Morning all.
It would be an understatement to say that ‘Poppygate’ is really cheesing off an awful lot of people off. It certainly is me. As Theresa May said the other day, Fifa need to get their own house in order before poking their noses into something which is a tradition here in England. I’ll be wearing my Poppy with pride, I already am and I hope the players do the same when England face Scotland on the 11th November.
I find it a little bit surprising. I believe that, by wanting to be too politically correct, sometimes you go against tradition. In this case, that is the part of English culture that I love.
They respect tradition and they respect people who have given their life for their country. I think that Fifa should not get involved in that.
Well said Arsene! What next, will Fifa ban the minutes silence too……?
Anyway, it’s reported that the Football Associations of England and Scotland will defy the ban on Armistice Day by wearing black armbands with poppy emblems and if Fifa dish out any kind of punishment, then so be it. The Welsh FA are looking to follow suit.
Back at Arsenal, Kieran Gibbs is reported to have picked up a shoulder injury and could miss Sunday’s match so it’s handy that Nacho Monreal has hinted he’s back fit and raring to go. Mind you, Arsene has said both he and Santi Cazorla remain doubts for the weekend:
Monreal has tests today and tomorrow (which is now today) and then we will decide.
Cazorla is similar, he has not practised yet – he will try to go out today and we will see where we go from there. He is a doubt, yes.
I’m convinced both of the above will play on Sunday, Walcott and Bellerin too as all three have been involved in training and I’m convinced Cazorla was snapped taking part in training the other day too…
After the weekend it’s another international break and already Rob Holding has been called up to the England Under-21 squad for the clashes with Italy and France. Plenty more of the first team players will off with their respective countries too and they to go with another three league points in their back pocket.
Arsene Wenger doesn’t have a ‘plan b’, because all of his players are ‘plan a’:
There is no Plan B in any squad, I never thought about my players like that. The team who is the most effective for the next game, that’s what you pick and I consider everyone as a regular player.
That is basically what a manager thinks, what is [best] for the next game. If he is involved in the next game in your mind, he plays. If not then he doesn’t start. He [Giroud] has shown he is a huge asset for the club and I have always supported him.
No matter who plays [against Tottenham] I have a squad of 25 players who are all top class and I think this game, a game of that stature, is not about 11 – it’s about 25.
And everyone is up for the NLD, of that we can be sure:
Everybody is focused, everybody is ready to contribute and everybody’s contribution will count on Sunday. We have show that recently in the games, the players we have just spoken about, Giroud for example, he came on against Sunderland and made the difference. It just shows that everybody’s contribution will be absolutely vital.
I am, big time!!
FIFA is full of it!
Oh the derby.
Can’t wait Marshall..
FIFA are claiming that the poppy is a political statement whereas we see it as a commemoration of rememberance for all who have given their lives. I am glad the PM has taken this stance and hope she and our football authorities never ever back down. It also shows what a stupid bunch FIFA really are and how they are undeserving of anything other than our complete and utter contempt.
Ditto Adam..
I’m not sure that any sensible British football fan should be in the slightest surprised at the anti-British, anti-English stance of FIFA…
They don’t like us because our Press constantly bring into question, aspects of FIFA that they’d rather never saw the light of day…
Anyone with half a brain would realise that FIFA have far more important issues to address…
This situation only goes to show how those at the top are unfit for purpose..,
Fifa make me sick. Corrupt bunch should as the PM says, sort their own house out before poking their noses into tradition….
It’s only made political by those opposing it!
What a joke.
Morning all.
Very true Scott…
Anyway, lets focus on stuffing the Scum, FIFA are a lost case…
I reckon Bellerin, Monreal, Walcott will a start, Giroud on the bench.
Don’t think he’ll risk Xhaka.
Santiago off of the bench…
Really looking forward to it…
Should be a cracker, Kev.
Bring it on!!
I can’t wait either, I reckon we’ll win.. Could be feisty.
Morning all
It’s sick and dangerous world we live in and anyone who watched the Clinton/Trump Conspiracy programme last night should dread one of thee clowns will have our destiny in their hands
Poppy day is a mark of respect for those to be remembered forever.FIFA should stick to football and get ther own house in order first and foremost.
By the way Rico,I get a backgrounfd of voices on here advertising Now You See Me 2 !!!!!!
You should only get that on the first time of logging in kelsey… i just keep my volume off… 😉
Hi All:
From FIFA’s perspective it’s all political; yes in this case its of a good course. However if they allow “poppies” in an INTERNATIONAL match not domestic, they set a major precedent because what happens if some tyrant, in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, South America or for that matter in America places some homophobic, racist, or some other offensive patches on shirts. Fellas is not as crazy as it seems. Do I agree with FIFA no, but I can understand.
I just saw this…..
I am not a badge of honour,
I am not a racist smear,
I am not a fashion statement,
To be worn but once a year,
I am not glorification
Of conflict or of war.
I am not a paper ornament
A token,
I am more.
I am a loving memory,
Of a father or a son,
A permanent reminder
Of each and every one.
I am paper or enamel
I’m old or shining new,
I’m a way of saying thank you,
To every one of you.
I am a simple poppy
A Reminder to you all,
That courage faith and honour,
Will stand where heroes fall.
Paul Hunter 2014
On NLD, If Dembele is not available for them, they have no chance because Wanyama will pickup his first yellow 10 minutes into the game. The midfield wins the game for us.
I like that Adam.
Ali is good for a booking or worse Obi..
There’s a huge difference between the wearing of a poppy and the other things you cite Obi, huge…
A gentle but quite poygnant poem. If anything the poppy is not only a symbol of remembrance it has become a,token for peace. I may be wrong but no matter what it ‘does’, it is not in any way, shape or form a political gesture. FIFA are well aware of what it means to the wearers but in their normal ham fisted way have chosen to ‘intercede’. For them it is the wrong case and made at the wrong time. You might say that they have/are acting in a political way in trying to force an issue where no issue has been raised before.
This kind of inane action that is currently being persued by FIFA is ill judged and an example of how pointless their organisation has become. The time has come to abolish the federation and start all over again. Perhaps the FA should order a referendum amongst all footballing nations….should we stay under FIFA’s control or should we leave, with the view of recreating a wholy new institution? A bit like Brexit, we could call it Fukfifatofixit?
Sunday’s game? We should win comfortably but, this is the NLD and nothing is certain. It’ll be close, I think and the man who claims ‘I only have a plan ‘a’ will prevail.
Afternoon all.
I wonder if anyone speaks to Ali or he just don’t listen. He wouldn’t last 10 minutes on the pitch with me because I will just bait him like a fish. He’s so easy.
Rico @1:48 of course there is – to “civilized or normal” people. But have you ever wonder why homophobes, racists, child molesters and ignorant people think they are right? Because they don’t understand “the big difference”. FIFA taking the easy way out, rather than on the case by case basis, says lets ban them all. Afterall the laws are made because of the law breakers not the law bidders.
Even if true Obi, that is no reason for us to allow them to drag us down to their level with their blanket bans, so as not to offend anyone. The poppy is not a political symbol as far as I am concerned.
I agree Adam, it’s all about remembering lost lives….. Fifa are bang out of order imo.
Well said Wavy..
Evening all
Really starting to worry about Sunday`s game……………… these games do my nerves no good at all and have had to resort to wearing incontinence pants !……………….would send in a photo to ask if my bum looks big in them, but I dont trust you lot to tell the truth ! 🙂
Don’t worry LC… lol
Catch up tomorrow guys – night all…
Le Coq, I got no reason to lie, I’m sure your bum don’t look big mate…..well at least not from a distance anyway !
Mesut Ozil, who Neil Ashton accused of ‘nicking a living’ is having the season of his life…
Will Neil Ashton apologise for his ignorant comment?
Doubtful, but what else can expect from a football correspondent from the Daily Mail, who is, how can I say, nicking a living perhaps?
Morning Kev and all..
Like Cockie I am concerned about tomorrow. Stats usually go out of the window in NLD games but Spurs have conceded half of what we have,but we have scored 75% more than them.
Will the CL games have taken it out of our guys as they had to fight for that win and Spurs by all accounts were absolutely terrible on Wednesday.
This fixture has in the passed thrown out a red card and granit if he plays worries me.His track record is appaling in fact nearly a liability.Coquelin isn’t far behinf him either.
So on paper we need to score one more than them but my gut feeling is that it will be a draw,which if it happens doesn’t help either team.
Ali and Wanyama are no saints either Kelsey. I’m pretty sure AW would have had a word in the players ears about not doing anything stupid…
Morning Rico. I wish we had bought Wanyama.
Morning Kelsey, why? Out of interest…
Morning Rico and all.
Morning Adam.
New post up now.