training? Using medicine balls instead of footballs?

  31. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Monreal and Flamini have both come out saying our injury list is not the reason we have been “indifferent”. Au contraire lads. Our injury list is the reason you 2 bums are getting game time. That’s not helping our cause, let me tell you.

  32. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – When other teams let our team play our game, we’re great; but as Adam and Rocky have already stated, we need to change our formation and game plan when required.

    Arsene has never been good about switching things around on the fly. He rarely changes formation during the course of a game and just as rarely makes a tactical substitution before the 65-70 minute mark in a game. He and our team have become rather predictable.

  33. Adam says:

    Rocky. I usually agree with you, but must defend Monreal on this occasion. On Saturday he was very good playing out of position and a LOT better than Gibbs who looks stoned most of the time to me. When he isn’t injured obviously.

  34. Joaquim Moreira says:

    morning all!
    The “atmosphere” around the Arsenal, is not famous!
    I repeat what I said a few months ago: there’s no empathy between AW and the team. Such an environment, reflected in the low productivity of some players and above all, the general moral, than when they are at a disadvantage or suffer a goal, there is a general distrust and a lack of legal and moral strength.

  35. rockyrocastle07 says:

    I know you have defended him in the past Adam. I just can’t agree with you on this one. He’s just not good enough. And neither is Gibbs. Granted, you have seen Nacho play more than I have but every time I have seen him, he’s looked out of his depth. We really are a fucking omnishambles regarding our defensive personnel (or lack of).

  36. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Can’t remember who said it recently (whether it was on TalkShite or BBC 5 Live) but the lack of harmony between club and fans is shocking. Not sure if anyone else heard it and I can’t really remember what was said exactly, but it was impossible to disagree with. I’ll see i

  37. potter says:

    You asked whether the coaching staff are working on our defending in training and then concluded that seeing the results so far the players must not be good enough. How about if it’s the coaching staff that are not up to it. ? First team wise we have had Tony Colbert with the keepers and Boro Primovic with the outfield . Perhaps that’s where we need the shake up.

  38. Lee says:

    As I said earlier it’s all too comfy for everyone at Arsenal…….
    Sanchez must be thinking wtf am I doing here?

  39. Adam says:

    Rocky. He’s been in and out because Gibbs is automatic first choice but when Gibbs has been injured he has done well. He has better technique than Gibbs and even at CB on Saturday, looked to get the ball forward and into the CM every time he got possession. He gets a lot of criticism but, having watched him for every moment of his home performances I say he is ok. I would say that he is a better and far more precise passer than Kos myself. At least he isn’t looking to go square every time he gets the ball. Out of his depth? Definitely not. Just needs game time. Yes we could do better but in some ways the whole Gibbs situation, for me, is indicative of what Wenger is doing at the club. Same with Jack and Ox. No standards of expectation set.

  40. . . . and gawd bless Dennis Bergkamp says:

    Crispen, it wasn’t so long ago that we had a solid defense, a bit like some that you are alluding to, but played so quickly and efficiently on the break that no one cared. I don’t see why we cant play expansively at home and tight and explosively away. Whether we have the players to do that is the $64,000 question (personally I think defensively: no; offensively: yes).

    P.S. agree whole completely on the younger, more dynamic board thing.

  41. rico says:

    Potter, that could of course be the answer, my comment in the post was just to provoke a debate and to hear others views – yours might just have hit the nail on the head as clearly something is dreadfully wrong..

    Although so far this season I have been quite unimpressed with both of our first choice central defenders…

  42. Canadian Gooner says:

    Adam – I have to agree. There is little true competition for places on the team sheet. We can’t expect too much from a player who hasn’t had a game for weeks and then is thrown on when one of the ‘regulars’ is injured or suspended.

    If you aren’t playing well, you should sit out. How many times have we seen one of the Young Guns have a decent game or two, benefiting from some regular game time and deserving to play; being automatically replaced as soon as the ‘regular’ is fit or has served his suspension.

    When I was saw Saturday’s lineup, I was apprehensive about young Bellerin starting. He had a poor showing when thrown in at the deep end in the Champions League, but I think he was the best of our back line against Hull.

  43. Canadian Gooner says:

    Let’s hope that Arsene can pull our chestnuts out of the fire during the January transfer window. If not, the club should put his feet to the flames to make a point with him.

    Anyway it is the wee wee hours of the morning and I need some sleep. Have a great everyone.

    Keep The Faith!

  44. Adam says:

    Hi CG. I too was concerned about Bellerin and for the first 15 minutes he was shockingly raw (only to be expected), but then he got himself steadied and was good. What he has is serious pace and on the overlap he is going to be dangerous. Also he will push the opposition’s Lb deeper which is seldom a bad thing. Once he gets the defensive side of his game sorted he could certainly be useful.

  45. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Wouldn’t want him overlapping Walnutt too often though Adam…. He’s hardly renowned for his tracking back abilities! Regarding Monreal, it’s strange how different people see different things! Definitely makes for a far more interesting life. I just don’t see him as a player. But as we both mentioned… you have seen him far more then I, so maybe I am being harsh on the lad. Just get nervous when he is playing at LB. Maybe its because Ozil shows fuck all in the way of helping him out.

  46. TONYBEE (@TBINJ) says:

    Same old Arsenal no plan b defensive lapses and not 2 clinical in front of goal costs us 3 points on Saturday.Our coaching staff need to work on a plan b to beat teams if plan A does not work we are very predictable

  47. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Adam, all i can say is good luck to the lad if he is to learn the defensive side of the game at Arsenal…

  48. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Read somewhere earlier that we didn’t have a single shot for 77 minutes, after our first goal. Unacceptable.

  49. rockyrocastle07 says:

    BT – sounds like he HAS already learned… Attack, attack, attack. ; You bomb on son, don’t worry about what’s behind you

  50. rico says:

    Tony, don’t tell Arsene Wenger that, he get’s a bit tetchy when asked about playing sides who defend well….

  51. rockyrocastle07 says:

    I know Lee. Second to none at that. Sounded like we were dogshit on Saturday from the updates on the radio

  52. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All…

    Some really interesting contributions on here today…

    To me, any precievèd problem with the centre-backs is due to the obvious lack of a quality defensive-midfielder in front of them.

    Take Matic out of the Chelsea system and see how good Terry&Cahill look!

  53. Judge me in May says:

    Afternoon rico and all,
    Just referring back to AW interview , I personally have no sympathy for him..
    I didn’t think he was made to look fool in that post match interview..
    Even if he was, he deserves it, he has been doing the same shit to the club and fans over the last 8 years or so . He is kronke representative
    Lying and deceiving at every opportunity he got when questions were asked about his squad and signings..
    RVP transfer, insisting with Diaby, sanogo and co, resigning flamini, signing brokeback kalstrum, not signing cesec, ruining Ozil, etc..
    The most significant failure imo is that the team keeps making the same mistakes and conceding goals in similar and tragic way over the last 10yesrs and we hear the same excuses from Wenger..
    If that is not taking the piss I don’t know what is…

  54. rico says:

    Afternoon all.

    Kev, I agree a proper Cdm would certainly help but he wouldn’t give Merts more pace or a spring in his legs, nor would he stop Kos from sticking a leg out for a penalty or watching a ball drop over his head to gift a goal…. Lol

  55. rico says:

    Selfies, social media, all of it does my head in when our players are involved. Shame they don’t pit as much effort into their game…..

  56. potter says:

    It might prevent them having to happen though. Ask yourself would Hazard or Diame for that matter have got past Gilberto . On both occasions he would probably taken a yellow or a warning 5 yards from the edge of the area.

  57. rico says:

    Perhaps, but when Song did that and the opposition scored from the subsequent free kick, we were pretty cheesed off with him…..

  58. Nickie says:

    Just re-reading the posts. I guess it was a good thing I was smashed before the game as I don’t remember much of it. What a shambles.

    Thanks for the posts Rico and Kev.

  59. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    Rico, I had an early night so missed your question…..
    Almost always, a new manager brings new energy to a club, but that only goes so far.
    People are raving about the Soton, and here is a case…….let’s see how they are going in May, because I’d suggest they’ll be closer to 10th than 1st at that time.
    Everything is fresh and new with a new manager, but again, that only goes so far.
    No top manager will take our job on without the totally backing of the board, and a decent budget…..I still say the money is there, but may not actually be available, and selling Vermaelen reeked of balancing the ledger, especially when he was not replaced.
    We will possibly have to take on a younger, inexperienced manager and that simply won’t work at a club as big as ours IMO.
    Get rid of Stan.

  60. scottfromoz says:

    Rico, with a decent DM, Merts lack of pace wouldn’t be such an issue, and the attacker would be stopped 25 yards out instead of Kozzer having to make a challenge in the box 🙂
    Selling Vermaelen was suicide.
    Not replacing him was simply stupid.
    At the very, very least, he could play CB and I still think he was an option at DM, so not only did we lose him, we brought nobody in to magnify the problem.
    Crazy.

  61. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Selling Vermaelen was a suicide, but the true is: we are in the end of October and he still injury.
    someone, was saying about Chelsea, Matic and how good will be Cahill and Terry. The difference is: we are a very soft team at the midfield and Chelsea is very strong and be upper in every games. Win the middle, we two central very strong and with only a full back in mission forward, they can balance the back and the middle. The quaility of the others players make the difference, because the game is under control in the middle and safe in the back.
    We can ask the problema is the DM, we miss a central back, etc, everything is true; however, the problem is deeper. We play for the spetacle and not for win points. We are very soft and are always in problems with strong teams. We must balance the games in the middle and the back for ours starts appear and make the difference; and for me, between others things, therea are a clear break between AW and the team.

  62. Lee says:

    Did you watch much of the WBA v manure game? I thought all the WBA players put in a shift, no selfies or instagram pictures just grafted!

  63. Lee says:

    I thought Wrighty summed it up when he said Wenger shouldn’t be worried about players doing post match interviews he should be worried about Merts & Flamini! Nail on the fucking head for me…..

  64. Adam says:

    I absolutely agree with Wrighty too. All these media companies have an agenda. Fuck them. Sort the team Arsene while you still have time. No big-time Charlie’s strolling about like they are superstars at WBA.

  65. rico says:

    Morning Adam, Lee and all.

    Weather is dreadful here, been like it all night. Dread going outside in case all our fence panels have blown off down the road….. 😉

  66. Lee says:

    Funny seeing defenders defend and forwards helping out too………. apart from Sanchez who really tracks back and helps out?

  67. rico says:

    Campbell but then again Wenger chooses not to play him for some odd reason..

    Don’t think Father Ted is the only one who achieves that feat these days….

  68. Adam says:

    You have to wonder why Campbell has been so obviously overlooked, Rosicky too.
    Still, Jack’s got a £250,000 super car so it’s all fine.

  69. rico says:

    Rosicky has to be down to playing International football and Campbell no doubt is about what his agent said towards the end of the summer transfer window…

  70. Adam says:

    Rico. You may be right. If so, it is ludicrous management with an additional burden of costing about £100,000 a week.

  71. allezkev says:

    Morning Adam, think I might do myself a selfie whilst on the rank at St Pancras. 😉

    Morning Rico and Lee

  72. Adam says:

    Brudder. Mrs Adam and I are wearing our Arsenal onesies and twerking while sharing a bottle of champers with our bubble and squeak breakfast. Selfies to follow of course.

  73. Lee says:

    Have you moved on from your rather fetching red strides then? If so I’d like to purchase them from you…..I was going to get them tailored into hot pants for Kev but don’t tell him!

  74. Lee says:

    Morning Bt….. it’s good that you care Rico!
    LVG reckons last night’s performance was manure’s best……I hope we beat the fuckers (for a change!) Getting a lot of stick off the hammer’s fans in the office too….

  75. allezkev says:

    Morning BT…

    Red hot pants, hmm, now I could just see myself in a pair of them as I stroll down Old Compton St…

  76. scottfromoz says:

    You whiny buggers……toughen up, it’s always raining there.
    Well, except when I was over 🙂
    Morning all.

  77. rico says:

    What’s it ‘pick on a country gal’ this morning? 😉

    I assumed it was something to do with Adam’s evening activity….

  78. potter says:

    All this talk of kettles , we have water otters here they are eating all the fish. Especially in people’s gardens.

  79. Lee says:

    A kite is a cheque..
    Yeah Potter we’ve got them on the river Colne that runs by my garden… wasn’t there a mink epidemic in Norfolk a few years ago after the tree huggers released a load?

  80. Wavy says:

    There was a water otter at the Owl in High Beech until they demolished it to make way for the M25. Many mourned its passing, many didn’t!
    We have Red Kites in our village too, turned up this year along with the Buzzards and Sparrow Hawks, they all help to keep the vermin down!
    Cheques and kettles? All sounds a bit deviant, to me.

    Morning all

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