Ivan you old tease! Utd in for Koscielny, the best defender in the league says Rio Ferdinand…

Morning all.

Did anyone manage to stay awake until the end of the England match? No, me neither, what a boring game of football and if England want to go far at the Euros, they’ll certainly need to up their level of performance. A bit like Arsenal next season if they are serious about winning the league!

And Arsene is according to Ivan Gazidis whose been quoted in The Telegraph as saying:

There is not nostalgia on either side. It’s not what motivates us or him. The reason we have Arsène as our manager is because our board believes he can deliver success. The reason that Arsène is here is because he believes that he can deliver success. If either of us didn’t believe that we would not be constrained by nostalgia or longing; we would have to make a change. Arsène would understand and support that. But it’s just not how either side feels. We feel we are on a good path.

Hmmmm….

There’s more:

He’s in his mid-sixties, it’s natural to think about when his time here might come to an end, but the truth is nobody knows. He is in fantastic shape. He is deeply engaged and excited. One of the biggest challenges we will face is the transition, whenever it happens, but that is not something we are going to be facing imminently. Obviously, he is going to be managing us next year and we are planning and making many decisions for the long term. 

The reality is we wouldn’t leave things until the last minute. I’m comfortable both that if Arsène is going to extend we will know that and if, whenever that is, he is going to come to an end, that he will give us the time that we need to prepare for that transition. The relationship with Arsène is very deep. It will be done behind closed doors and we will have our transition plans well worked out.

He has always put the long-term health of the club first. He wants to hand over a football club, whenever that it is, that is in great shape. He views that as a massively important part of his legacy. But we are just not in that mode. I know Arsène wouldn’t stay on if he thought the club wasn’t heading in a good direction and thought he wouldn’t be able to deliver what the fans want.

Well that’s all very nice isn’t it, Arsene wouldn’t stay on unless he truly believed he can deliver what Arsenal fans want to see. What an odd thing for Ivan to say especially having witnessed first hand that not all Arsenal fans are happy with what they’ve seen and last season was not the first time, it wasn’t something new. But here’s the problem, Arsene is in denial imo, he thinks he has what it takes but he’s set in his ways and at this stage in his life, it’s highly unlikely he’ll change – he hasn’t over the last few years so I seriously doubt he will now.

But the biggest worry for me is:

The reality is we wouldn’t leave things until the last minute. I’m comfortable both that if Arsène is going to extend we will know that and if, whenever that is, he is going to come to an end, that he will give us the time that we need to prepare for that transition.

Why on earth is he the one to decide whether he stays longer than one more season? Surely to goodness the manager’s career should be determined by results, performances and the board/owner? If the season starts badly and the fans show their discontent from the stands, the owner and board really need to step in and do something, not just sit on their hands or bury their heads in the sand.

Arsenal is a great club which has everything. A superb stadium, fantastic training facilities etc etc and it should be challenging for the league title. Not coming second, ten points behind Leicester City!

But you know what, with Arsene staying one more season suggests only one thing to me, and that’s regardless of what happens during this next campaign, the Frenchman isn’t going anywhere any time soon. To check what the odds are on that happening or for any other sporting events over the summer then the best place is to go is accumulator tips.

Still, look on the bright side, Ivan did say that everyone at the club are disappointed and certainly not satisfied to end up second and together they are taking a long, hard, realistic look at why the club fell short of its ambitions. He said second place isn’t a disaster, but it’s not what the club are about……..

No, they usually end up 3rd or 4th…..

Transfer gossip:

Manchester United have been told to forget about signing Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny, the best defender in the league according to Rio Ferdinand. French outlet Le 10 Sport, cited by The Metro, say Jose Mourinho has earmarked the 30-year-old Frenchman as a potential summer target.

However, Arsenal have issued the new United manager with a hands-off warning and Koscielny himself is also reported to be uninterested in a move to Manchester.

Have a great Friday guys and gals….

145 thoughts on “Ivan you old tease! Utd in for Koscielny, the best defender in the league says Rio Ferdinand…

  1. Adam says:

    I suppose that, ultimately, it’s how one describes success. Wenger in or out has certain similarities with Brexit.

  2. Le Coq Monster says:

    Thanks Rico.
    I keep saying it every year..” Arsene will learn from his mistakes this season and next season he will spend big !”………………thing is, I actually think he will this up and coming season, if not I will admit I`m in denial too !. hahaha

    This European thingy…stay or go ?……….personally I think we have been rubbish in Europe and honestly think we would have won the league had we not been in Europe !……..trake one from Bindippers, Chavs and Manshafter Std to win league next season, so you can put me in the CLexit brigade !……………..we were talking football, weren`t we !. 🙂

  3. rico says:

    As do I Lc because I always think the penny will drop for him, but it never has and probably never will…

    If he starts signing classy players, I’ll have a rethink though…. 😉

  4. Le Coq Monster says:

    hahaha True !
    Thing is Rico, if he goes and buys all the worlds top players I will probably have to support a different team so I can have a good moan about some other manager not puling his weight . 😀

  5. potter says:

    No offence meant Joe , just the way I was educated in the 60’s.. You know how difficult it is to keep up with the shifting sands of time. Still if we all stay in , it won’t matter because we will all be tarred with the same brush eventually.

  6. obi says:

    Hi All:
    As I have said before Ivan is just as culpable as AW. Btw, typical Jose, I heard Stuart Robeson said last month that AW has decided to make Kos the captain, so now Jose wants him.

  7. Wavy says:

    The poisonous Pygmy wants Pogba, allegedly, and is prepared to pay £60m for him. Can anybody, realistically see Ebeneezer paying that kind of money for any player?? I can’t, no matter how much cash we have in the attic.

    As far as Brexit is concerned I’ve always lived my life by the mantra, ‘better in than out’ I rest my case, no matter what the context may be!

    Next year I foresee manure finishing 5th but I have put a tenner on Sunderland to win the league. Am I a sage and a seer or am I as deluded as ……….??

    Morning all. Dull day again.

  8. tsgh says:

    Rico, yesterday you hinted that the reads from your freshly harvested kale leaves that AW was going to out last Conte, Jose and Pep… 😉 why moan now? 😉

  9. tsgh says:

    Morning wavy… my view is whether brexit or remain we are all heading for the slaughter house one way or the other….

    The lucky ones in my view are those baby boomers and those who are a decade or so younger…

    In my opinion about 23 of the governments manifestos are even scarier than a future were the so called zero hour contracts are the norm for the 90%. The overt agenda of the globalist whilst we fight amongst ourselves on issues such as democracy and sovereignty provides a perfect excuse for the 1%ers to carry on their agenda.

  10. Wavy says:

    Ginge, you may well be right. Without getting too philosophical about the world and its future, I think I would summarise our present predicament in the following way:
    We’re buggered if we do, and were f****d if we don’t.
    I mean, where do we go from here?
    Europe the ‘great conspiracy, China the enormous enigma, USA about to play their ,trump,card! And so on, ad infinitum.
    Quote Dad’s Army, “we’re all doomed”, Private Fraser, a visionary amongst the undertaking fraternity!

    Arsene in the ‘remain’ amp! Why would he want to go back to France, there’s nothing there for him, at his advanced stage of life. However, he may have no choice but to return to the land of his birth after the Brexit folk arrive on the scene, as they will repatriate all euro aliens, of which he is but one. The plus to that strategy is that all the other foreign managers will get the hoof too, including the pygmy from old toilet! Win, win……perhaps.

  11. Adam says:

    True.
    Sell Ramsey and Theo and Pogba is within reach. Surely he’d like to come to London rather than Manchester. Unless he’s into gang culture and hand grenades that is.

  12. rico says:

    Surely a few players careers are hanging in the balance.

    Walcott, Ramsey, Gibbs, Merts, Campbell, Ox, Debuchy, Ospina and that’s just off the top of my head…

  13. joe says:

    Potter there was no offence at all taken.
    I some times wonder about nationalists wanting independence from the UK ie Scottish and Irish but still want to stay in the European union.
    Got to love sinn fein never once supported the eu always in the no camp when it comes to a vote but now the British may leave they love it and want to stay in.

  14. Adam says:

    Rico. It seems that way from the outside but I wonder how Arsene feels. Most believe that he doesn’t believe in mass changes. It’s going to be a tricky balance for him to strike and perhaps he is just too conservative to roll the dice.

  15. rico says:

    Adam, he said himself that too many changes upset the balance of the squad so Yes, I suspect he’ll be too conservative again this summer. But it’s his own fault really as he should have started the changes last summer, then this time things wouldn’t be so difficult.

  16. Adam says:

    Rico. I agree that he cocked up badly last season and his misjudgement has come home to roost. But it’s all conjecture on the fan’s part who know that, no matter what they might come up with, suggestion wise, be it intelligent or stupid, they will never have to make the sort of decisions that they complain about.

  17. allezkev says:

    So, Brexit have Boris Johnson, whilst the Remain have Martin McGinnis and Gerry Adams, aren’t we all so lucky… ?

  18. tsgh says:

    Agreed Wavy but since AW is an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, I think he will survive, the expulsion.

  19. Adam says:

    Hiya Kev. Yes, Bob’s the name that simply won’t go away isn’t it?
    He’s waiting in the wings, machete in hand.

  20. tsgh says:

    Adam- You might be onto something. You never know a Samaritan will grant them shares in the company that gets to publish the report. 😉 a small token for hurting their feeling. 🙂

  21. Le Coq Monster says:

    I still have no idea how to vote as I have not seen one independant unbiased view and at the end of the day underneath it will all be about money !.
    Cameron says he will get imigration down to 100,000 if we still remain, yet he has had ample oppurtunity to do so in the years he has been in power and has failed miserably, like all politicians he is a liar !.
    I liken politicians to a pack of playing cards as it doesn`t matter how many times you shuffle them you will always be dealt a joker !
    Personally I would only let in fit looking woman and no men………………I have tried to get this active by setting up a border control at the Tamar Bridge where only fit woman and men with copious amounts of bribing wonga can get into Cornwall ………………….I`m arrested every day !

  22. tsgh says:

    LC- just shut one eye and place an ‘X’ in a box.
    The over inflated egos and the expenses history of the brexit leaders is what scares me …

  23. Wavy says:

    A world where Boris is kingpin and Gove is a god. Is this the future I see before me? Heaven forefend!
    It’s the same dilemma that we have with Wenger and his successor. Do we want change now or can we wait a while longer? 4th place is good 7th place a disaster! Oh, it’s all very confusing. Should we wait for Ian Holloway to take over or just maintain and cherish old Ebeneezer? On balance I quite like things the way they are.
    Oh me oh my, it’s enough to make you cry!

  24. obi says:

    Am surprised that it took this long for Brexit to emerge.. heck the Brits undermined the Euro as much as anyone so Brexit is the next step. The Empire Strikes back.

  25. Wavy says:

    The Guardian contributors and I are in total sync. Can you imagine it the asylum dwellers are placed in charge! The future is scary or am I just frightened of change? Yes I am if the Brexit are left in charge of this country’s future. George Smith (aka Ian Duncan Smith) and his ilk are just not competent to govern at that is scary. Still you get what you pay for, I suppose.
    Sorry I’m getting a bit too political, I’ll stop now and return to the nature of change at Arsenal FC.
    That was short lived then because there is no change nor will there be I suspect for some considerable time imo.

  26. Merlin96 says:

    Good day all!

    Latest news.

    Debuchy is returning ‘cos his contract is till 2019.

    However much we are making cow eyes at that Swiss lad, Gibbs more or less is staying to fight for his place … unless Wenger told him he is no longer wanted.

    Guess you all know that Walcott is contented to fight for his 140,000 pw seat on the bench.

    Any more news on OX?
    Last I heard he is determined to leave and Wenger is determined to keep him.

    Oh yeah, how is our Welsh Messi’s Dream of playing with the bona fide Messi?

    Guess if the original Messi is going to jail …. then it is an option to buy that Welsh Messi to keep his seat warm.

    Will Wenger sells Barca another pig in a poke since so far, he had conned Barca to finance about one-third of Emirates Stadium construction cost! 😀

  27. Wavy says:

    Here you are Rico, a bit of football news to appal you although I doubt it will surprise you:

    BREAKINGFifa officials ‘awarded themselves £55m’
    Posted at
    14:42
    Sepp BlatterReuters
    Former high-ranking Fifa officials Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner awarded themselves pay rises and bonuses of £55m, say lawyers.

  28. tsgh says:

    You know we all need a latin speaking wazzock as our PM. The same Boris who oversaw London as it was turned into a holiday town for corrupt foreign billionaires…
    The again I always envied the ghastly sense of entitlement which made Etonians demand to be Officers of the RA or RHA or HC whilst those who attended inner city schools like Hoxton gardens Primary near Shoreditch felt privileged to just be able to wear the no.1’s…

    Listening to the Etonians and Wyckhamists and Wets argue one time made me think damn my worthless shabby comprehensive was not bad at all.

  29. allezkev says:

    Ginge, I can confirm, that have never owned or worn a pair of corduroy trousers of any description or colour…

    But if you have a wardrobe full of them, please do not feel offended… ?

  30. rico says:

    Merlin, can’t see Debuchy staying after publicly knocking Wenger.

    Wavy, did you see the guy who took over from Blatter is being investigated?

    Surely not Kev… 😉

  31. Adam says:

    TS. That’s one of the Brexit problems. Voting for anything that Boris Johnson wants is anathema for a working-class bloke from Islington. One hundred years ago his type would have sent my type to be slaughtered on the battlefields of Europe without a second thought. A revolting man who only became London mayor because his name wasn’t Livingstone.

  32. tsgh says:

    Adam- there was me thinking the ability as a wordsmith could have only be finessed down the corridors of Wellington. 😉

    Will catch up later. I got to battle the traffic down the M11,M25 and M3 to get home…

  33. Le Coq Monster says:

    Corduroy trousers !…small time !………….I once wore a pair of burgandy crushed velvet trousers for a school disco between my school Daneford Secondary Boys school in Bethnal Green and Haggerston Girls school of Hackney Rd….needless to say I didn`t pull !…..infact, the only thing pulled was my trousers as the art teacher thought they would make nice curtains !.

  34. Wavy says:

    Infantino, Rico? Yes I saw that but FIFA are playing it down, just now, however watch this space. There’s never smoke without fire! Or even a rumble in the trousers without odour!

    PM Boris? Chancellor Gove? Has a certain ring about it, don’t you think? Anarchy……..This way……….out….out! Will they prove to be the thinking man’s breakfast!

    Show me the way to the asylum…….

  35. allezkev says:

    Koeman is reconsidering joining Everton…

    Apparently Everton are going to give him a big wad to spend in the transfer market…

    Personally, I suspect that he’s learned that Wenger is going to get another contract and has decided not to wait for Arsenal and is going to go the Everton instead…

    I don’t blame him…

    Seems like we’re stuck with Arsens up till 2019 at the earliest…

  36. rico says:

    I agree Kev and Adam said similar on yesterday’s post about Koeman. Such a great shame really… Still, if he is prepared to leave Southampton, he might do the same to Everton. Perhaps he just wants to learn what it’s like to have plenty of money to spend… 😉

  37. Le Coq Monster says:

    Not exactly the new Neymar !………………..I need to check in on Ornstein !. hahaha

  38. Le Coq Monster says:

    Nope !………nothing on Ornsteins twitter account and had a look on Sky Sports News and not a dickie, although from the headlines there we could easily get Blatter for £55M !.

  39. allezkev says:

    £30 million seems a bit strong for a 29 year old….

    I reckon it’s all a conspiracy …

    Where’s Agent Ginge..?

  40. Le Coq Monster says:

    How would you feel about that if true, Rico ?……………….It`s a curve ball to me as I have no idea how I would feel about it !……also, most are saying £20M !………still to much for a 29 year old, unless he does a Van Persie and wins us the league !

    Anyway, if it`s not on Ornstein`s twitter……………………..

  41. Wavy says:

    V.A.R.D.Y.= 5 letters…..Bingo! Must thank Gazidis for the heads up!
    I’m sure under Wenger’s tutelage Vardy will learn how to pass more accurately and score fewer goals! He’s not quite Messi (5 letters too) is he?

    Wenger tenure. How old in years and days was old red nose when he retired? I think you’ll find that Wenger will do 25 years in harness plus Fergies age plus 1 day! Just to beat Sir A one final time!

    We’ll see won’t we?

  42. Le Coq Monster says:

    Ornstein Oracle is the way to go………I wont do anything until I check in with him, I`m going to ask him what I should do on the stay or go vote and even go to the extreme of asking whether I should make love to my wife tonight !, hold on a sec`………………………………………….nope !, aparrantly I have a headache !

  43. rico says:

    Not really sure LC, but he’d certainly get us a few penalties…

    He’s a good striker but do we play the way which suits his game? Oh well, see if it happens I guess…

  44. allezkev says:

    Ah £30 million, £20 million, what’s a mere £10 million to a high roller like Arsene.

    Rico, he’s going for it this summer…

    Honest, ?????

  45. Le Coq Monster says:

    ##BREAKING ORNSTEIN NEWS##…………………………..I wont have a headache if I make love to someone elses wife !……………….I love you Ornstein !

  46. Le Coq Monster says:

    And it`s the biggest trender on Sky Sports News at the moment……………………………that`s the Vardy rumour not my infidelity rumour !. hahaha

  47. Le Coq Monster says:

    No idea Rico !………..I thought he found his Shangri-la on here, maybe Herb finds himself agreeing too much on here and doesn`t get confronted and abused like elsewhere !. 🙂

  48. Joe says:

    Evening all, Rico should you be telling the world how your going to vote someone could send the boys around. ?

  49. Le Coq Monster says:

    Hahaha………….It must be true !………..still not sure where I stand on this one as there`s a lot more or better players out there imo !…………….they just cost a bit more ! 😀

  50. Joe says:

    Just a thought is immigration really all that bad talking as British born from Irish parents with a brother in London and two nieces born in London.
    Britain is a country of immigrants and always has been starting with the celts,Romans, Saxons (Germans) Norse, Normans, French huguenot,Irish, subcontinent,Caribbean and Africa and so on.
    Immigration is the reason Britain is the county it is to day and the is very few if any at all who live in Britain that doesn’t have immigrant blood in thier bloodlines.
    By the way your Queen comes from from an immigrant family(german’s again). ?

  51. tsgh says:

    Not happening until Theo goes but…
    Vardy vs OG12 the under rated.

    Vardy Giroud 13-14 17%; 14-15 24%; 15-16 22%
    14-15 12.5%
    15-16 22%

  52. Wavy says:

    Smudged wasn’t 29 though. Didn’t he retire prematurely at about that age? Frankly I’m not overwhelmed by the idea of Vardy, he’s hardly one for the future!

  53. potter says:

    Joe the immigration point is the least of our problems. There is nothing wrong with importing people if they are capable of adding to the community. Throughout my lifetime we have seen Jews come to the east end and set up trading posts.The Irish came and repaired the war damage. West Indians came and did the shift work, it’s a case of bringing the right people to do the right jobs. That’s the control we need that we don’t have at present.

  54. rico says:

    My worry about Vardy is he’ll be burned out if we sign him. He played nearly every game last season and now he’ll play most games for England…

  55. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. Yes, RIP Muhammed Ali.
    Vardy has pace for sure but isn’t he a rather unattractive racist?
    Feeling rather underwhelmed by the news, if true.

  56. Adam says:

    Perhaps he doesn’t want to put Olivier’s Gallic nose out of joint.
    Who knows the truth, or otherwise, of it though Rico?
    Brexit I mean. 🙂

  57. Adam says:

    I dunno. I watched a program debating it last night and turned off after 5 minutes as the participants seemed to be on crystal meth, shouting and interrupting each other. I doubt there will be a single, sober debate on the whole thing right up until polling day.
    Meanwhile, back on topic, so do I.

  58. rico says:

    Where did the story first come from, that’s the biggest question. Possibly from someone similar to your description above whilst Twitting….

  59. potter says:

    Towards the end of last season his reputation started to catch up with him. If he does join us the referees will be all over him like a rash. ( There you are Joe said it for you )

  60. Le Coq Monster says:

    Morning all.

    Even the Oracle Ornstein is only saying that we have triggered the release clause, that doesn`t mean we will get him as he may decide to stay with the champs !

    I`m also underwhelmed, but shocked at the same time, it has confused me and probably most others as well………….brilliant tactics by Wenger to stun us into being paralysed for the summer !.

    RIP The Greatest.

  61. rico says:

    Agree Potter. The way he wins penalties isn’t far off cheating imo. Clever yes, but the day he dons an Arsenal shirt, if he does of course, suddenly they’ll be a change in the approach of the officials. Of that we can be sure…

  62. rico says:

    I just don’t get it LC, he’ll be 30 years old in January, unless Wenger thinks he can do what RvP did for one season at MU before he quits…

  63. Wath says:

    Vardy…. for 20mil… yes please all day long…..!

    He’s come into pro football late in life has goals in him from all over the park, sniffs out goals in the penalty box, hit’s 30 yard screamers and is hungry,has 3/4 years in him. Compared to most of the over rated over priced crap out there that most rave about he’d be decent value in my mind and has done it already and will continue to do it. Does anyone seriously not think he’d score 20 goals for us next season…? If the answer is yes he will enough said…!

  64. Wath says:

    Muhammad Ali – The greatest of them all… Simply the Greatest… RIP.

    Oh and morning you lot.

  65. rico says:

    I’m not jumping for joy Wath but that’s because I fear he’ll be burned out by the time the new season starts…

  66. Wath says:

    Yep, he’ll do for me Rico, hungry, has attitude runs his balls off and know’s where the goal is…!

    Not huge money at all so still plenty in the bank to add more to the ‘spine” of the team.

  67. Wath says:

    I don’t think he’ll be burn’t out Rico, he’s loving his football…! As said late into the game he’s lapping it up…! It’s not about the start of the season Rico, long as he gets a good month off he’ll be fine by end of August.

  68. Wath says:

    Consider him to what else is out there…! Morata for 50mil, PEA for 60mil neither have prem league experience so are a huge risk at huge money, is he a risk for 20million with prem lge experience and a player who knows where the goal is… If he gives us 3 good seasons and scores 60 goals think we’d all be chuffed. I am not going to mention who he reminds me off I said it to someone 2 seasons ago and he agreed…! He’ll probably decide to stay at Leicester lol….

  69. Marshall says:

    What if Vardy is like zen Zlatan. He can keep fit and has 3 years in him to be in top shape, I wouldn’t mind a 29y.o Ibra

    R.i.p to the Greatest and the Prettiest M.Ali

  70. Wavy says:

    Brexit, Eastern Europeans, farm workers, toilet cleaners, nurses and doctors, Cassius Clay, Jamie Vardy, Wenger buying old men? The world is in foment, I don’t know which way to turn?
    What to say or who to say it to!

    Morning all. A bit hazy here, in more ways than one!

  71. Adam says:

    Morning Wath. You could be right about Vardy. Personally I am not convinced that he is what we need but, if he scores lots of goals…why not?

  72. Joe says:

    How about Vardy as a replacement for Walcott and Arsenal still buy an out and out striker.
    Makes sense we move on a player who seems to be going stale replace him with one of the current darlings of the press ( that will soon change)? who is scoring lots of goals.
    The will be very little money spent because we’ll get most of what we spend on Vardy back with the sale of Walcott and it’s English player for English player or should that be home grown for the purposes of our pl sqaud and cl.

  73. Joe says:

    Who knows if Brexit goes through we might need to keep all our British players and buy more.
    If you look at it in that light Vardy is the only forward we could buy,Sturridge is very injury prone and at Liverpool (£40 +£1all that )and then of course there’s the great Harry Kane ? the Spuds would never sell him to us unless we paid for their new stadium.

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