Morning all.
Poor old Petr Cech has taken some criticism this season. Not so much for his shot stopping, but for his footwork which at times has been quite comical. Not sure I’d have used that expression had his continual gaffs had led to us conceding goals though. Other than that though, I thought he was having a decent season. He’s certainly looked better than he was last season but when your manager wants you to play out from the back and you’re struggling to grasp it, perhaps it’s all too easy to forget some of the saves he’s made.
Human nature often seems to be to focus on the negative whilst disregarding the positive. It’s like queuing for something you really want. Instead of looking forward to getting whatever it is, we moan about the time it takes to get it. How many times have you heard someone in the queue behind or next to in the supermarket mutter the words ‘they could do with a few more checkouts open?’ How many footballers have moved clubs because they too have grown impatient, or that’s the excuse often given when better money is offered elsewhere. It’s either they want trophies now, or they’re not prepared to wait for their chance to play.
I may have digressed somewhat.
Back in the summer we signed Bernd Leno, a keeper who’s known for being good with his feet and it didn’t take long for the calls for him to replace Cech in goal. Funny enough though, his footwork has been comical too and he’s only made a couple of appearances. Nerves, that’s what I put it down to…
The media, darlings that they are have tried to write off our German keeper already. It all began when Arsenal played Brentford in a behind closed doors friendly which on that occasion, a mistake by him cost us the game. Then came the ‘I didnt come here to sit on the bench’ story which no doubt was garbage and then on his League debut, he nearly put the ball into his own goal after making a cockup. But he didn’t.
Now it’s his time because Cech has been ruled out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. Unlucky for the German, two of those weeks will be an international break which could mean that he’s only got two matches to convince Emery that he’s the better keeper. Thursday v ??? And then Sunday away at Fulham. Ideally, we’d like to see him bored through inactivity but that’s unlikely with the way we defend right now. He needs two big performances if he’s to have any hope of ousting his counterpart.
This is what football does. Someone gets injured and then someone steps up or gets the chance anyway. Wright, Almunia and Fabianski failed with their opportunities but going back a few years before, Alex Manninger did really well when his opportunity knocked. But once David Seaman returned from injury, the Austrian kind of fell away. My guess is the same will happen once Cech has recovered.
But it’s up to Leno to make sure that doesn’t happen. Make it really tough for Emery to ignore him, it’s the only way he’ll be able to convince the Spaniard to stick with him. It’s no different for other players either as another Europa League fixture looms. If they want first team football, work for and prove they are better than those Emery is selecting for the League matches.
Welbeck and Iwobi are doing their best to become a first team regular and the way they’re improving will soon cause Emery a selection headache if they’re not already. Smith-Rowe is another, Elneny, although not everyone’s favourite, barely puts a foot wrong when he plays and Lichtsteiner, the old and wise head on a body which doesn’t mirror its age. Kolasinac is back from injury and only he can force his way past Monreal. We know he’s good but he was stifled under the old regime.
It’s been noted by many of us that this group of players no longer seem to cave in for the opposition and even though City and Chelsea beat us, it wasn’t through the lack of trying. In both matches, we had plenty of chances to get something from both games. Heads didn’t go down and the battle wasn’t over until the final whistle blew.
We’re competing again. From the moment the game kicks off to the final whistle, we’re competing. The football is far from being the best we’ve seen but what else did we really expect?
What Unai Emery is doing will take time and we’ve just got to be patient.
Good morning Rico another fine post to start the week, thank you.
I’d be surprised if Cech is out for only three weeks, he will need time to clear the rust out after he recovers, a couple of cup or Europa League games will do the job. Meanwhile we will all be able to see how our shiny new ‘keeper shapes up.
It was interesting to read this morning that the NBA is proposing to make segments of Basketball games available to purchase on computers, tablets, phones etc. It will be possible for punters to select which bit of a live game to buy for $1.50 a segment. I hope that spreads to football soon. I’d be happy to pay a couple of quid to watch the final fifteen minutes of Arsenal games.
Morning Cicero, thanks.
There used to be a website you could pay £10 a year for and watch all footie. I guess that’s been banned now.
Good point re Cech, he’s no spring chicken I guess, could take him a while to return. In the meantime, Martinez should be rubbing his hands together as well. I wonder if he’ll now play on Thursday…
Interesting one, Thursday’s game. Leno will be raring to go but should we risk him on the long flights or preserve him for the onerous trip across London on Sunday? Surely if he flies out he has to play.
Clubs have been looking at pay for view for a long time . Which is why Kroenke bought into Granada at the outset of his takeover. It was voted down by the premierleague because of the likelyhood that it would only benefit the big 6 clubs and the rest would fall far behind. I remember the example of Scottish football where it was claimed that the only time clubs made a profit was when they played Rangers or Celtic , the rest of the fixtures were break even or loss and therefor the balance was firmly tilted in their direction.
Some of us argued that a new manager would get more from the existing group of players but were shouted down however look at Iwobi , Holding even Lacazette and the whole group ethos . The new man is changing things and certain players are improving not only with skill but attitude. It is the older dogs that are finding the new tricks a problem and as a batch of young pups take their places I am reminded of the Merson , Rocastle , Davis and Thomas days . getting almost optimistic in my old age.
Morning all.
Under the last regime Cech would have been out until Xmas! Three weeks does not seem long six weeks seems far more likely.
Blue skies and cold….ish here.
I don’t think we can afford to risk him. Tough call for Emery to make. Martinez is a good keeper though I think, he’d only benefit from playing on Thursday as should anything happen to Leno, he’ll have had some minutes on the pitch.
Spot on Potter and probably the exact reason Emery didn’t go hung ho last summer. He had to learn about the players first hand and not on past performances or reputation. Just why I believe the Ramsey offer was withdrawn.
Wavy, funny but probably true.
Morning all and thanks Rico.
I was in LIDL`s the other week stuck in a queue and complained that it was moving too quickly, nothing to do with me being stuck behind the fittest looking woman in her gym gear that I`ve ever seen ! 😎
Beautifull day as per usual here and after some gym work will cruise about on my ride on mower again…………….parrot smugglers( I prefer them to budgie smugglers so that I can stand in front of the mirror saying…..”who`s a pretty boy !” ) or mankini, what do you reckon Rico ?
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Seeing as you asked Lc, just the thought makes me feel ill… lol
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Your imagination is certainly vivid, LC 🙂
Morning all.
G`day Scott !…………………………….take it you are hopping around in your Kangeroo Smugglers with Sean stuck in your pouch ! 😆
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Right, really need to move down to gym…………………..
Yeah I reckon you need to burn some energy off hahahaha
Reports that Mkhitaryan has withdrawn from the trip to Azerbaijan, which is a disgrace that a player feels it’s unsafe for him to travel to another UEFA country, a place where the final is being staged, how embarrassing for UEFA if we reach the final and he pulls out again!
Obviously UEFA have put finance before player safety, which I know is hard to believe, mish….
That’s sad Kev…
I live in the West Indies and our TV provider, Flow, has a package that allows us to see every Premier League game. This is incredible and it’s lucky I’m retired because there’s a plethora of good football on offer. I was mostly a ‘Clock Ender’ from the 1950s my main game was rugby and unfortunately very few games are shown. There are plenty of Rugby League games, but that’s like equating football with hockey.
What about the cricket Dick? We actually get to see most of that which is handy as it’s another sport I love.
I`ve noticed on two occasions recently that Laca` stayed on his feet instead of going down like a ton of bricks when he was obviously fouled………………..as much as I love his attitude, he really needs to wise up as both times imo he would have had stone wall penalties instead of nothing to show for his good deeds.
U23`s at Leicester tonight @19:00.
Starting XI: Iliev, Pleguezuelo, Ballard, Medley, Omole, Bola, Olayinka, Burton, Saka, Coyle, John-Jules Subs: Hein, Olowu, Thompson, Smith, Balogun
Subs: Hein, Olowu, Thompson, Smith, Balogun
ESR and Eddie being saved for EL ?
No Joe Willock either !
Smith-Rowe was injured Lc.
Evening Rico and the house.
It’s men against boys and the boys are winning 2-1
Ballard and Burton having good games
Burton scored no2 from the spot
We won 2-1
This was a very good win against a very older side.
Ballard Medly and Burton very good.
Rick, can’t remember I’ve asked before, but your thoughts on Ballard?
Seems a ripper to me.
Burton is very good, strong in the tackle but highly technical, Ballard is a traditional British center back, good in the air, strong on the deck, but very skilful.
He looks a real prospect, Kev.
On the subject of prospects Reiss Nelson Hoffenheim tonight against Man City. It might be worth watching if he’s playing.
Morning all.
Thanks for that re Nelson, might tune in to that game if Nelson is in the team/squad.
The interesting one is Utd, lose and Mourinho might be gone say the media…
Win and he might be gone, Hey Rico 🙂 🙂
Another club he’s brought to a frenzied mess.
Morning all.
Hope they hang on a bit longer before the axe , as the further they drop behind the better.
Potter, i hope he stays for the full term lol
Hi Scott.
Same here, he can stay on all season for all I care.. 😉
New post up now..