The PM and his trusted sidekicks issued an update on the Coronavirus yesterday evening. Some of the questions Wall Streets finest asked them afterwards had me wondering whether or not one of the local schools had sent a couple of six year olds to the press conference. Then again, six year olds do tend to ask sensible questions don’t they? Seriously, whatever happened to the human race, when did common sense leave so many? I wouldn’t go and see my 86 year old mother if I had a bad cold or some other kind of bug so I don’t need Boris Johnson to order me not to now. I wouldn’t leave my own home if I had influenza, or pop and see a friend if they had it either so when something like this Covid-19 outbreak occurs, I’m hardly likely to accept a dinner invitation or hold a dinner party.
All this scrabbling around in the supermarkets is ridiculous and if everyone had shopped in the same manner they usually do, this country would be far better off. I get buying an extra box of tissues, an extra bar or soap etc but if people stopped and thought for just a few minutes they’d realise that the Coronavirus symptoms do not mean we all suddenly need 200 loo rolls in the cupboard or 20 packs of rice and pasta. After all, by the time it comes to eating those last few bags, they are likely to be out of date. Ridiculous. ‘Feed a cold, starve a fever’ – an old wives tale perhaps, but it’s truer than you might think.
There was a great sitcom on television when I was young, ‘Love thy neighbour’ – never have three words been so important to our daily life. If your neighbour is elderly and you know her family live far away, knock on their door to see if they are ok. Or ring them. If you’re going shopping, I’m sure a loaf of bread, a pint or two of milk and some butter would be well received. If you’re feeling generous, a pot of jam too. It doesn’t hurt to be kind. Even if you don’t ordinarily get on well with them. My neighbours get right on my wick as they are interfering old so and so’s but yes, if they need anything, they know to pick up the phone.
Be safe, be sensible and be kind…..
Good to hear Mikel Arteta is back fit and healthy. Not that his services are likely to be required much as the club is probably like a ghost town. News is very slow which is only to be expected. Four of five headlines/articles on the official site relating to Theo Walcott confirm that. I’ve lost count of how many times I defended our Englishman during his time at Arsenal but I knew that my opinion of him was perhaps clouded by the fact that he was a local lad who went to the same school as me. Theo wasn’t perfect by a long way but on his day, he could be lethal.
In my opinion, he joined the right club but a club with the wrong manager. Arsene Wenger had been used to having players in his team who didn’t need much coaching and I think Theo, along with other teenage players in the squad over time, were perhaps left to learn for themselves. A recipe for failure in think and whilst Theo and co didn’t fail, far from it, I don’t think they ever reached anywhere near the level they could have. Should have.
Fran Merida, Seb Larsson, Carlos Vela, Jermaine Pennant, Fabrice Muamba, Nicklas Bendtner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joel Campbell, Serge Gnabry, Issac Hayden – honestly, there are so so many who I truly believe could have had more of an impact at Arsenal had a bit more attention been given to their game when they were young. When they are open to being taught. Our younger players would so often be sent out on loan with the ‘let someone else teach them’ message, when in reality, most of them didn’t really get much playing time, nor did they appear to be improved on their return. In fact if I could be bothered to look, a high percentage of our loaned players were never seen wearing an Arsenal shirt again.
Theo Walcott was one of the lucky ones to stay at Arsenal but once the idiotic decision was made for him to join up with the England squad in 2006, his profile became too big for a kid of his age. Sven-Göran Ericsson was lambasted for his decision but Arsene Wenger should have protected his player more. When consulted about his inclusion in the squad, Wenger’s answer should have been ‘no.’ Theo Walcott wasn’t ready for Arsenal and he certainly was ready for England.
But perhaps if that 16 year old raw looking winger/striker joined us today, a much better player would emerge in time. Perhaps the likes of Merida, Campbell, Gnabry and Vela would become Arsenal greats instead of being the ones left to fade and leave.
We’ll never know of course but I’m more hopeful now than I’ve been for years that if a youngster shows promise, he’ll get the right support and coaching he needs to be the best he can be.
That best might not be enough, but at least he’d have had the right grounding. Unless his attitude stinks and then he deserves nothing other than to be shown the door..
I nearly forgot. Our club doctor has given Liverpool a big fat ✌🏻as he’s staying at Arsenal. Apparently Mikel Arteta had a word in his ear whilst the squad/staff were enjoying the winter break in warmer climates. You can poach our players, well, the ones we don’t want but you’re not having our Doc!
Catch up in the comments guys…
Good morning Rico, it’s difficult to say precisely why Walcott’s Arsenal career stalled so badly. Injury played significant part, but so did Wenger’s continual swapping of roles. Right wing, left wing, more central, all confusing for a young footballer.
A bit of good news this morning, Gary O’Driscoll our club doctor has reversed his decision to join Liverpool and will remain at Arsenal. The arrival of Mikel Arteta and family reasons are reportedly behind his change of heart. Could there have been a falling out with Emery?
Morning Cicero. Theo’s injuries didn’t hamper his early years with us though, the years when he needed some serious coaching. I blame a lot on the coaching staff.
I have updated the post re our resident Doc. Good news.
Morning all.
Theo and Bendtner paid the price for being played wide imo.
Both were far, far better when played central.
Vela should’ve been a star imo.
He had everything.
Being the huge Ramsey fan you are Scott, do you think his game suffered because of being played out of position?
Rico,
I do, but I also can see why he was stuck wide.
We had some terrific players who had to play central and Rambo was capable of playing wide.
Catch 22 imo.
Wenger did like to play guys wide to learn their craft, but quite often, they were penalised for lower standard performances.
Nice one, Rico 👍
Watching Gnabry tearing it up in the Bundesliga, as well as Vela in the MLS.. does make you think what could’ve been hey?!
I’m beginning to realise how much my life revolves around football now it’s postponed, I’m having to go through my sky planner for old MOTDs, old NLDs.. anything!! 😂
Wow that Dr has favoured us over Liverpool.. makes a nice change!
Sue, I favour us over Liverpool, so what’s your point bahahahahahahaha
Although imagine giving up seeing Kolasinac’s biceps and thighs to go up there and see Robertson’s instead… I know which I’d rather!
😂😂 Scott!!
I’m not so sure though Scott, playing out wide did him no favours I reckon, not with the fans, or certainly a lot of them.
Thanks Sue, Gnabry, Vela and Merida are the ones I still think about…
Sky Spirts are rerunning old matches. Some include us getting thrashed. 😂
I agree, Rico.
I do think his game suffered.
Many fans only see the obvious and blame the player.
Maitland-Niles cops it now yet is Never going to be a RB.
It happens all the time.
Any excuse for them to show us getting thrashed 🤣 think I’ll give those a miss hahaha!!
Sky sports even. Lol
I blame the manager Scott. I get AMN playing a right back because we’re so short but if it’s his attitude causing his non selection then fine, but I don’t think he’s done that badly in defence.
I’m seriously thinking of cancelling my Sky sports subscription. I don’t see why I should be asked to pay for watching reruns of games that I have already paid to see live.
Now I read that they are increasing the cost of the basic and entertainment packages. Isn’t that exploiting old geezers like me who are supposed to stay home and remain isolated.
I’m hoping for warmer weather so that I can go and sit in the garden of my local and have a chat with the other oldies sitting two metres away. Of course we will have to shout at each other as hearing aid batteries will be unobtainable due to panic buying.
c’est la vie. 😕
I was thinking the same but by the time the subscription is updated or the notice period is up, football might be back…
I know you’re being serious, Cicero, about the hearing aid batteries, just made me chuckle the way you said it!!
Let’s face it we could all do with some humour right now (Le Coq!!). Things are getting worse, hardly anything in Tesco last night.. now talk of workplaces closing down for the time being.. I can’t afford not to work….Some elderly people I know have got it in their heads if they leave their house they’ll be arrested & the Chinese have planned all of this as they want to take over the world!!
It’s bad for us, but imagine it must be 10x worse for them…..
Hopefully the panic shoppers will soon calm down a bit and supermarkets will replenish the shelves. Also, I’d imagine there ordering system will have been updated so that more stock will come from the suppliers.
The elderly just need reassuring by family members. Let the message be heard and then tell them again and again. It’s the ‘kids’ turn to look after their parents.
I hope so, Rico..not right that you genuinely need a certain item, but can’t find one anywhere as someone else has bought 30 of them!!
Yes they do need reassurance, Rico… all this uncertainty isn’t nice.. I’ve never known anything like it. I’m not back at work until Friday, that is if it hasn’t been shut down..I guess I’d better get used to the 4 walls at home! And the re-runs on Sky haha!
EURO 2020 postponed for a year. That was inevitable. Perhaps it will allow time for the national leagues to completed.
Is your place of work likely to shut down Sue? Coco will be pleased if so… lol
The FA are certainly a bit slow in making a decision. Perhaps they feel that once the Euros are called off, the domestic season can run further into the summer.
Very unlikely, Rico.. it’s a hospital. Aww bless her, she’d come with me if she could!!
So, assuming the season is to be played later on, what will happen to Ceballos, Mari and Soares? Will that be it? Or is there any way of extending their deals? I don’t know about anyone else on HH, but I quite like Ceballos and wouldn’t object to us buying him. I know he’s only played twice, but quite like the look of Mari too.. Soares? I couldn’t tell you 😂😂
Silly me Sue, I think you mentioned that. Tough times.
I reckon contracts will expire when the season ends, if it gets started again which I don’t think it will.
Evening all and thanks Rico.
Amazing how empty the roads were today on my deliveries, I put that down to all the oldies not driving, it`s nice to approach roundabouts without an old woman in front not having to refer to her highway code on how deal with them!…………..they get paralyised if it`s a group of mini roundabouts and also it was easy with no queues in the petrol station as there was no geriatric pensioner slowly walking back to their car after spending half an hour sorting through the sandwich reductions and then to get in the car and have to look in the car handbook for instructions on how to start and drive the vechile!
So Japan think they are going to go ahead with the summer Olympics with spectators in the stadiums!………..well it will be the only Olympics where drug taking will be encouraged. there will be no world records with everyone in recovery and not forgetting the 2 metre rule of no contact that means events like the 100 and 400 relays will mean the athletes using a 2 metre baton for change over and stopping to sanitise it first!
And as for “hows your father”……………the only safe sex will be using a 2 metre long strap on!
Talking of which…………..will Love Island be back for the summer ?…………or will it be changed to Virus Island?…………………with over 70`s strutting about in Budgie Smugglers and Bikinis with bodies that need not moisterising but ironing to get the creases out and the winners being the last couple left alive.
The alternative if we are self isolating for months is Piers Morgan in the morning followed by Lorraine Kelly and if that hasn`t left you with no will to live, Loose Women will finish you off!
Nice to know that geriatric driving is not restricted to the country lanes of the Norfolk Broads . Here we mix them up with boat trailers and bunches of lardy Lycra clad cyclists who find it demeaning to actually use the cycle lanes the building of which has caused disruption for the past few years.
At least now they will have to struggle their way round the bends 2 metres apart.
Evening Rico and the House
Just a short visit.
From tomorrow I know what this geriatrec pensioner will be doing.
He will not be watching Love Island he will be tuning in to
Arsenal Reloaded on Arsenal.com
At 3pm every Wed they are showing the full 90 mins of same
great games from the past.
Tomorrow its the 4-3 win ove Leicester in 2017.
night All
Well thank you Rick, I was all set to watch it but now you’ve leaked the result, you’ve spoilt it for me.
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Only kidding. 😉
Tickets were meant to go on sale tomorrow for the Leicester game ☹ I’ll quite happily sit and watch that 4-3 again, brilliant game!!
If Potter, Rick, VCC and Cicero go on Virus Island I will be hooked!…………….although knowing my mate VCC he will run off with a Palm Tree and marry it! 😆
Is he nuts about nuts ?
New post up now
Cocker…..wish I had married a palm tree. 😉