Morning all.
I watched Wolves take on Man Utd last night at Molineux. They’re a good side. Organised, quick, play with width and they’re tough. A tad cynical too some might say, especially against Pogba. I thought they were excellent and totally deserved their 2-1 victory which booked a place in the FA Cup semi final. Swansea City would have joined them too had VAR been in place at the Liberty Stadium.
But Wolves, what a season they are having. From being the Premier League whipping boys not so long ago, they’re flying high with a team full of relatively unknown players and a manager with very little experience let alone success under his belt. Nuno Espírito Santo, just 45 years of age, first season in England yet he looks like he’s been a PL manager for years. It’s a story with seen unfold with other managers over the years before a second season flop. Time will tell if it’ll be the same for Wolves but for now, they certainly look like a club on the rise. Annoyingly, we have to go to Molineux before the season ends. I hope our top four chances don’t rest on us getting three points up there that’s for sure.
Looks like Ole’s wheels have a puncture or two. Perhaps the novelty of having a different manager to Mourinho is wearing off with the honeymoon period cooling. A trip to Camp Nou should freeze it that’s for sure. If they can’t beat Wolves, no disrespect meant, I simply can’t see them doing particularly well against Barcelona. I hope they get battered and any grain of confidence they have, gets drained away. Totally. Yep, I really want us to get third place and as one headline said yesterday, ‘Ole’s wheels might be turning, but Arsenal are in the driving seat….’
I suppose we are really. Even if Chelsea win their game in hand, they’d still trail us because our goal difference is superior. Toots, Utd and Chelsea have to either play each other or one/both of Man City and Liverpool. Points will be dropped, of that we can be sure. With both of the latter clubs fighting it out for the Premier League title, perhaps they’ll do us a huge favour as they do.
With so much left to play for, for the top six clubs, having an international break right now couldn’t have come at a worse time. It’s really bad organisation by the footballing body who made this decision. Imagine how Klopp will feel if Salah or VVD suffered a serious injury during this break. Or Utd with Pogba, de Gea and Martial, Toots with Kane, Alli or Son, Chelsea if they lost Hazard or any other players who are crucial to their clubs end to the season. We certainly can’t afford to lose Sokratis, Koscielny, Kolasinac etc etc. We’ve been losing players to injury all season and it’s hurt us. It still is with Bellerin, Welbeck and Holding out.
But we’re doing ok. Points wise we’re much better off than we were this time last year, whisper it quietly but we’ve kept a few clean sheets of late, we could yet return to Champions League football if all goes well and the Europa Cup? Well it’s probably a half chance, but it’s a chance. Napoli stand in the way next.
Because both of Chelsea and ourselves were drawn to play at home in our second legs, UEFA regulations mean that our tie with Napoli will now be reversed. For a change, we’ll be travelling away from home in the second leg. I prefer that because of the away goals ruling.
There’s a few weeks before we face the Italian club though. Next for us is Newcastle Utd on 1st April. It was against them that Theo Walcott scored one of my favourite of his goals. It’s in the below compilation. He turned thirty years old yesterday which is hard to believe. It only seems like last week he arrived at Arsenal. The official website celebrated his big day with a compilation of his best goals.
We could do with a winger like him right now. I still wonder what kind of footballer he’d have been under a different coaching setup. He showed glimpses of being a great player but like so many others over the last ten odd years, consistency was the problem. Or rather the lack of it.
If only that fresh faced you 16 year old was joining Arsenal now….
Have a good Sunday guys. At least the wind and rain has disappeared this morning and the sun is shining.
Morning all and a nice Manshafter whipping post Rcio………….although at first I thought I was on Molineux House !
😆
Great day yesterday as we are still the official record holders of the greatest cup competition in the world……….. The FAA(The Football Association Arsenal Cup ) Cup.
Like when we have St Totteringhams Day we should make days like yesterday……….St Manshafting Day !………so happy St Manshafting Day yesterday all Gooners. hahaha
Morning all.
Nice one Rico. A fair warning re Wolves and our game against them, yet to come, not to mention the resurgent Toon!
Lc I like the idea of Manshafter Day, it the image it creates I think is a little challenging!😀
Must congratulate you Rico on your recent summary of little Dick’s recent presser. I listened intently to the words he uttered but by the end I had less idea of what he was saying than when he started! However, you interpreted his words clearly and precisely, I think. Thank you, you have earned the new title of ‘Uni-interpreter’ of the year and, if you’re up to it, you could apply for the job on a permanent basis? If your ‘signing’ is good you could do that job too😀
After a bright sunny start I notice the black clouds are here again.
Thanks Lc, Wavy.
At least Newcastle is at The Emirates. I worry our away form will be our downfall.
No award for me Wavy, the official website publish his entire press conference. Thank goodness as like you, I’ve no idea what he says most of the time.
I think that’s to his advantage as the press are totally confused and cannot quote him with any certainty. Mind you that hasn’t stopped them making things upbut they have always done that so we can disegard their ramblings.
We have eight games left : – 3 at home and 5 away, like you I see that as the reason that people saying that we are a shoe in for 3rd or 4th need to keep their powder dry .
Afternoon Gooner’s
Afternoon Rico, no herbal tea today then? 😉
Good post, Wolves love teams to come onto them as they’re a team who play on the break, they gave us a tough game at the Emirates but as with Watford, the FACup constitutes their only chance of silver wear so playing at their grounds at this stage of the season may influence team selection and our chances of the 3 points…
Potter, I didn’t want to see Man Utd win anything or equal our FACup record so yesterday I was mostly supporting the Old Gold. Not seen any highlights but they sounded tasty on the radio, a bit too divey for my taste but maybe that comes from the Wolves coaching staff?
If the attitude we showed against Toots away can be repeated, we stand a chance of CL footie next season, but our away form is why we’re now scrabbling around for points.
But, the signs of improvement have been visible I reckon and with others highly likely to drop points, that improvement needs to be maintained.
Ruben Neves will be a great sign.
Afternoon Kev. Thanks. No herbal tea but the rest was accurate… lol
Wolves were good. Didn’t see much diving from them though..
They have a few good players Jm. Neves likes to shoot doesn’t he..
Raul Jimenez caused Utd a few problems. Took his goal well.
What’s your view on the Wolves manager? Came from Porto didn’t he..
Santo has done a good job Rico, doesn’t he have a special relationship with Super Agent Mendez (pass the sick bag) who sources some good Latin players who then use Wolves as a shop window. That would suit Enos…
If he can repeat or improve on this season in a years time then he’d defiantly be one to keep an eye on I guess. If Wolves won the FACup then that would certainly prove that he’s a winner…
Unai Emery is going to have a selection headache when we rock up to the Al Maktoum Stadium on the 26th March for a 3pm kick off…
As it stands he’ll have 10 players including 2 goalkeepers to choose from, although Aubameyang might be able to get away from Gabon to join in the jolly.
A bit of sunshine training, R&R and a change of scenery for Cech, Leno, Koscielny, Monreal, Mustafi, Mavropanos, Suarez, Lacazette, Jenkinson and Maitland Niles in the offing.
A rest for Emery and his coaching staff as well, let’s not forget them…
Possible young players not involved in Internationals who could fill out the squad are :
Medley, Pleguezuelo, Osei-Tutu, Thompson, Bramall, Gilmour, Sheaf, Tormey, Omole and on loan from Reading goalkeeper James Hillson.
(Info from Jeorge Bird)
Afternoon Rico,,
Surely this is Nuno’s second season in English football.
While at Valencia he brought Mustafi to the club…I wonder would he take him now…lol
As far as i’m aware he has brought 16 players to Wolves, some of which he has worked with in the past..
Perhaps the year in the Championship helped him implement his style of play into his players.
Is Mendez Portuguese Kev? Could explain a lot.
Yeah Rico, isn’t he the agent of Cristiano Ronaldo?
It’ll good for the younger players who have travelled. More time to show what they can offer.
Afternoon Bt, silly me. I forgot he arrived in 2017, being in the championship and all that.. lol
I think so Kev, and the rest who earn mega bucks I suspect..
Could be Overmars if press reports are correct.
I hope so..
Yes. Sounds ok. It will come down to whether his personality and footballing philosophies fit I suppose.
And if Ajax will let him go.
Seems like The Sun are behind the story. Must be true. Lol
rico, I think we’ve already won more away games this season than we did the whole of last year so there might be a lickle bit of hope…….but don’t quote me on that !
Happy St. Paddy’s Day…….no work tomorrow, they do it properly over here.
Hey Micko, there are 3 better saints days than St Patricks Day…………………………..St Totteringhams Day, St Manshafters Day (see my earlier comment) and being english…….St Georges Day when we all go mental here and have an un-official day off work sick because our effing government cant give us an official day off for our english saint !…………..fcuk brexit I just want a day off for St Georges day Mrs May then maybe you can dance properly you b###h ! hahahaha
In the mean time Everton just done us a favour !…………………………..
Happy St Paddy’s Day to you Micko. Hard not to do better than last season away from home… lol
Excellent result at Goodison…
rico, I won’t have you mocking our Alsation cousin’s empire, that’s not on !
There’s a bad whiff of Benson & Hedges around Chelsea these days, can only be a matter of time !
Ha ha Micko.
We shouldn’t laugh too much about today’s result. We’ve got to go to Goodison yet… lol
Night Micko, guys…
A puppy for the pavement, an old dog for the road, nite rico.
And so the battle for Champions league takes another twist
New post up now.