Morning all.
See, I told you Jacks comments at the parade were daft and now he’s copped an FA fine! I get what he was saying, I really do and yes, Tottenham and the word he used are nothing other than a match made in heaven but everyone knows stuff like that is frowned upon by the ‘powers that be’.
Jack has gone a long way to get back in the good books off the field, what he did for that little lad and his family was above and beyond what many people in his place would do but sadly, the good goes out the window when a hint of bad can hit the headlines….
Anyway, he can afford his fine and I’d put money on him thinking it was worth it. All I’d say is next year Jack, do something different. Pick on Kane, as next season will possibly prove that he’s not all that able….
Jack Wilshere has become a bit of a marmite player – not just because of his off field stuff but his style of football too, although since he returned from injury, he’s been pretty darn good.
There’s a TV show here in the UK hosted by Claire Balding and last weekend her guests were David James, Glen Hoddle, Jason Robinson and Ben Cohen. Amongst other stupid stuff like FA Cup songs sung by Tottenham and Hoddle tipping Villa to beat us in the Final, they talked about bad characters in the dressing room, or in general.
Ben Cohen talked about Manu Tuilagi – an England rugby international player who has been dropped for his country having been found guilty of assaulting a Police Officer. He was fined and I suspect that fine had been paid so he’s ‘done his time’ so to say. But still, no England rugby for him until next year at the earliest and that’s despite him being a top player.
KP. Another whose face doesn’t fit. He’s not been up in front of a magistrate, well, apart from the ECB, yet as great as he is and as much as England need him, there seems to be no way back for him right now…
Back to the programme. Ben Cohen stood by his beliefs and said that it matters not how good a sports person is, if they hit the headlines for wrong reasons, they should not be selected for their country, period! Sportsmen at the top are a role model to the younger generation he said and to continue representing their country would be rewarding bad behaviour. Well, something like that.
David James though, was totally against this view, he even cited Paolo Di Canio as being the perfect example of why ‘baddies’ should always play the game they play because he was the man who would always perform when needed yet no-one particularly liked him at his club. He believed that himself or any other sportsman should not be responsible for how a young person grows up. That he said was down to the parents.
I’m not trying to suggest that Jack is like either or the two players mentioned above, I’m really not, but my point is, when clubs are being being dragged through the back pages because of certain footballers off field antics, at what point does a manager say enough is enough?
And no, I’m not suggesting that Arsene Wenger should sell Jack either, he’s ours, he English and he loves Arsenal.
We’ve had a few players in the past and some present who for some reason didn’t/don’t get playing time, yet we fans think they should so it does sometimes make me wonder if there’s more to them sitting on the bench or not being in the squad, than just football.
Then before we know it, they are gone……
As we heard from the players after our FA Cup victory, this current squad and I don’t include those out on loan, is a close knitted one, they all get on well and have respect and trust for each other. There’s no room for bad apples, they divide rather than unite. Finding players who will arrive at Arsenal this summer and slot into such a good group will be hard, but the manager did it last summer, let’s hope he can do it again this time.
Back page stuff:
Wojciech Szczesny has been snapped having a crafty cigarette again. Right now he’s back home in Poland preparing for a European qualifier but I’m not sure smoking in public will please Arsene Wenger, or his international coach for that matter.
Arsenal have bid €40m (£29.2m) for Gonzalo Higuaín, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Napoli want €50m.
Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama has hinted he would like to join FA Cup winners Arsenal. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal are preparing a bid for Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia if they fail to land Morgan Schneiderlin. (Independent)
Arsene Wenger is considering a move for World Cup winner Benedikt Howedes. (German publication Kicker).
That’s it for Friday, mind you, that’s probably enough…..
Have a good day folks
Morning all
Morning again all…
Thought I’d try something different.. 🙂
Rico. I can’t think which players you mean as, these days, players in the last year of their contracts still cost big money. Looks like a sellers market, particularly for strikers. Higuain has always been a good player but, turning us down and then getting rather porky hasn’t helped. Then there is the matter of character and personality to take into consideration.
Adam, what do you call big money though?
£35 million for Alexis I wouldn’t call big money, £80 million for Bale was ridiculous…
50 million euros for Higuain? Well someone would need sectioning if they paid that.
£12.5 million is reported to be Howedes get out clause, that’s nothing in today’s market..
Agree re personality and character, hence the bit in the post.
Rico. Anything over £30-35 million is serious money. And £40-50 is getting silly. Over that and you had better hope that Worldwide shirt sales work out. Perhaps for a 23 year old with World class potential it might be considered ok. But there is so much to take into consideration I would imagine. Attitude, injury potential, professionalism, selfishness and the ability to make the difference in the big games for instance. We are at the cusp now with a very decent team. The next step will be interesting, especially considering Wenger’s contract situation.
I actually tend to agree with TS as to the ‘elite’ players thing. I really hope that Arsene takes the plunge.
I thought you meant bigger sums than £30 million Adam. I’m sure there is an awful lot to take into consideration when signing a player too, heck of a lot as one bad apple will truly spoil what we have.
Which is possibly why Sterling would be a wrong move, the way he and his agent are behaving is not the kind of thing which would attract AW to him..
Morning All
Morning Rico.
Silvertown is a very changed part of London and looks likely to continue changing for a good 20 years or so…
Morning Adam, Gabriel wasn’t a mega- signing but looks to be a very good player…
Rico, I think that £35 million is still a considerable fee to pay for a footballer.
In these days of Ronaldo and Bale and Suarez and Bent, it’s easy to poo poo a fee like the one we paid for Alexis. But with the wages, agents fees, signing on fees it still represents a lot of dough…
Rico. I can’t agree there Rico. We don’t know what has gone on with Sterling. We endlessly lampoon Brenda because he is such an arrogant cock. Perhaps Sterling sees that too and wants to make it plain that he doesn’t see any future there. I have a feeling that Liverpool leaked the whole contract thing to try and humiliate him into signing and it backfired on them. I don’t say that he is necessarily for us or that he offers more potential than Theo but personally, I am not convinced that he would be a bad move for us. I am sure he would love to play under Wenger. We’ve seen this season how important the right manager at the right time in a player’s career really matters.
Morning Kev.
Yes, I get that, but look what we got for our money. The first half of the season he saved us imo and re Gabriel, couldn’t agree more. He was in my mind when talking about not all players have to cost mega bucks.
I know many fans have the opinion that we have to spend huge amounts to make us PL contenders, but I’m not really one of them…
It might be prudent to give Gabriel’s career a chance to breathe? Let’s see how he does against Europe’s top strikers.
That’s fine Adam, it wouldn’t be good if we all agreed.
That’s true. I am generally more cautious than you anyway Rico.
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
Whether they like it or not, professional athletes do have an obligation to the public, especially those who are part of a team or officially represent their country. If a team player &/or a national representative their conduct, bad or good, reflects on their team/country.
No one expects them to be saints, but they should conform, at least in public, to societal norms. So called ‘morals clauses’ are fairly standard in contracts for pro athletes in North America. Yes, parents do have responsibility for teaching their children, but in today’s celebrity worshiping societies pro athletes, actors, etc. do have a great and oft undue influence on young minds.
Celebrity today no longer requires any demonstrable or real ability or talent, only a means of gaining notoriety. Celebrity, no matter how it is achieved, is praised, emulated and sought after.
How does it serve society to celebrate those who have no respect for it and only want to thumb their noses at it and don’t offer any alternatives or ways of fixing what is wrong and advancing it?
Well there is my two bits worth. I’ll take my animal skins and return to my cold, dark and dank cave.
But Gabriel looks the real deal so far, I’m quite positive about him. Not like he’s young and inexperienced…
Morning all.
Just to offer my opinion on Sterling, for what it’s worth. He is a Londoner who, I think wants to return to the smoke. I believe he has a largish extended family who live South of the river. I reckon he home is where his heart is! Why the f… He joined the dippers at such a young age, he was at Charlton I think Lord alone knows. was it cash? Was it a promise of first team football? Was the inspirational and motivating psyche that is Brenda? Probably not the last one, but something enticed him to dipper city and now he wants out. He’s not for us, cheap or dear. He’s not good enough and never will be, he’s good but he’s not an ‘elite’ player! I mean why would we? Also I think he may have a high maintainance life style and ego that would upset team morale not enhance it! No not for me and I hope not for Arsenal. Just because he’s English doesn’t make him desirable or lovable!
Not sure about that Adam.
Morning Cg. I too think they should behave in public.. And regardless of what James says, younger people will always look up to sports starts, it’s only human..
🙂 Wavy, so in a nutshell, it’s no to Sterling…. lol
I have to get my woofa walked before it gets too hot so catch in a bit..
Rico – I’m with you on Sterling. Adam does make a good point about us not knowing all the facts about his recent contract negotiations with Liverpool, but on the evidence to date and for the price being bandied about, he ‘d be a very big risk.
Also, my apologies for the preceding rant, but part of your post touched a raw nerve with me.
Phil Thompson ranting and raving about the importance of Liverpool sealing the deal for James Milner kind of encapsulates where Liverpool sit in the food chain…
The Scousers may see the signing of Milner as the birth of a new era for them.
I see it more as proof of their continued decline…
And for that, I am so pleased….
Morning All,
The old silly season is in full guessing mold now with the media.
The rumours around the the club are at an all time low these days.
All the files from the scouts are on the table…
So who will/should we sign to improve this team.
At first glance the spine is where most are looking.
Do we need a striker?
Danny can improve,Theo’s not that bad,
we also haveTuba coming through.
That’s four.
Goalkeeper,
Ospina,done very well
then cracked a little.
The pole has potential…but likes a Tow-Rag.
Not sure about the rest.
So for me to beat the top sides we need
a keeper better than we have.
Holding Mid,
We were lucky to fall on
The Coq.
We have no one to match him at the club,
the Cup Final showed him fully committed
for 93 mins.
So for me a Keeper and Holding Midfielder
are the only media story’s that will make me read
more into.
Kev – Amen to that.
Striker we also have The Quiff
When looking at strikers this joke always makes me laugh.
It’s Fabio Capello’s first day as England manager and he walks into the showers and sees a large poo on the floor. He goes straight to the dressing room to confront the players and asks “who’s sh*t on the floor?”
At which point Peter Crouch sticks his hand up and says “yeah, but I’m good in the air!”
Morning all.
The FA have basically done nothing about players guilty of a hell of a lot worse than Jacks sins over the years, and if they had any balls would be ripping apart FIFA.
Seriously, those towers need to get a life or at least start doing their job.
Jack was silly……..that’s all.
FIFA are corrupt.
John Terry is…well, John Terry.
Suarez copped several slaps on the wrist.
Jack said shit!
Cg, I agree we don’t know all of the facts re Sterling, it could be as Adam suggested, but it could also be another Anelka situation but for the Dippers instead of us…
Kev, just bumped into a Dipper fan on my walk, first time i’ve seen her since we battered them 4-1, kind of think she’s been avoiding me… lol
Her and her husband are both from Liverpool and they really want Brenda out the door, and Sterling but funny enough, she is thrilled they have signed Milner….
Fred – keeper and HM for me too, they’d be first in the door if I had my way. A winger too before the season starts…
Just like you can’t see us getting a striker, I can’t see us getting another defender, unless one leaves…
We have four central players with Hayden behind them. Two left and right backs with Jenks future still to be sorted.
🙂 Fred, that’s funny…
Scott, I think the FA are doing their bit re uefa, well, they are talking the talk anyway… lol
Good post rico. One thing I admire about Harry Kane is he is prepared to stand alone and not follow the herd. He risked being smirked at by his peers by saying he dislikes Tattoo’s and no way will he follow the current trend of footballers covering themselves. Whatever your views on Tatoos, I say good for him in doing what he feels is right. A bit more sense like that for Jack each summer probably wouldn’t go amiss!
Rico, they can talk, no question 🙂
Rico I do some work with a dipper season ticket holder,
proper Hub-Cap
travel’s up to all the home games from London.
From day one: He told me Brenda was wrong not right
for them.
Thanks Andrew – I didn’t know that re Kane. Don’t get me started on tattoos… 😉
That’s about all Scott…
Interesting Fred, considering he was viewed as being one of the best young managers out there. I don’t like him for what he did to Reading…
And what’s wrong with tattoos rico? I have a huge one on my torso. I don’t see my mum complaining. Kane is a dick. Any spud player is. I ll rather be covered in tattoo and be a pretty damn good player than be clean and shit! Morning cookies and creams been really busy lately. Hence my absence. So what did I miss? Someone fill me in.
Good day all. I’m gonna go against the grain here and say Sterling would do very well under Arsene Wenger. Remember when a young French player came to us as a winger that couldn’t finish to save his life? Well I see Sterling as having a lot to his game apart from the ability to finish. He gives defenders a torrid time and even when he was all over the media for the wrong reasons he was still Liverpool’s stand out player and his performance never dropped. With the players at Arsenal around him he has the potential to be a world beater.
I would take him on a long term contract as I’m sure Arsene will get the best out of him.
Higuian??? Nah I ll rather play theo and spend the money else where but seriously guys I doubt if we ll see more than a player joining. When fit we have a cracking team who can give any team in europe a game. Arsene is not known for wholesale changes. I see just one player coming and it’s not a striker. We already bought our striker just waiting for him to sign. He’s 26 and ready plus he knows the league. No need to spend a huge sum of money on a new player. Sanchez hit the ground running we won’t be that lucky next time. Plus higuain is not known for his speed either. We re just going to end up slating him like we did giroud.
Scott – The other week I commented that FIFA were inept/incompetent and Kev came back that they were corrupt. I retorted that they could be inept/incompetent and corrupt. Two days later the shit hit the fan with 14? FIFA officials arrested.
The whole board and senior executive should be flushed down the toilet and replaced en masse. This whole situation is going to rumble on for a long time yet, with more damning revelations, claims, counter-claims, arrests and trials. I bet many of the International Olympic Committee and other sports organizations are looking over their shoulders wondering when is it their turn. Not before time, but it will take years to sort out and recover.
Goonster.
Geziah that was a decade ago and that player was a world and European cup winner plus he actually was touted as the next best thing. Plus he wasn’t a money grabbing geek face. Sterling ll fit well with maureen and his cohorts. We don’t need him plus he runs funny.
Hey adam 😀
CG, no doubt they are corrupt and inept.
Absolutely no question.
Geaiah, if the little fekker Sterling stops diving he might make a player.
Until that time, he is just a shit player.
Nothing wrong with them at all Goonster, whatever floats your boat eh… lol
Rico 😀
I am, sort of, with Geziah on Sterling. But, I could go either way. 🙂
Hi Stan. When I was an itinerant I fell into the clutches of a girl biker gang who had their way with me for 2 whole days and then had me tattooed.
I’ll give you that Goonster he does run funny lol. But I remember him in a few games especially the one against manure getting several one-on-ones and hitting them all straight at the ‘great’ De Gea. If only he could learn to finish.
I see theo developing into that beast of a cf we want. Did you see how much panic he caused villa and west brom in our final game at the emirates. His positional sense and constant running was a source of irritation all game. They didn’t know how to keep him in check plus with theo playing cf we move the ball quicker and our mid field can impose themselves on the opposition. What a dilemma they have. Harry us around and try to close us down and one through ball and theo is one on one with their keeper. Pull back and we can hurt you with our passing game. We just need to find a balance. I believe wenger ll finally give theo that role he’s been craving for a long time. Be afraid pl be very afraid. 30 goals next season for theo? ? I think so. Just keep him injury free. Come on you gunners.
Geziah – I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him arrive..
Adam you nong lol 😀 what kind did you get?? And how does the missus feel about it?
Stanley. These were posh Home Counties bikers. I ended up with a tattoo of a cup of fine Darjeeling on my left arm and a slice of Victoria sponge on my right. Mrs Adam is sickened by the whole sordid saga.
Geziah don’t get me wrong he’s a good player but better than what we have?? I dint think so. Plus 50 million quid for sterling? ? You re having a laugh. Am still haunted by the fact that we lost afobe because of yaya sanogo. Sterling ll spell the end of akpom who to me is a better player. No to sterling. He ll only cause more trouble.
Hahahahahahahah adam I can’t wait to meet you in person. My God you re a hoot. Hahahahahah.
Stan. That’s how I met Kev. He found me slumped in Old Hampton St, eating a partly devoured Lidl mini Bakewell tart that I had found. He bought me a green tea and told me about Highbury House.
The past few days has been awesome for us gooners. First we smashed villa then zelalem showed us a glimpse of what to expect(he’s more ozileque than cesc though) then akpom threw me off my chair with an audacious piece of skill. Add Crowley to that and I ll be kreaming. Oh boy are we going to kill them or what??? 😀
Hahahahah stop adam you re going to get me fired. Am laughing really hard here. People are peeping into my office to see if I ve list my marbles. Lol
Goonster – I too think TW will be our CF next season in certain games… I especially like the West Brom performance as Pulis is known for his tight defending…
Enough pontificating for one day. I’ve replaced my soap box under the desk and am off for the day.
Have a great day everyone. Keep The Faith!
Apparently, there is some breaking news which suggests that Cech can leave for either us or Utd…
Night Cg…
Rico you ve agreeing with me lately. I like the feeling 😀 guess am doing something right then 😀
See that Stan, see how I saved Adam, how I saved another sinner, another lost sheep by opening his eyes to the wonders of Highbury House….
Lord be Praised….
He wants london maam but will that poison dwarf strengthen us seeing how he couldn’t even find it in himself to sell us a dud in demba ba. I doubt we ll see him in red and white anytime soon.
Hehehehe morn kev one more sir kev your work is not done yet. You have to save poor old wathy. He’s down in his dumps. He needs help cause he’s running out if GGs. So please do all you can for him. He’s still important to us here. Good guy shit blogger 😀
🙂 Goonster, I’m only guessing – those itk might suggest different… lol
Cech to Utd, De Gea to Real Madrid….?
If the FBI start a serious investigation into the awarding of the next two World Cups things could get really interesting.
Already started hasn’t it?
I remember it as if it was only yesterday Stan.
I was strolling down Old Hampton St looking for a new pair of red spandex trousers, when this dishevelled figure in an empty muso cardboard box ask me for some change…
I said, of course, all you have to do is hum me a Robin Trower song.
He immediately produced a banjo and played a haunting version of Bridge of Sighs and I knew at once, that he must be an Arsenal fan and in need of a dose of Highbury House.
A cup of green tea and a draw on my spliff, given to me by Lee, and Adam was a changed man.
Articulate, urbane, celebrial, decent, law abiding, insufferable 😉
And we’ve been friends ever since…
Praise the Lord….
In fact wasn’t there something in one of the newspapers last year about the FBI looking into the WC awards? I suspect what started back then has resulted in what is going on now…
I don’t know Rico.
Then let’s hope they go all the way.
Kev. I remember it as if it was a week ago last Monday. 🙂
Lol kev 😀
Mrs Adam agrees about the insufferable bit Kev. I prefer to think of it as ‘challenging’.
Mrs Adam is a wise woman….
And powerful… 😀
Kev. 🙂
rico, there’s a lot to be said for the old proverb “To be old and wise you must first have to be young and stupid”
Imagine waking up this morning to the news that your new manager was Rafael Benitez, if I was a madrid fan I’d be well pished off !
Kev 2.32, you old romancer you !
Wonder what came of Nicky, nice chap, arrived here pre-season all wide eyed and bushy tailed looking for a season ticket and by October / November turned into Satan in tight under-pants….that’s what Arsenal does to ya ! I’m sure like us all he’s feeling much better now !
Not heard that one before Micko…
Mind you, I haven’t got to being old and wise yet.
That’s true Rico. 🙂
Rico 11.34, NOOOOOOO TO STERLING!
Ahem rico…..
It’s a steep learning curve for Jack.
Wise Adam, just not as old as you lot… 😉
No for me too Wavy, however…….
Not sure what you mean Micko… 😉
No Sterling then.
I think you know different Adam.
All quiet here so I’m off..
Enjoy your Friday night…
Night all..
Night Rico.
Morning all..
Morning all.
No match for us today and it’s Saturday!
One day we’ll be in it Wavy…. lol
There is only one game in town tonight. They are putting big screens up and local bars are putting 1000 chairs out.should be fun.
Canada v China Potter? lol
New post up now.