Morning all.
Max Dowman, a 15 year Arsenal player already playing for England’s under 17’s and shining. His goal the other night against the Czech Republic was sublime but even though England won, they were knocked out of the Under 17s Euros. Not nice for the players but good for Arsenal as Mikel Arsenal has already confirmed, Dowman, along with a number of other academy players, will be part of the club’s pre-season tour.
Declan Rice had this to say to the BBC about our young midfielder who I read ‘plays like Kaka’…..
I have had so many texts about Max recently. At 15, there is such a long way to go. You can be the best 15-year-old in the country, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be at 18. So, you need to be hungry, keep working and keep pushing. I speak to Max a lot and he has got such a good family around him. He is unreal.
It’s true, a player can look like Pele at 15 years old, and we have had more than our fair share of fantastic young players, but when it comes to going up a level in age groups, they have struggled to keep up. I have lost count of the players who have left Arsenal and simply drifted down through the leagues. Don’t get me wrong, playing professional football at any level should be deemed a success but as Rice says, to succeed at the highest level, these young players have to stay hungry. They need to stay grounded too.
Every now and again though, an academy player has something extra special about them. Jack Wilshere had it, Bukayo Saka had it, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Emile Smith Rowe too. Going further back in time there are others who have come through the academy and had fantastic careers but I’ve stuck to the present rather than including the past.
Max Dowman might very well turn out to be the next best thing coming through at Arsenal but just as footballers need to keep their feet on the ground, we fans need to as well. It’s not until 18-20 years old that a males body is fully developed, sorry guys, some things really don’t continue to grow, so bearing in mind Dowman is just 15, he’s not going to play much football for the first team next season and nor should he in my opinion. The last thing he needs is someone like Dan Burn or Virgil van Dijk clattering into him. We’ve seen what defenders do to Saka on a weekly basis, Martinelli too. Opponents won’t care about his age, they will only care about stopping him from doing things like he did for England two nights ago because they will not want to be embarrassed by a 15 year old.
Thankfully, this might be when Mikel Arteta’s reluctance to play youngsters could be a positive.
Catch up in the comments.
That will only happen if Virgil Van Dyke can keep up with the “young whipper snapper”.
We all saw how Salah got very frustrated when he couldn’t shrug off Skelly.
No doubt LFC will try the odd dirty tackle!
One of the top tier articles Rico. At least for me…….I love reading about the academy prospects.
One thing though….the male body reaches its peak of development at the age of 22. Muscle mass, bone density, muscle strength, lung capacity etc.
I agree that whilst he is training with the senior team he should be treated (as someone pointed out these last two day…Potter I think) with kids gloves. And yes that is one of the reasons for Arteta’s reluctance to play youngsters too early. Look at our own Jack Wilshere, look at Michael Owen. too many muscle and joint injuries. And I agree with the mentality of Arteta.
One might point out MLS or Nwaner…..but look closely at their body, esp MLS. Their body is built differently. MLS already has a very strong body. His body skeletal and muscular framework are built differently. So he is blessed in that case.
So whilst I am excited and look forward to seeing Max emulate Messi and Ronaldo combined I prefer to be cautious.
Morning rico, house. Just been catching up, would also like to thank you rico for keeping us all in order and running the best Arsenal blog around! Always nice to see old faces returning, Wrath, got me wondering where some of our old distant friends were, the gal from Indonesia, Scott from Australia etc etc, hope all well.
Dowman does look amazing, especially his latest assist and goal, but must remember this was against under 17s opposition. He’s been doing it at higher age groups too, and really look forward to seeing him maybe in pre-season friendlies. Big worry is he’s too young to sign a full contract and I just hope he doesn’t have his head turned and depart before we start seeing the best of him in the first team. Guess that’s why Arteta is including him so early.
Ha ha Laura, VvD wouldn’t keep up with Dowman which makes fouling him more likely.
Thanks Devil.
And look at Foden now, he looks lost and totally out of form. Not that I care too much of course.
Agree though, Dowman doesn’t have a muscular frame, he’s tall and wiry.
https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=1262918768734877
Morning Andrew, thank you.
Agag, I often wonder what happened with her, Eric too from day one.
I too hope Dowman doesn’t have his head turned but he’s own so hopefully he’ll stay put for a while yet. He’s likely to get minutes next season I’d imagine, just not too many.
As a youngster, strengthening the body is so important. Growing up it was all about fitness for children/teenagers etc during my time but there was never any focus on body strength. Now however, we’re seeing more people doing yoga, pilates and a lot more gym work in general.
Nice article. Only thing you forget to mention is Dowman is playing under 18s for arsenal. He’s physically looking pretty much there at 15. Is there another example of a 15 year old playing three years above themselves in top tier youth football? Would be interesting to know.
Thanks Matt. I’m sure if one was to look hard, there would be one or too others who have played at a level about their age but certainly not many.
The worst thing one can do with the body is rush it. Especially where conditioning is concerned. Even certain amounts of Plyometrics at that age can have a detrimental effect. Growth can be stunted and it will have adverse effects.
Whilst we all love seeing Nwaneri one has to keep in mind that he still has a young body. So he needs to be taken care of and his game time managed well.
I think we’ll see more of Nwaneri this coming season.
Morning Rico and all.
The one thing that I don’t like is rushing the academy players into the senior team when there bodies are clearly not ready.
Hi Geoff, I don’t think Arteta will rush anyone through who is not ready. If anything, perhaps he’s overly cautious.
Martin Zubimendi is on the verge of becoming an Arsenal player. According to BBC Sport’s SamiMokbel_BBC, all necessary paperwork has been signed, and the midfielder is now scheduled for a medical as the transfer nears completion. The deal is in its final stages.
https://dailycannon.com/2025/05/arsenal-zubimendi-medical/
I knew I should have refreshed the page. Lol
Hello again Rico and everyone.
There’s only been a few stand-out 16y/o’s that come to mind, Wayne Rooney, Lamine Yamal and Cesc. Maybe Arteta feels he has to fast-track Max Dowman for fear of losing him to a rival.
As for the summer TW, I’m preparing to be underwhelmed.
Liverpool have two full backs and are working on a deal for the much covered Florian Wirtz, United have Cunha, City will continue their rebuild and Chelsea still only need a GK and quality striker, apparently.
But when so many are chasing the same few talents players will look at club profile, and those English rivals all have presence in Europe, and that’s before you factor in the European giants like Real, Barca, Bayern etc.
We haven’t been serious winners for the longest time which makes Arsenal a hard sell.
Potter rightly puts a PL title above CL, but being successful in the CL is part of the modern day currency and Arsenal don’t have it.
Zubi seems like a safe signing in a team that lacks an X-factor, a quite expensive one too.
Josh told us all to be excited, five years on we’re still waiting for something tangible to be excited about.
https://x.com/maxdowman58/status/1927042800496832760
Hi Alan, I see you’ve not cheered up then.
I don’t see Zubimendi as a safe signing at all. Jorginho has gone, Partey is getting older and we need someone in midfield. I wonder if you’d be down on him signing, if/when he does, had it been City or Liverpool snapped him up.
Come on Rico, City and Liverpool are winning the most important trophies, Pep doesn’t need him, and despite an alleged failed attempt to sign him last summer, Liverpool literally strolled to their 20th league title.
I’ll cheer up when Arsenal show me they are capable of doing what Liverpool are doing.
Arne Slot didn’t need five years and £700m to finish a distant second. First season, bang! Champions in what should have been Arsenal’s year.
We finished above Liverpool two years in a row before this one, and btw Rico, Liverpool’s entire midfield cost less than Declan Rice.
Afternoon Rico and Co, good to see the club seemingly doing what everybody complains about them not doing and that’s getting business done early. Spreading the deal for Zubimendi over the length of his contract might mean we actually paid more than the £51m, but that’ll leave more room for manoeuvre regarding PSI and other business. A striker by the middle of next week would be nice!
As for Max Dowman I guess the failure of Charlie Patino to realise his own potential is a salient warning against overhyping youngsters but sometimes you can just see that a young man is special, that he has a certain element of say Duncan Edwards about him, that his ability belies his age and Max is one of those.
Kaka is a great description of his style…
I still have your book Dev, didn’t Wenger say that a striker reached his peak years between 23 and 29?
I think you missed the number of injuries we had Alan.. lol
Afternoon Kev, agree, then we can enjoy the rest of the transfer window..
Spot on re Patino or as an old friend used to say, John Jules. 😜
Yes Andrew, I miss chatting fashion and clothes with Agag, it’s always enjoyable to drift away from football occasionally.
I wonder what happened to South Yorkshire Gunner and Micko, it’s hard to believe that we 80, 90 and often over 100 comments on here – and that when Arsenal were rubbish, heaven knows what we chatted or moaned about.
John Jules – yes that did make me laugh Rico 😃, my oh my did have some laughs!
Yeah Rico, some of the click-baiters on NewsNow were still droning on about Zubimendi going to Real Madrid as late as yesterday!
Mugs…
If Myles and Ethan don’t sign this week people will be losing their minds ably assisted by the click-baiters winding-them-up.
I’m so glad I don’t go on SkyBlu and X…
Injuries that were mostly self-inflicted because of a lack of rotation and not having a big enough squad after spending fortunes.
Don’t be an apologist for club failings, Rico, as lifelong supporters it’s important to point out these things.
Even club legends Thierry Henry and Ian Wright have weighed in on the criticism, are they both wrong.
Wrighty went as far as to say that the fantastic Women’s CL success has masked an embarrassing season for the men’s side.
How many years of excuses are we going to trot out before Arsenal become a serious football club, Rico, because we’ve been excusing them since moving to the Emirates 19 years ago.
Let’s add some context as to what has happened since 2006 –
City have 8* PL titles, 1 CL.
Liverpool – 2 PL titles, 5 European finals, 1CL, (CL 2005).
Chelsea – 2 PL titles, 2 CL, 2 Europa League trophies.
United – 5 PL titles, 1 CL, 1 Europa League.
Arsenal – 4 FA Cups, 1 European final.
Would you say we’re a successful club challenging at the very top, Rico?
The evidence suggests we’re nowhere near the levels required.
Sorry, Chelsea have 3 PL titles since 2006 (2010, ’15 and ’17).
Alan, you can surmise as much as you like, but you don’t actually know what caused the injuries which effectively torpedoed our season and repeating the same old refrain doesn’t make it one iota more relevant.
We did Kev, it was good fun.. I recall spandex popping up quite often. 😂
Apologist Alan, no, I’m a realist.
I’m with Cicero, you, nor anyone else outside of the club know the reason for injuries.
How many trophies other clubs have won is irrelevant, or perhaps jealousy on your part. We haven’t the kind of money as City or Utd, or 50 odd squad players to start the season with as is the case with Chelsea.
I’m all being honest about our drab football but that’s my opinion, not fact.
Ha ha ha, yes, spandex was a favourite of mine 😁
And who could forget Saloman Kalou…
Or Umbungo, one of Lee’s favourites I think.
People should know when they’re conquered
Are you an apologist for Arsenal’s failings, Cicero?
Why was Raheem Sterling signed?
We still don’t have proper GK cover, we have only two genuine CB’s the rest are hybrids, is Tomiyasu robust enough for the PL?
Midfield, Rice -£105m, Party – £45m, Odegaard – £35m, Fabio Vieira – £35m, Mikel Merino – £35m. Well over £200m for a midfield that struggles to create or offers any exciting football.
Arteta’s system is very over-reliant on Bukayo Saka producing match winning performances, and ran him into the ground because after spending £700m, he still has no adequate replacement.
Why shoohorn a metronome midfielder as a striker when he had the option of starting Martinelli? Three years without a proper number 9 is negligence and seriously reducing your chances of winning.
You make your own luck in football, and too many Arsenal fans use it as an excuse, and want to celebrate near misses as though it’s somehow significant.
Let’s not have the same dreams and expectations as Liverpool fans, eh Cicero.
UmBongo 😂
Forget City, Chelsea and United, Rico, let’s measure ourselves against Liverpool, very similar in size and structure to Arsenal.
Why, in your opinion, are Liverpool so far ahead of Arsenal at home and in Europe, in the trophy count?
The sale of Coutinho (spelling) helped them Alan.
We all agree, we want to win trophies and no one is being an apologist but going over old ground seems pointless, especially when Arteta is going nowhere any time soon. I’d rather look forward with positivity than constantly moaning about what we haven’t done.
Oh and with regards to Liverpool, compare the way both clubs are officiated…
Perhaps the new club motto should be “It’s not the winning, it’s the taking part that counts”.
Liverpool were miles ahead of Arsenal trophy-wise a long time before the sale of Coutinho, Rico, going back to the 1970s.
I know all that Alan, I’m not 12…
What’s your point of all of this, what’s your agenda here?
Seeing the back of Arteta and steering clear of any of Pep’s acolytes.
Serious football clubs win significant trophies and don’t use the same excuses for two decades as to why they’re still no nearer.
As much as Wenger overstayed, his brand of football was far more exciting than what Arteta is serving up.
Arteta should be at his spiritual home, Everton, he isn’t an elite coach, and shows no signs of improving.
Arsenal love gambling on novice managers, it rarely ever ends well.
I guessed you weren’t a fan of Arteta..
…”Where it’s ok to disagree”… Which I assume means as long as it’s football related and doesn’t spill over into petty or personal abuse?
Is it not a topic worthy of discussion, or are we comfortably revelling in our recent history of being nearly men and reframing it as success?
Have we collectively lowered our expectations?
Absolutely, it is ok to disagree without being abusive Alan.
But, as said earlier, Arteta is going nowhere so all we can do is hope he changes his approach in relation to our football and brings success to the club.
You’d have seen in my posts that I’ve always said, no one gets anything for being second.
Ah exciting football under Wenger, yes I recall how excited I felt Rico, can you recall your excitement as Man Utd stuck 8 goals into the Arsenal net at OT.
20 years and no progress in the Champions League Rico and that with Bergkamp, Henry and Pires leading the attack. Yes comparisons can be tricky…
Opposition fans would love Arsenal to sack Arteta, they can see the stupidity of a decision like that, sadly many of our own fans, if they are actually our fans, can’t see it…It’s why I want Ange to stay at the Toilet Bowl and why I wasn’t upset that the Spuds won a worthless trophy.
Do you know Rico that no other club has lost 22 league games and not get relegated from the EPL (maybe the top division?). And we’re supposed to feel jealous of that shambles?
It beggars belief, but don’t let me stop you going down that rabbit hole.
Let’s fly those white flags of surrender high from the Emirates.
We’d rather abandon any notion of success, we’re too obsessed with training up a novice manager, six years into his first ever job and no trophies (with his own squad of players), bank-rolling his expensive purchases who haven’t moved the needle, and making him the third highest paid manager in world football.
If that’s the logic, Rico, what’s the point, it only makes sense if we were one of the world’s biggest and best clubs, but we’ve never been anywhere near that.
The PR spin at Arsenal is phenomenally good, I bet they sell sand to the Arabs!
And just as a footnote, I have never been jealous of Tottenham, and I agree keep Ange there, they live in our shadows.
I was veciferously Wenger out after the 8-2 at OT, and was even more disgusted five days later on TDD when he paid £10m to replace Fabregas with Arteta.
Nowhere near the same quality, and it’s the only reason he is manager now.
I started to lose faith in Wenger around 2010.
As we’re both Arsenal fans of several decades, perhaps Kevin can enlighten me as to what I’m missing in regard to Arteta’s management ability and how he’s on the cusp of greatness?
I remember only too well Kev. Plus the 10-2 aggregate score against Bayern as well as the constant thrashing by Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool. Those were the days eh…
So you’re blaming the owners really then Alan because they kept hold of Wenger too long, didn’t back Emery and then gave the job to Arteta who you don’t think is good enough for Arsenal?
As I keep saying, moaning about what’s gone on in years gone by is a pointless exercise really. It’s the here and now which matters today.
I believe Emery.might have won us a CL, Rico, but obviously that ship has sailed.
How many of our domestic and European rivals appoint novice managers, Rico?
Barca with Xavi for a year, Bayern took a punt on Kompany, and Chelsea with Lampard
Would any of our rivals tolerate near misses for five years?
Yes Rico, Stan kept Wenger on long after he was competitive, and Arteta is on Josh.
It seems Liverpool’s American owners are far more connected with football and fans expectations than our American owners.
They want silverware, the Kroenke’s want sustainable profits, two very different mind-sets.
But he didn’t though Alan and neither did Wenger. As Kev said above, with the quality he had in the team he should have.
You’ve lost me Rico, who didn’t do what?
If you’re referring to Emery not winning the CL for us, he wasn’t given the time.
He did get us to a European final with the remnants of Wenger’s team. A couple of years after that he won the Europa League with Villarreal after beating us in the semis and United in the final.
Wenger’s Arsenal team between 2002-06 should definitely have won a CL.
I was referring to Emery. He wasn’t given time because the fans turned on him. As did the players.
His European successes are something Mikel will never have on his CV.
He must have been playing Football Manager when he told Arsenal he would win the CL in three years.
Emery’s Villa gave PSG a better two-legged fight than Arteta’s Arsenal did in the semis.
Did he ever say that? Bearing in mind it took Guardiola such a long time despite City’s investment, I very much doubt Arteta thought he’d win in three years.
You don’t know what Arteta might win in the future though.
Hindsight is always a wonderful thing. I am still trying to find out who came first the egg or the chicken. Going round in circles is quite dizzy especially trying to find who is to blame. So many things which contribute to us winning all those titles throughout our history….only to find out that so many others contribute to us winning fuck all.
It depends on whether one is an optimist, a pessimist or an opportunist. The expectations are all different in these cases. Opinions as well.
at the end of the day it all boils down to one thing….how much one can keep churning the same opinion time after time.
As for this question…..what I’m missing in regard to Arteta’s management ability and how he’s on the cusp of greatness? ……. we can only wait and see. I just wonder if Arteta tastes success will you have the balls to say that you were wrong?? Becasue I can bet anything that if Arteta fails we will surely be told ‘See I told you so. I was right’
SAH……’Wenger’s Arsenal team between 2002-06 should definitely have won a CL.’ Can you enlighten us why didn’t he win it and what he should have done?
Optimism is the best way forward imo.
Rico….1million % Amen to that.
We cannot change the past Devil..
Did you see we are reported to have extended Lokonga’s contract Devil?
Great news, Rob Wotton has been shown the door by Sky.
Rico – He said it to Willian to convince him to come from Chelsea.
Grumblestiltskin – I don’t go in for the childish “I told you so..” nonsense, people believe as they see fit.
If Arteta wins a PL or CL, he will instantly go up in my estimation, and as an Arsenal fan I will celebrate and be happy to eat humble pie, but as we stand right now, it’s a big IF.
What should Wenger have done between 2002-06?
What, you want a layman supporter to tell an incredibly highly paid manager to tell him how to do his job?
Perhaps if he’d looked across London he might have seen Edwin van der Sar was available from Fulham for £2m. Clearly a better GK and far more stable than Jens Lehmann
The second leg of the Quarter final against Chelsea in 2004 at Highbury, our players were tired and lacked energy, which was very strange. But if you can deliver an unbeaten season in the world’s most competitive league, many would consider a CL to be a natural progression.
I mean, Liverpool won it after being 3-0 down at half time in the final, Chelsea came from 2-0 down with 10 men in their semi final 2nd leg against Pep’s all-conquering Barca in the Camp Nou on their way to winning it in 2012.
Is it just coincidence that Arsenal never deliver those critical game-changing occasions?
Every other big club is geared up and ready to win the CL with the exception of Arsenal?
What’s your opinion about why Arsenal have such a miserable European record compared to our rivals?
That’s not telling the club that though Alan, not that I believe he told Willian that either.
What’s the point in going on about what other clubs have done? It’s getting boring now. Irrelevant too really as this is an Arsenal website.
Which “top club” reached the semi final of the CL?
Time for me to depart when the debate is boring you, Rico.
God bless you, the House and Arsenal.
Superstar, regarding your question to me concerning Arteta – and what I believe he will bring to the table?
Well, I think there is absolutely no point in labouring any debate as your mind is fixed, that has been made perfectly clear to me given the narrative of your posts since you deemed to join us.
As far as you being an Arsenal fan, well that’s a moot point. I mean you could be a Chelsea fan or maybe some Orc from On Trent? The Internet is full of people pretending and getting a buzz out of it.
Frankly I don’t care and as I’m not interested in massaging anyone’s ego I’ll leave it at that and leave you to enjoy your games, all I’ll say to my Arsenal friends on here is ‘don’t feed’ – you know the drill…
Rico, re:Lokonga, maybe he had a one year option on his deal that we have triggered as we don’t want to lose him for nothing?
Thanks for the reply, Kevin, and that ringing endorsement.
I wouldn’t dream of coming on this site to disrespect anyone, nor if I wasn’t an Arsenal fan.
It’s ok to have different options, I don’t rate Arteta, you do, but please don’t insult me by calling me a Chelsea or a Stoke fan.
I’ve read your comments on here, Bergkampesque even on Le Grove, and always considered you a measured reasonable contributor, this is a side of you I don’t recognise.
I’ve got the hint, close-knit friends sharing the same views. No problem, I’m sure we all want the same thing, so good luck to us all.
Take care.
Yes Kev, that is what happened with Sambi.
You’re not boring me Alan, it’s just boring going round and around in circles and gushing over clubs other than the one I assume you support.
Having to constantly watch other clubs lift major trophies is depressing, Rico, and it has been going on for so long it’s like a curse.
Anyway thanks for engaging, hopefully we won’t have to wait too much longer.
Goodnight and God bless.
Night all….
If you are so depressed by watching other clubs win trophies when we are not, for your own mental health welfare I would suggest you take a sabbatical from football altogether. Give it a try, take a break. See how you feel in say six months or a year.
It’s okay Cicero, I know it’s normal for fans of certain clubs to expect trophies, but I get it, no-one has dared suggest Arsenal do it regularly ever since Samuel (Hill-Wood) handed over the keys to son Dennis. It is he who changed Arsenal to become careful and more risk-averse.
You don’t need to stick the boot in, I’ve troubled enough people here with my opinions, I just wanted debate, not a war of words.
I know when to go, and today has delivered that message.
Go well, Cicero, and good health.
Morning Rico and all,
Devil I mentioned on this site when Arteta started I did not want him that soon, I would have prefered him to go and coach at a different level to prove him self and not be little pep so for the first couple of season I was not convinced by his coaching as he never seemed to have a game plan or plan B how ever I was more than happy to eat my humble pie, and now I think he is a good manager but still have concerns to weather or not he take take us the next step, but will be more than happy to get another pie out and eat it.
Arteta is a very good coach, but a poor manager.
Please stop him from deciding player purchases and steer clear of Leroy Sane. That would mean never learning from the Raheem Sterling debacle.
Bonjour mes amis
Sometimes going round in circles regurgitating the same old same old gets a bit tedious. Still can’t fathom out who came first the egg or the hen.
Is Arteta the cause of our problems or is he the victim/beneficiary of external factors? If you work with a hire and fire expecting constant success then that is a failure from day one. And its the self fulfilling situation of getting what you wished for (ie a scapegoat for your failings) and while you keep complaining of always winning zilch you never look in the mirror and ask yourself if its your fault.
Emery would have won us a CL by now????? one’s gotta be joking right?? he couldnt get us over the line in the Europa league.
I guess that if next season we win the CL, the EPL and the FA Cup there will be some people who will complain because we didn’t win the Carabao cup and still want Arteta to be sacked because of that. So we just keep looking forward and continue competing.
Yes United won many trophies but this is an eye opener……
Patrice Evra: “If Ferguson were coaching today, he’d be in jail!”
Former Manchester United star Patrice Evra revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson’s tough and often ruthless management style would have likely landed him in jail if applied in today’s era. Ferguson, who managed United from 1986 to 2013, led the club to an incredible 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, making United the most successful club in Premier League history. However, since his retirement in 2013, the team has failed to win the league again.
In a shocking interview on the SDS Podcast, Evra, who won five Premier League titles and a Champions League under Ferguson, said the legendary manager was “a total gangster, in every sense of the word.”
Evra explained,
“If Ferguson was coaching today, he’d end up in jail. There’s no way he’d get away with what he used to do. Do you know how many players I saw cry because of his yelling? He used to throw boots at players — he was a real gangster.”
He recalled a famous incident in 2003 when Ferguson kicked a boot that struck David Beckham above the eye after a loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup. Ferguson allegedly shouted,
“That’s what you get for shaking it nice for her, you little shorts model!”
Evra also shared a story involving Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck in a friendly match. Rooney let Welbeck take a penalty as encouragement, but Welbeck missed. Despite the game being friendly, Ferguson stormed into the bathroom yelling
“Who the f\*\*\* are you, son of a b\*\*\*\*, to be taking penalties for the first team?!”
Evra described the team environment under Ferguson as brutal and recounted another incident after Nani was injured in a match against Liverpool in 2011. When Nani started crying, Paul Scholes told him to get off the field. But as Nani walked off, Ferguson shouted from the touchline
“I hope your leg is actually broken, because if it’s not, I’ll hang you by your balls! No Man United player cries at Anfield, you little…”
These stories illustrate the fierce and uncompromising atmosphere that defined Manchester United under Ferguson, a culture of toughness that forged one of the most dominant teams in football history, but one that would likely be impossible to replicate in today’s game.
Leroy Sane…..one good game three crap ones. I hope he goes to the spuds especially with the wages he expects
Morning Devil, all.
It’s a no from me too re Sane..
Arteta worked with Sane at City, how long ago was that? Another Sterling signing?
Sane in? No insane! 😉
Good morning all.
Morning Rico and Co.
That’s an interesting insight Dev from Evra, kind of explains the violence they brought to games against Wenger’s finest. I still recall how they beat up Raya in that FACup semi-final whilst Riley looked the other way. No doubt Ferguson intimidated officials as well…
Morning Kev, Cicero.
I suspect Fergie had referees in his pocket long after he retired too. Although than baton seems to have changed hands with it dropping on Merseyside.
Raya Kev? 😜
Blimey Rico, Antonio Reya of course… 🙄
I see that Rio Ferdinand has quit T N T Sport to concentrate on his “media empire”. He has plans to move his family to the middle east, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. If only Gary Neville would follow suit and make it a treble with Lineker how much more enjoyable would punditry become.
Or even Jose Antonio Reyes, Kev. 😉
Maybe that’s why SAF steered clear of Zlatan Ibrahimovic……I don’t think he would have lasted two minutes of that behaviour with Zlatan who is a martial artist. Throw Zlatan a boot at your own peril.
Heaven forbid Neville takes Lineker’s place as the anchor, host or wtf he was.
Ha ha Kev.
Rob Wotton is leaving Sky too Cicero and I’m over the moon about it..
Neville is a Sky employee Devil so no chance imo.
Neville already has his own “media empire”, and other business affairs and refers to his punditry as his day off. I can’t see him joining the beeb 9
New post up guys.