Morning all.
Saturday was a bit of a let down as far as the World Cup goes. Yesterday was better, certainly as far as shocks go but after Friday evenings great battle between Spain and Portugal, those dizzy heights weren’t really met. I watched most of the France game which was boring I thought with a few talking points but I’ll leave that to someone else to discuss. If there’s no Arsenal players involved them I’m not really interested. Saying that, I didn’t see either of the later games that day so I’ve no idea how Iwobi played.
Yesterday though I watched both of the later fixtures and they were quite good I thought. Switzerland shocked Brazil, another match with controversy as there seemed to be a bit of pushing and grabbing in the area as the Swiss grabbed their equaliser and Neymar was denied a penalty. Great result though for Xhaka, Lichtsteiner and co. Later in the evening was even better when Mexico thrashed the holders Germany 1-0. Well, it would have been a thrashing had Mexico taken their chances. It was very much a hit them on the break job and it worked. Germany were pretty poor though and will seriously need to up their game if they’re to stand any chance of retaining the big cup.
Today sees England kick start their campaign, something we’ve all be waiting for. (Cough) They’re up against Tunisia at 7pm and prior to that match it’s Sweden v South Korea and Belgium v Panama.
“It was never the same after you left” Cesc added and I make him right. Biggest mistake the club made at the time and probably ever since. Things could, and probably would have been so different had the club put personal feelings to one side for the greater good. We can’t change, or live in the past though and at least now, there seems to be some kind of plan again as the changes have finally materialised.
It’s being reported that Jack Wilshere has declined the offer of a new Arsenal contract and he’s off. Having held a meeting with Unai Emery, a starting place on a regular basis cannot be guaranteed so he’s not prepared to stick around. I’m struggling to believe this story, not that he might go but the game time stuff. No player should expect to be on the team sheet each week as that’s a right they should work hard to earn. Walking away from the club kind of admits he’s not up for the fight and if that’s the case, then maybe he is better off going somewhere else. I get he wants playing time, who wouldn’t after the injuries he’s had which caused him to miss so much of his football career so far but isn’t competition for a place healthy? Not impressed with Jack if this story is true.
Not impressed with BBC’s commentary pairing of Jonathon Pearce and Phil Neville either. The way they bleated on about how much better Mesut Ozil is when playing for Germany than he is for Arsenal was pathetic and clearly a desperate attempt to have yet another go at the club both clearly detest. One was a very average player in a great Man Utd team, the other a big lump who looks more suited to Sumo wrestling than he does being part of football. He’s clearly still a frustrated man after having his ‘football career’ cut short after suffering a broken leg in his teens who thinks he’s an expert in the game. Idiots, the pair of them.
Transfer gossip:
Apart from the players we’ve already been linked to, like Leno, Torreira, Papastathopoulos etc etc, there’s nothing. Although we have apparently nabbed Chris Terpcou, a goalkeeping coach from Newcastle Utd. He’ll work with the Academy according to reports. Sticking with goalkeeping, Napoli allegedly want Petr Cech. With one year left on his contract, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him leave, especially if Leno arrives.
That’s it for another day, enjoy the England game, or Emmerdale… lol
Oh the irony….
Arsène Wenger on beIN:
“Lichtsteiner is too slow to deal with the pace of Marcelo, Coutinho, and Neymar on the left. Xhaka’s positioning has been poor and hasn’t been able to contain the Brazilian midfield.”
Morning Rico. Apparently there seems to be some doubt as to whether Wenger actually said those things. Personally, I thought Brazil were pretty ordinary. The commentary team were bigging them up from before kick-off and they played as if they believed the hype and only had to show up to win. Even if those criticisms did come from Wenger, the fact remains that Switzerland actually got a draw, so it wasn’t a bad result for them, especially when you consider the relative size of the two countries.
Morning all.
My good lady came out with a mouthful of invective after about 25 minutes of listening to the so called commentary and comments exchanged between numpty Neville and fat boy Pearce. Being sensitive to her needs I shipped in the 5 Live team. This was better although, not a lot! I find Pat Nevin”s remarks and enunciation a real challenge to decode and understand. Some may enjoy his insights and remarks but if you can’t understand a word he says it all seems pretty pointless!
If team BBC is as good as Ingerland then we won’t have to wait long before our 23 hopefuls are touching down in west London again, ready to prepare for next season, after a very expensive holiday or two somewhere in the West Indies! (Well earned after a long and gruelling season following the predictable disappointments of another failed tilt at WC glory!)
Tonight’s result, a draw probably. I’ve no great belief in the England players’ ability to achieve anything much in Russia. They’re going to have to win me over?
Cloudy but warm here, could turn out nice again.
Morning Adam, they sound like his words though… lol
Brazil were like Germany, all ball and no end product I thought..
I quite like the ITV pundits Wavy, especially yesterday with Slaven Billic (spelling) – thought he was hilarious. Keane is the only one who irks…
Morning all and thank you Costa Rico and thanbk you for accomodating Joel Campbell……. 🙂
Some news which I like…………………………..
https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2018/june/checkatrade–invited-u21s_201819/
If England have too many Spuds in the team it`s going to be hard for me too cheer them !…………………………The Arsenal DNA is strong in this one !
🙂
Cant stand the miserable looking bastard that is Roy Keane !
https://youtu.be/Ab3GAHA02uM
🙂 🙂
That video proves my point !…………………….others are laughing out loud and Keane just raises a smile !
🙂
Did Campbell play Lc?
Good morning all you happy Gooners, and any miserable ones who happen to check in.
Another post so soon Rico? I just knew you couldn’t keep away.
How many goal keeper coaches do we need for Heavens sake? Isn’t Mad Jens the academy GK coach? If we get Leno, or any other new ‘keeper he’s bound to bring his own coach, masseur, fitness guru, dietician and sundry other hangers on with him.
Hmm, I’m beginning to sound a bit grumpy, time for a mug of coffee. Laters.
Ha ha Cicero, only when there’s something to write about honest but when I wrote that, I must have forgot about the WC.. 😉
Afternoon Gooners.
Really good post Rico, and as for John Cross, he knows diddly squat.
It’s all about money imo just as with Ramsey, both want big increases and will go elsewhere if they are offered it elsewhere.
I’m struggling to visualise Wilshere in a West Ham shirt, but if the money is right then it’s definately on, and the Hammers fans will warm to him I reckon.
Wilshere in a Crystal Palace shirt is even more far fetched, but again the Palace fans will like him and Roy Hodgson has a good relationship with him.
I can’t see Jack at Wolves.
And as much as I’d like to see him push the envelope and join Juventus, I can’t see him wanting to go outside of his comfort zone of the London area.
I would imagine that Emery thinks can he can more usefully use Jacks salary elsewhere.
Just a thought?
If Emery plans to utilise a pressing game at Arsenal, where does Ozil fit into that?
Thanks Kev, good points on Cross, he’s no better than the rest really, guessing.
Agree re Ozil, he’s not the kind of player who suits the way we believe Emery will play but who would buy him and pay him the hideous amount the club agreed last season?
Wenger is right.
Any more news?
……..Whatever system we use we will always have the need for a player to provide scoring chances for our strikers. Mesut Ozil is that man.
……..Anybody who watched the Germany v Mexico game would have seen that the only German player to get anywhere near to the Mexican scorer was…..Mesut Ozil…..the guy who never gets back to defend.
Bit late, but yes Rico, Joel had a cameo !
I`m again in a mo` to take grandson to footie practice with a Plymouth Argyle coach………………….he should be impressed with the tekkers I am teaching him !……………………………….of course it`s always in an Arsenal kit !………………his dad hates it as he`s an Argyle fan, but the brainwashing is too far gone ! hahaha
It’s disappointing but Wilshere, even as fit as he’s managed to get, is not worthy of a regular starting place in the Arsenal first team.
If, as has been reported, he is demanding such a guarantee then there is no alternative but to let him go. In his own interest it would be best for him to move abroad. Get out of his London comfort zone and start afresh elsewhere.
If he goes I wish him well.
We’re getting the usual bullshit from the manager and players ahead of the first WC game. Enjoy the moment, don’t have fear, we can do well, and all the other mumbo jumbo coachspeak.
Well kick off is approaching, we’ll soon see how the team are going to cope.
Because it’s a young side Cicero, no pressure ?
Well that was all pretty predictable, a decent start and a goal, then we start swaggering around thinking the game was won. Then when Tunisia started playing our entire defensive game fell apart. A stupid penalty given away by that ex-Spud Walker and we’re back where we started.
1 set piece and a,host of missed chances.Then the inevitable. What odds the euphoria balloon has been well and truly burst.
Just for once I agree with Sheare, we should have taken full advantage of the goal scoring chances presented to us. Sterling and Lingard are just not good enough.
That’s Shearer, Shearer not a bald sheep. Spell checker!
We should bring on Dier to go with the performance.
Crowd are bored ,Mexican wave.
Just why are Lingaard and Dele Alli still on the pitch?
https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/1008752633761488896
Or Young, Henderson fir that matter.
England it’s always the some.
Not a good second half.
The subs are too late.
Ha, I left the house with ten minutes to go and walked into The Feathers just as Kane scored the winner. The pub went crazy. For the goal, not my arrival. ?
Hey are you actual royalty ? . The Feathers :- Dersingahm , by the Sandringham Estate ? . As a commoner from the Norfolk Broads , do I have to doff my cap to you. ?
The only other ones I know are in Holt , still classy or Yarmouth…. not.
Didn’t the Royle Family use the ‘feathers’ in the tv programme of the same name? Or is it the Brit bar near the Forum in Rome. That was where Cicero did his best orating, back in the day!
Morning all. Good win for Ingerland lazy night, but as the game developed I was reminded, very much of many of the Arsenal’s recent performances. Good first half, almost impressive followed by a very flat rather dull second half, with a little late drama. The right result but like the curate’s egg as is typical of the sort of football we have sadly got used to! Last 16…. A little like the arsenal?
Sunny and warm here, again.
Last not lazy…….
Morning all.
New post up.
No Potter, The Feathers in Aylsham. Monday night is quiz night, it usually starts about nine. Last night the quiz was postponed but nobody let us know. By the eighty minute mark I was so bored by the football that I couldn’t be bothered to watch any more, so it was off to the pub where I was able to watch about thirty replays on three different televisions.
Roll on Sunday and Panama, but Southgate must drop Sterling for Rashford and Young for Rose.
Morning all, Phil is a decrepit old tool. I do not know what people see in him to sign him up for punditry