Morning all.
The pressure is on, Unai Emery needed a win and as other tinkering had failed to pay off, he tried something different again. Rob Holding, Calum Chambers and David Luiz with Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac in defence – Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi in midfield with Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front. Bernd Leno in goal by the way but then you knew that.
At times we looked a bit better defensively but just like back in February, we conceded a goal just after the hour mark. Then another followed. Both teams squandered a few good opportunities to score. We lost again which didn’t come as a surprise to me at all.
I think Unai Emery is right to try different tactics because so far, nothing has really gone right but away at Leicester is probably not the best time to introduce yet another style of playing.
How can any team settle into some kind of rhythm or players form an understanding between each other when a coach keeps chopping and changing things around on a weekly basis? Does he even know his best starting eleven or is he just playing pick them and hope?
When Brendan Rogers was told his team utterly deserved to be second in the league, he replied:
Well, that’s nice. ‘A nice observation. But our job is to be that. I said if we can bring European football here in my time, that would be great. It’s a huge credit to the players because how they’ve adapted to how I’ve asked them to work and everything they’re put in has been very good. They are playing with confidence, they are playing with a steel…’
Arsenal are totally opposite. The players haven’t adapted to whatever style Emery has asked them to play. They aren’t playing with any confidence and there’s certainly been nothing which resembles steely to any performance for months. Years possibly bar the odd few.
Bar injuries and suspensions shouldn’t we be seeing the same 11-13 players starting league fixtures? There might be a slight difference in selection between a home and away starting eleven but a team needs to be settled in order for it to work. Rotation isn’t a requirement is it, it’s an option and I’d have thought the last thing any good coach would do is make changes just for the sake of it. Yet Emery chops and changes much of the time.
Same goes for style of football too I’d have thought. A coach might have a few different ways of setting his team up which during pre season are drilled day after day after day so that every player knows his job for the season ahead. As the season goes on and the hard work in training continues, the understanding between the players improves on a daily basis and the team gets stronger. The performances become more polished.
Tweaks/changes need to be made during a match because that’s the nature of the game and it’s then over to the coach to react as and when needed. Better still, spot any problems, be proactive and prevent the disaster happening before it does.
The alternative of course is to stand on the sidelines waving your arms about before throwing on a couple of subs after going 2-0 down and hoping for the best.
Perhaps this latest tactic by Emery will work in time as the players get used to it but somehow I doubt it because there’s every chance he’ll try something else when we play Southampton in a couple of weeks time. That’s what he does.
Tony Adams is in support of Unai Emery being given more time, he suggested the type of player Arsenal are signing are to blame as they lack strength and go to ground too easily but I’m not convinced he’s right about either.
What they lack in my opinion is direction, stability and leadership. All the qualities I’d imagine Emery was expected to bring to a club already lacking but whatever he’s doing is causing deeper problems.
We simply aren’t playing as a team and we aren’t moving the ball around as an eleven man unit. The keeper and his defence have little understanding between each other as they persist with playing out from the back. The defence and midfield look like strangers as do the midfield and our front three. We’re a disjointed group of individuals giving it a go.
There are rumours going around suggesting Luis Enrique is being lined up to replace Unai Emery and as much as I’m desperate for change, I don’t think he’s the answer. I think we need someone who knows what this league is about and what is required to turn a squad full of strangers into a team which stands together on the pitch and plays together as a team. One which will not only battle against the likes of Leicester, City and Liverpool but will beat them too…
If Raul Sanllehi and the rest of the board are going to sack Unai Emery, this is their time. The season has a long way to go, top four is far from being unachievable and of course there’s the two week break. The final one of the season I believe.
If they don’t do it now, I don’t think they ever will…
Good morning Rico, I think we all agree that time has run out for Emery. Luis Enrique wouldn’t be a bad choice as replacement, okay he hasn’t worked in The Premiership but neither had Kloppe or Guardiola and they haven’t done too badly.
Other names that come to mind, Freddie of course, Kolo Toure (assisting at Leicester), Giovanni Van Bronkhorst (Man City are lining him up to replace Guardiola) or my preference Patrick Viera. Arsenal old boys all.
Goodmorning Rico and everyone, for me I will take Mourinho at the moment. We need to shake things up in this team and we need to do it quickly, we don’t need someone that doesn’t understand the Premier league. Inasmuch as Emery is a confused and shitty manager the players too also deserve some sticks, and Mourinho is just the man to do that. He will squeeze the best out of players like torriera, David Luis, Sokratis, Tierney.
In the end Emery should have been sacked my now not stories.
Morning Rico and all. A timely post.
We were certainly more resolute and there was a hint of determination in our play. The kind you sometimes see when down to 10 men. But Leicester, in my opinion, are overrated and our general play was desperate as if we were somehow cowed by their might and reputation. It’s a sad sight to see an Arsenal team on the back foot to any club and this demeanour that Unai has fostered must surely be his “Don’t panic, I’ve got it covered mode”. It stinks of fire-fighting and it’s not going to be the answer because it’s not a foundation to build anything on.
The board picked the wrong man. It happens and there’s no shame in it.. But now they must move on if they don’t want to tread the same path that Man Utd are on.
When we are heading to Leicester and hoping for a small loss, we are in trouble.
Morning all.
Rico I agree fully with your assessment and so will many fans.
For me there are two solutions or gambles since any new manager is a gamble. But a gamble is better than an assured disaster which is Emery.
Solution 1: You go for a long term solution now. You concede that 9 points are unlikely over turned and you write of this PL season. This gives a new manager a chance to use the remainder of the this PL campaign to prepare for next season and getting the team to get used to his ways. You keep your fingers crossed for a miracle in the EL which would be our best chance to steal a CL spot. The manager for this solution would be a young unproven in the PL manager like Freddie, Arteta, Ten Hag (unlikely but worth it).
Solution 2: You go for an interim solution in the hope to increase your chances to salvage something from this season. You get a PL proven manager in the hope he can perform a miracle and get you back to the top 4 or win the EL. This guy is likely not one for the future but you structure his contract in such a way that it is heavily success based and not too expensive to terminate at the end of the season. No EL or 4th and he will collect a decent salary but he can be let go for free. EL or 4th and he makes a bundle. This manager would be a Rafa or a Mourinho or even a Big Sam or Ancelotti.
One thing is for sure, doing nothing now would be the a true disaster.
PS: I think Enrique would be the next disaster.
Morning Adam, Scott, Mexy, Cicero, all and welcome Govinda.
I see Enrique as being another Emery rather than a Klopp or Pep. Plus Liverpool and City weren’t in a place we currently are.
I’m glad you said that about Leicester Adam because I didn’t think they were as good as I perhaps thought they were although credit where it’s due, they were more organised etc, but we made them look good.
Our passing was dreadful imo, finishing worse and everything which unfolds during a game smacks of a bunch of players really low on confidence and confused.
Govinda, there’s also the availability to factor in as many managers are unlikely to move mid season if they’re doing well where they are.
Id go with Freddie right now because he’s well respected and he knows what the club is about. Edu is no stranger to football either so as much as he’s our dof right now, I bet he’d get his coaching hands dirty. There’s Keown Freddie could call on too, or someone else who knows how to bring the players together as a team…
I always said that the person who replaces Wenger was on a hiding to nothing. . In the last tenure of his time we were going backwards and it was going to be a long haul to turn things around.
We are now scrapping to be best of the rest , the days of contention have long gone. We have the makings of a good squad but it needs supplementing . it needs experience in all departments . On the pitch we have a disjointed trio of areas and it looks like our keepers don’t trust the defence and the midfield is a seperate entity and the forwards get none of the ball that they need.
Off the pitch we have a mananger that doesn’t know his best team and is stuck in a dustbin looking for a corner and goes round and round in circles.
it’s somewhat similar to the pre Graham days , When he took over he had good young ones coming through which gave something to build on . So he built a new defence and made it strong , made it boring , oganised but made it successful .
The club needs to learn from it’s past , start from the back and stop conceeding , use the flair players to nick a win and grow a squad from there.
Just why I personally would like to see some input from our past players Potter. As Adams said yesterday, we have lost our identity and not just in football terms but as a club in general. Bringing a Spaniard to Arsenal with his own coaches who know nothing about our history was always a recipe for disaster if change/improvement didn’t come with them.
I know other clubs have overseas managers etc but look at where Chelsea have ended up. Right back with a guy who has the club in his heart. Similar with Utd really even though they too are struggling.
If fans see the heart and passion for the club in a manager, head coach etc, at least the right message is passed to the players. Imo anyway if that makes sense…
Is it time to bring Freddy in, and back him with Keown, Dennis etc etc
Bring back some Arsenal pride??
I think so Scott, I really do.
Money can’t buy the passion Keown and co had in that Utd game. I know their reaction was wrong after RVN missed the pen, but it shows they cared. Those overseas learned from others about what Arsenal meant…
Rico, it’s definitely worth a try.
Get back to basics.
All this rubbish with tactics, formation etc etc means not a damn thing if the players don’t care, and don’t want to give their all.
Get some proper Arsenal men back into the place and start from scratch.
I think Potter summed it up well earlier Scott.
Morning Rico and Everyone,
I’m afraid I do agree with Tony Adams to some point. Not Emery, he has to go, he looks lost and clueless. But most of our players are softies and throw themselves on the floor at the hint of a touch.
A team can afford one maybe two soft players if they have plenty of flair and make things happen, but Arsenal seem to breed them.
Guendouzi is fast becoming a very ordinary player , he gives the ball away and falls on the floor. I know he’s young but I think it’s all gone to his head, and he’s not as good as he thinks he is.
We need a manager who can toughen our players up and organise them.
Sensible post Rico.
I have to agree with Govinda`s first choice, this season is a write off, bring in Arteta now and hope he still wants to come !.
For some reason and I dont know why, probably just a gut feeling, I too think Enrique would not be wise.
I would go as far as to say that on current form of which a lot is down to lack of confidence in play and the manager we could possibly find our selves in a relegation scrap !………….I just dont see where we are going and think every game/team we play is a mountain to climb and I cant remember the last time I ever thought that about my Arsenal.
Maybe relegation would be the almighty kick up the arse this club needs !
I was listening to SS about how Sheff Utd were pressing The Spuds and making them panic with the ball, a little promoted club who are organised and work their socks off. Presssing is nothing new and neither is every plaqyer working their socks off to compensate their lack of ability. Nothing has changed a team of Geordie Armstrongs will always beat a team of Ozil`s…………………have a team of Ozil`s with Armstrong`s work rate and you have success, probably why Man C have been successfull, great players who work hard.
We have some very talented players, but they are not taking in Emery`s presence as he has not got the aura of Guardiola. Wenger had an aura, but not the tactical brain of Guardiola……………….shame ……………
Morning Mike, they do go to ground far too often and certainly far too easily but any half decent manager would have stopped all that by now.
Rico – I agree that availability is a likely limiting factor. That’s why I thought an interim solution could work until we have a chance to get along term solution. I even think Brendan Rodgers could be a long term solution but I doubt he would leave CL mid-season. Freddie would be preferred over Emery but I worry about his authority over the senior players with being a second in command right now.
Having said that, with this squad, I have little doubt Mourinho could win the EL and CL would help our chances of retaining our best players.
I don’t like Mourinho, I realize he is a ticking time bomb but no one can doubts his ability to get results particularly in cups like EL. So if we don’t see Freddie as a possible long term solution but merely as an interim solution I would prefer Mourinho.
If we could get Arteta now, who I see as a possible long term solution, I would prefer that.
The reality is that I think this club is still so poorly run that we will still be debating these same issues one month from now when we are double digits out of 4th on the road to nowhere.
Le Coq – I read somewhere Arteta wanted more say about what players were bought and sold then our club allows. But if Arteta was willing to leave mid-season and come to us, I would be very curious to see how he would do. The dreamer in me hopes he might be a new Pep.
Yes, Govinda, I always thought that Arteta is going to know everything there is to know about Peps secrets . 🙂
Sorry to be the bringer of bad news, but Ornstein has spoken !
https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1193459219292397568
Mourinho would want to spend a fortune on expensive short term solutions to our present predicament. He might well get us up to fourth but would do his usual trick of clearing off when the going got a bit tough.
Under our present regime, we will not have a traditional manager, but continue with a Head Coach set-up. Raul and Edu will decide who we buy and sell while the coach will decide tactics and team selection.
What we need is an inspirational coach who can work with the existing squad at least until the summer when reinforcements can be brought in.
Govinda, I’m not a fan of an Arteta appointment. He’s no experience and I think he’d be a risky appointment. At least Freddie knows the players and our future is probably in the younger players, all who utmost respect for him.
At least let Freddie try until the end of the season and in the meantime, the board can do a serious job on looking at the future.
Who has bought or read this book: “Unai Emery – El Maestro” – Arsenal Books – £ 18.99?
Anyone who has done so may understand more than I do how Arsenal plays and sets up on the pitch.
LC, exactly what I expected from our Board. Unfortunately a waste, and agony extending for another season.
If Ornstein is to be believed then we are in for some very depressing days ahead. If they stick with Emery and he bombs, the club will be smaller all round and more vital links to the fans will be severed. Plus there will of course be much less money to spend.
Raul must be seeing stuff out there that very few fans can. Perhaps he’s right.
Looks like it’s the end of the season then .
I agree, if Ornstein is right, bye bye season and it’ll be a long long way back..
Let’s see if they’re still 100% behind Emery when the crowd is down to 40,000….
It is pretty well unanimous that Emery isn’t up to the job, but is that his fault? Perhaps more pertinent, are the people who appointed him up to the job?
Cicero. That’s a good point. If the same results continue and we’re about mid-table at the end of the season that would be a huge indictment of the whole structure at the club. Raul, Edu etc would look like mugs. It would be a long way back I think.
Adam at the moment I’m excusing Edu, after all he had nothing to do with the appointment of Emery.
23rd Nov – Arsenal x Southampton ( h )
28 Nov – Arsenal v Frankfurt ( H )
1 Dec Arsenal v Norwich ( A )
3 Dec – Arsenal v Brighton (H)
, 7 Dec – Arsenal v West Ham United (A)
12 Dec – Arsenal v Liege ( A )
14 Dec – Arsenal v Manchester City (H)
21 Dec – Arsenal v Everton (A)
26 Dec – Arsenal v Bournemouth (A)
, 29 Dec – Arsenal v Chelsea (H)
1st JAN Arsenal v ManU ( H)
Then the window opens and who knows what we will get from that list.
12 points and qualify for 2nd rate Euro cup . Mid table about 8th ot 9th .
Mid table would be about right the way we’re going and to be honest, we look like a mid table club. At best I’d say.
Southampton must fancy their chance to kick start a better run.
Kev, that’s the only way the board will wake up it seems so I hope it’s something we see sooner rather than later.
I still can’t believe Raul is behind Emery, if he is of course.
I see the handball in the box rule is working fairly…. not!
All a bit glum isn’t it, so sloppy at the back again, continuing to take high risks and getting found out.
Last week it was Ceballos who fell asleep for the 2nd goal, yesterday Guendouzi done the same thing, Leno mis-controlling a back pass when under pressure, had it been in front of goal it would have ended up in the back of the net, you have to question if half our squad is even match fit, we get over run by other teams all the time now.
Talking of Big Tone when he was captain he got to choose which jersey the team ran out to before every game, long or short sleeves, rain or shine, the rest of the team had to follow suit, it was an Arsenal tradition, just one of many down the years, we used to be a special football club once upon a time……..not anymore.
I bet he never opted for gloves Micko…
rico, assault someone in the box and that’s ok with VAR as well but gawd help ya if your a hair’s breadth off side !!!
See the scousers are bossing things at the moment.
Farcical Micko.
Yep, City’s defence is nearly as bad as ours..
You just put Swap Shop into my head lol.
Ha ha, poor Noel.
Don’t know how serious you were about raising the ‘fitness issue’. It struck me that against Wolves last week and again yesterday our well organised team of mega stars, disappeared at around 65 minutes. I wondered when I saw them labouring around the pitch whether they were all match fit enough. They looked lethargic and, frankly knackered. Whereas in the glory days Wenger’s boys were all running around looking as fit as fleas even after 95 minutes. Perhaps Tone should roll back the years and take our current shower down the pub and get them bladdered! They certainly need some kind of poke to get them moving!
Afternoon all. The dippers are doing quite well and looking quite fit!
Sorry the reply was sort of meant for Micko particularly but everyone generally.
Qualify for the 2rd rate Euro Cup? Really? In what place first? second?
I have many doubts that we qualify.
We might yet win the Europa League Cup… lol
On a serious note, as Adam said earlier, what is it that Raul sees I wonder..
Wavy, it’s painfully obvious the team can’t defend & counter attack at the same time, they’re not able for it, if we lose the ball the midfield are all over the place and can’t keep up with the pace of the game, it’s happening all the time, if only it was as simple as eating more broccoli like the invincibles lol.
It’s gonna be interesting Rico, we’re approaching Christmas, Soton (h), people counting their dough for the holiday so imagine if we draw that one?
Then Frankfurt (h) a team that recently beat Bayern.
We were so lucky over at their place so what’s the vibe gonna be after another possible draw or worse.
Then Norwich (a), they’re poor but then so are we, another duff result and then we have Brighton (h), just before Christmas and that equals loads of empty seats???
Of course, we could smash Soton, destroy Frankfurt and rip Norwich apart which then equals a party when Brighton comes to town…
Says it all really Kev, we’ve no idea what will happen next. We could easily batter Southampton yet we could so easily get beaten. Same with all the other fixtures..
On current form it`s wishfull thinking we will end up mid-table, carry on with the draws and losses and we are in trouble, but hey, if according to Ornstein the board are 100% behind Emery then we must be due a great run as they are more knowledgeable than us mere fans.
Have a look at the table, one more iffy game, say a draw with Soton and we’re down to 10th or worse, yeah I bet that Raul is 100% behind that…
Good Day every one. All I keep reading in Australia is get rid of Emery, but there has to be some thing not wright behind the seen that us fans do not know about. But I have a question, do you think the reason why Unai Emery keeps changing the players around and the team set up is simple because he has no confidence in the players he has to play a full 90 miutes while the young players are just not ready for senior matches every week and the new player are still trying to adjust. So we lost again and with no Xhaka in the team the fans turn on Guendouzi and yet Aubameyang fails again to score and nothing said. As for a new coach I keep hearing some fans call for Mikel Arteta but the problem I have is that he has never coached a team for a complete season on his own. personally I wished we asked Arsene Wenger to drop down and coach our juniors and gone after Juergen Klopp when he was available.
After seeing two obvious handballs by Liverpool players missed,
Can anyone explain the upside to VAR 🙂
Unbelievable!!!
Morning all.
Rico – At this point I would be happy to try Freddie or Arteta but would prefer (in the longer run) a slightly more experienced manager. At least Frank Lamaprd masnaged before he took over at Chelsea. Neither Arteta nor Freddie ever managed a first team. But it is worth it to try it. One thing is for sure, IMO, Freddie is more likely to try to restore our more posetive attacking DNA than Emery who seems overcome by fear of oponents which seems to have robbed of on his players.
Opps! That meant to read rubbed of not robbed of. But I guess because his fear rubbed of on our players it also robbed us of our players since they are now a shadow of their potential.
Emery hasn`t even got the excuse of not having a mostly fit squad, for years we rightly blamed a full treatment room. He has the tools(players) , but lacks team selection and tactics or maybe he overdoes the tactics bit, I know for years some of us moaned about Wenger not playing horses for course tactics in just playing a team and not bothering about who the oppo` were, but this guy changes tactics qquicker than Jimmy Savile changed his sweet supplier !
Or is it that the squad is not as good as we all think it is ?
Personally, I still think it`s down to workrate, compare Bindippers workrate to ours and funny thing is is that Emery ws supposed to implement such a pressing game.
Mark my words, we will be in a relegation scrap if something does not change as only a few of these players look like they will roll the sleeves up for a fight.
I dont have an alarm clock, my wife wakes me up doing the Haka………………Kolasinac needs to lead a Haka before each kick off !…………….man up you bastards !
Morning all.
Govinda, Freddie is my suggestion for the interim, just to try and break the monotony which is Arsenal right now. I only think of him because of his history with the club, he’s there around the players and he can probably see what many of us do.
Whether he’d be the answer long term I’ve no idea. I’m just sick of watching us under Emery.
I’ve no idea Geoff what goes on is his mind but I see no benefit from continually swapping players around. The craziest had to be dropping Pepe after he’d scored the two free kicks in Europa. What does that say to the player?
More concerning is having two Aussies on HH 😜😜
JM by second rate euro cup I meant Europa League
If our performances remain as they are, does anyone actually believe we’ll finish in a Europa spot? I don’t, not unless other clubs like Leicester and Sheffield Utd drop off..
As I said Rico…………..If performances remain the same we will be in the Championship and drooling over the days when we were a EL team ! 😆
Double the fun, Rico Hahahahahaha
Morning All,
at this point, I think most of us agree that Emery has to go. Most people, except those running the club, who say they intend to wait until summer 2020 to make a decision on his future. By which time we will be out of Champions League/Europa league, and probably just above relegation.
I don’t take too much notice of the boards pronouncements, that sort of backing is often soon followed by a knife in the back. What I didn’t like was referring to the fans anger as – noise.
If things get worse over the next few weeks, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Emery replaced by Freddie until the end of the season. After that who knows, depends how Freddie does.
At least the thought of Emery staying to the end of the season, is better than Liverpool winning the Premier league, even going unbeaten..
We are far from being relegated imo Lc..
😆 Scott..
8 points from 4th placed Man C and 9 points from relegation place with 26 games to play with only WHam, Spuds, Norwich and Soton on worse current 5 game form !……………….are we so arrogant to think it is impossible to carry on this form and not turn it around !…………………virtually a fit squad, but if someone can show/tell me where we look like getting better then please do …………how confident is anyone of going on a winning spree ?………………….god help us if we get the injuries we have in the past………………….and that is my humble opinion.
Put like that, I guess we could soon find ourselves in a battle to stay up. I didn’t realise the points were so close…
Morning…
The only thing our club understand is empty seats, never mind ‘noise’…
Tbh Limey, regarding the ‘noise’ – the club have to contend with the likes of Arsenal Fan TV and whilst they’re not a true reflection, many pundits think they are. Then there’s the media, lazy journos, click bait blogs and a click bait radio station in Talk Rubbish. None of these drive the narrative, they just read what the fans post/tweet etc and run with it as if it’s theirs.
It a social media world out there and Arsenal are struggling to keep up…
It’s interesting to reflect that Fenway have been in charge at Liverpool since 2010, and look at where they are and what they’ve achieved under their American owners…
Then compare Liverpool with us?
Kroenke has been a shareholder since 2007
Kroenke has been on the Board since 2008
Kroenke has been the major shareholder since 2011
Kroenke has been the owner since 2017 ( I think?)
Quite a comparison…
Hiya Kev,
In all fairness, They’d be in a different position If they were paying off a stadium, surely.
It’s already telling on Spuds and history may show we came out of this period fairly well.
Time will tell.
That’s true Scott, good point, but they’ve still spent a lot on their stadium and they stayed at Anfield, what a shame we couldn’t develop Highbury.
Yep, and your point is well made, also 🙂
Had we actually threatened to leave Islington and looked like we meant it the development of the clock end might have turned Highbury into a 50000 plus stadium.
Kind of like removing a no deal Brexit ,letting the council know that their council tax was safe undermined any chances.
Plus they employed a better manager Kev. Both Rogers and Klopp.
Emery is our version of Hodgson. 😆
That’s true Potter, but we also had to put up with a very vocal pressure group of residents, most of whom will have probably moved on to cause trouble elsewhere and a Council run by Momentum/Militant Tendency types who professed to be working class but who hated the working class and the things the working class liked to do, like working, holidays, children, football, enjoyment, things they all hate in their screwed up world of envy…
Liverpool didn’t procrastinate either Rico, when Hodgson and Rodgers didn’t cut it, they were gone, meanwhile it seems that our lot are more worried about the compensation they may have to pay Emery and his staff, so ‘let’s hang on until May, put our fingers in our ears and whistle’…
They didn’t Kev and that’s where the two clubs differ.
But then I’m not 100% sure Raul and co are in support of Emery.
I guess that that is a possibility Rico, as has been said on here previously, they’re not going to come out say he’s finished are they?
Well that’s my hope.
The Arsenal job is a fantastic job, a massive job, but I wonder if some coaches might shy away because of all the baggage?
I can’t see a really top top Coach coming to Arsenal for many reasons, not least because of the funds made available for transfers. I also wouldn’t want another Coach who couldn’t speak English, I don’t think Enrique speaks English, although he might be taking lessons if there’s been contact?
There’s some interesting Coaches in the Bundesliga, but is there another with the quality of Klopp? We’ve had a few coaches from the Bundesliga in the EPL in recent years but their performances have been very mixed.
Is there an English coach out there who could develop into a top coach, the guy at Aston Villa working on a shoestring or the guy at Sheffield United working wonders with that club?
Eddie Howe is good but has he reached his ceiling?
If Lampard is successful at Chelsea will English coaches start to come back into vogue?
Our young players are much sought after, something you wouldn’t have imagined 10 years ago, so maybe our managers may arise again like a football phoenix? 🙂
I see the two who tried to rob Ozil and Kolasinac have been beaten up in prison.
My God, am I not looking forward to December and it’s got nothing to do with my birthday – well not much. 😉
Another General Election, just what we need at this time of year.
Just listen to the political parties, the Tories promising us thousands of new policeman, hooray, to replace all the thousands of policeman who lost their jobs under this government…
Then we have the report that Boris is sitting on, reporting on the many donations to the Tory party by Russian businessmen, very suspicious.
But let us not forget Jeremy and his Marxist deputy, dodging the anti Semitic question like a NFL quarter back. Whilst promising millions, billions even of government money for us, yes us, you and me, it’s fantastic, they’ll tax us to death but give us some of it back.
Sounds fabulous…
But wait, hold on, the Liberal Democrat’s (democrats 😆) they’re offering us more than Comrade Jeremy, billions and more billions, where is it all coming from?
I’ll give you one guess?
Let’s not forget the Greens, they want to send us back to the 17th century, no more central heating and cars, we’ll all be living off of the land, very healthy.
Anyway, Extinction Rebellion are back in Town in December so think about that if your thinking about doing some shopping in Oxford Street.
The Police can’t do anything because the lawyers won’t let them, what a joke.
Think about that when your tax bill comes in…
Merry Christmas
Kev, the Greens have played a massive part in the bushfires we are suffering here as we speak.
Those psycho arseholes have made it nearly impossible for anyone to carry out Hazard reduction burns during winter, so I’m some areas, there’s over a decade of undergrowth/fuel which burns like bloody petrol.
To make things worse, the bastards then use this as an opportunity to come out and blame climate change!!!
Some even say those who’ve lost their lives and properties deserve what they get for not voting for the Greens!!!!
Climate change may or may not help the fires start, but the lack of burning makes the fires spread so quickly, it’s just horrendous and that is NOT in question.
Pathetic excuses of human beings.
Rant over.
Tomorrow, we have “catastrophic” fire danger warnings, the highest level we’ve ever seen and that’s saying something.
38 degrees.
50 kms plus winds.
6% humidity.
It doesn’t get any better for fire to spread.
Bugger the politics, we should just hope no more lives are lost.
Ok, back to the Arsenal-I’m hoping the boards show of support for Emery is the death knell it so often is.
I honestly don’t know anyone who believes there’s even a chance Emery can improve us.
Exactly Kev. Publicly they have to be seen to be behind which I hope they are. Readying themselves to give him a big push…
I don’t think I can recall any club reps saying anything negative about a manager right up to the point of being sacked.
I love a December election… Postal voting makes it easy. 😂
Rico, when the busted expresses their confidence in a manager, it’s often the death knell.
Let’s hope so 🙂
G’day all, Xhakagate is still with us,
The Swiss international has been left out since responding angrily to fans’ jeers after he was substituted in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last month. He gave an interview to Swiss newspaper Blick on Sunday in which he said the fans’ abuse had “hit me very hard and really upset me. It was very hurtful and frustrating. At a time you are already experiencing a lot of hostility and your own football family insults you, it hurts a lot”.
He said: “If the team and I don’t play well, we have to listen and work on it. But insulting and swearing at your own captain will cause upset and a bad atmosphere for the team you are actually supposed to be supporting. That makes no sense to me.”
Xhaka insisted, however, that he has no plans to quit Arsenal in January. “You can be sure that I’ll keep fighting and putting myself out there in every training session,” he said. “I feel that last week has been dealt with and I’m ready.”
….and if there is a postal strike Rico? If you can’t post or make it to the polling station yourself, hand the postal vote in it’s sealed envelope to a trusted friend who can deliver it to the returning officer at any polling station.
While we are on the election, here’s a quote from someone who could be our next Chancellor of the Exchequer “We plan to borrow enough money to get us completely out of debt” Diane Abbott
I shall not vote until we have a party that doessn`t lie………………………….lies and broken promises is all that will be delivered.
As for football, Rodgers is another of those managers along with Wenger, Mourinho etc` who never did much as a player, infact he`s football playing history is not much better than any of us Sunday league players !………………………have a butchers…………………….
Apps (Gls)
1987–1990 Ballymena United
1990–1993 Reading 0 (0)
1993–1994 Newport (IOW)
1994–1995 Witney Town
1995–1996 Newbury Town
Not even a full game for Rico`s home team !
Scott we’re hearing that things are reaching critical levels over in Oz regarding bush fires and Sydney…
Maybe all the dumb millennials who vote Green can come up with a solution? As long as it doesn’t effect their ability to spend all day on their phones…
Just what I’m hoping for Scott.
Cicero, then I imagine I’ll revert to a polling station like everyone no doubt.
Or take it there myself but I’m getting my vote in somehow. Lol
Rico, I think we’re stuck with him until at least the summer…
Our season is tied up with the Europa League again…
Where there’s hope Kev, there’s hope….
Afternoon all.
Doesn’t 100% behind a manager equate to a vote of confidence which means a vote of no confidence?? The out come of these little mind word games invariably leads to vacating the manager’s chair and being shown the door, sooner rather than later. Well we can hope sooner, can’t we?
Kev, that was a fine summary of the election so far. Sadly I’m none the wiser! Who would have thought that our choice of new PM would be between a 70 year old bloke who’s losing his mind and a blonde headed bint who never had a mind? My mind boggles at the dangers that either of these fools should be one of Europe’s most powerful leaders!. Still if we end up with a hung parliament we could have another go at this election thing early in the new year. In fact we could call it our new year’s irresolution😂
Oh joy.
Cheers Wavy, yes, someone once said that we get the politicians we deserve, but have we really been that bad?
Never mind, Vlad Putin will sort it out for us… 😉
Btw, I see that British Steel are being sold to the Chinese.
Doesn’t that make you feel proud?
So the next time we have a bit of foreign policy impasse with China, they can threaten to cut a few thousand jobs at British Steel to bring us into line…
I suppose the people who think selling British Steel to a fascist regime are the same who thought it would be great to open up the British Nuclear industry to the Chinese, which is great as long as some shareholders are making a killing, the rest of us can just do one…
One day some of their friends might but Arsenal Kev…
https://www.gunnerstown.com/arsenal/2019/11/10/all-eyes-on-the-arsenal-board-is-it-enrique-coming-to-inglaterra/
Politically we are a little like the Arsenal in that, we lack cohesion, the only plan is, there is no plan and we have become a nation that is so full of conundrums, conflicts and confusion, we just don’t know what to do for the best!
Lord help us.
For instance! Is Ozil marmite or what? Some love him, lethargy and all, some loathe him, his lethargy and disconnection is loathsome. Can we compromise and all like him a bit? Well, no! Ozil represents all that is wrong with our politics. He is our Brexit!
Ho him.
Members of Parliament are akin to a pack of playing cards, it doesn`t matter how many times you shuffle them (cabinet) you will always be dealt a joker !
Neil Warnock has just become available !
David Ornstein:
Some within Arsenal’s set up believe that Granit Xhaka has been thrown under the bus when his captaincy was stripped off. Some others believe since he did not apologize even in private to staff and colleagues, he has lost much of their respect.
A bizarre situation has developed in Aubameyang’s time with the Gunners to leave some questioning his suitability for the captaincy role. The 30 year old striker is said to have irritated some people by developing a relationship with AFTV.
The Gabon international appearing to “like” a number of contentious AFTV posts on Instagram, including one in June criticising Emery and another in September calling for Xhaka to be sold in the next transfer window, is said to have left team mates and staff unimpressed.
The club are understandably keen to extend his deal, but sources say it is thought the player would prefer to see if his side qualify for next season’s Champions League before making any commitment.
Raul and Vinai`s take…………………………………..
https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/75464287_10216011896962544_6382292698589560832_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_oc=AQm0YHkRlhN-u-NAG7PZ19pPSdFzwMjLBN5ljF-lzkeNWXCVUZZi00NRoMtAPnvjdL0&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr4-1.fna&oh=4f42ced10d53f6a89009b56d5252fc90&oe=5E56D2A8
That doesn’t look genuine..
And so it begins-the absolute perfect conditions for these fires to go berserk.
Kev, the massive majority of Greens live in inner city areas, yet they wish to control what’s happening everywhere.
They’re a strange breed lol
Anyway, off to work now so enjoy your “Ebening”.
Same as BBC, Rico, maybe the beeb is not genuine……………
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50379932
That looks more like it Lc although there’s nothing on afc.com…
Hi All yes the fires are bad here but the worrying thing is real hot summer has not yet started and the greenies keep the fire tracks in the bush from 4wd clubs that help to keep the clear for the country fire brigade. now about Arsenal I don’t see Aubameyang being a good captain when he keeps agreeing with Arsenal fan tv having a go at the coach and other players I would have selected Hector bellerin as he has been with us for while now and seem to have respect from the player and fans.
Rico, 8.01, yeah, I agree, it looks as if someone in the PR dept put that together after the furore of the ‘noise’ insult and got it out on social media, but it comes across as ham fisted.
Scott, you must be close to knocking off now, and yeah, we have Greens like that, middle class pillocks who live in posh areas or live on social security. As someone whose worked my entire life since the age of 17, I so resent paying my taxes to wankers like them and believe me the UK is full of non working wankers.
Take care Digger, with all the fires…
Pretty much the same tone from the BBC, just because Ornstein says it, it doesn’t make it any less lacking in substance.
I’m afraid it’s out there now Raul, it’s like an email you send to the wrong person moaning about the person you’ve just accidentally sent it to. Once it’s out there, it’s out there, you can’t unsend it and the club can’t unstate that some Arsenal fans are just noise…
This period may well come back to haunt the club and add to the toxicity caused by the likes of that old fool Hill Wood for disrespecting the fans a few years ago and then repeated by that other old fool Keswick.
At least Stan keeps his gob shut.
Geoff, we really don’t have anyone with the right attributes to be an Arsenal captain.
Hector Bellerin is a good shout, but can you imagine him giving anyone a bollocking, because I can’t…
If Rob Holding can stay fit and regain his form then I think he has the personality to be a very good captain, he’s very vocal and I did see him trying to organise our defence at Leicester rather than just spectating on another disaster as the others tend to do. He still isn’t fit and may not be until the New Year so he shouldn’t be judged too harshly, the same applies to Tierney and Bellerin.
Right now, I don’t believe we have a great option as captain.
Those most likely, at least, in my opinion,
Are new to the club or just back from
Major injury-Holding and Tierney.
I honestly think Auba wants out so why we throw this at him is strange, though maybe a desperate little attempt to keep him.
I haven’t heard of any fires close to me yet, but then I’ve read someone maybe 15 k’s away has been told to leave their property.
Again, I’m in a relatively safe area but nothing’s impossible.
Where are you, Geoff?
I’m central coast of NSW.
While our politicians fight each other of who’s at fault, proper Aussies are fighting fires.
Fuck the politicians.
Utter cretins!!!!
I should add, fuck the media who ask our politics certain questions simply to gain a story!!
Excuse my language.
Just seen the fires Scott , hope you’re o.k . It’s ironic how as you have fire we have rivers bursting their banks and whole towns and villages flooded .
Global warming……..Who really knows ?
Arseny Arshavin excels at Barcelona
Did you know that former Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin named his son Arseny?
Arseny Arshavin has attracted attention in the past few days after he was named the La Masia player of the week.
Like father like son.
Cheers Potter-we are safe.
A little Arshavin??
His old man really could play.
Such a shame his career stagnated with us.
Hi Scott and every one I am in Melbourne but only 30 minutes drive to The wombat state forest and 40 minutes to mount Macedon which both are very dry not good. but my worst memory was as a child our family was camping at lorne in the Otway rangers when we were told to leave 2 hours later The ash Wednesday fires went through and our camp site was destroyed I have never seen my Dad drive so fast then as we past the you yang near Geelong we watched them burn from the highway. not to mention that my dads car a old EH Holden kept over heating with 40 degrees out side and no air con in the car.
I had family that lost it all in Ash Wednesday, Geoff.
Nothing better than an old aussie sedan in summer back in the day.
Burnt backsides on the seats.
Lose 3 litres of sweat in a half our trip lol
What makes this country magical also makes it pretty dangerous at times.
Hi All The reason why I chose Bellerin is that he has been at Arsenal for a while other then him I not sure who else to pick may be give it to one of the new young players and take a chance that him and the other young players lift the game around him fingers crossed the break will sort something out for both club and fans
Hi Scott hope they were all ok as they say you can replace a house but you cant replace family and friend.
Geoff, they all survived, but it actually knocked my cousin around big time.
She had issues for a hell of a long time afterwards.
Morning you all.
New post up now..