So after Kosceinly suffered an injury scare midweek, Theo Walcott suffered a real one last night.
No sooner had the England game got going, San Marino goalkeeper, Simoncini totally wiped Walcott out when trying to win a 50/50 ball, one which Roy Hodgson didn’t like, one bit!
If I described it as reckless I’d be kind. It was a fierce challenge. I don’t believe there was any malice but it’s put Theo Walcott in hospital. It was a very poor challenge.
We have to wait to find out the extent of his injury. It doesn’t look good. If your goalkeeper does that, you’re lucky to have your goalkeeper on the field and not concede a penalty.

The tackle was bad and one of the reporters said:
If you want a comparison, think Harald Schumacher/Patrick Battiston from the 1982 World Cup – yes it’s just as bad!
After a few minutes, Theo appeared to be a bit more ‘with it’ but no risk was taken. He left the field for a precautionary check-up and Lennon replaced him.
Theo went straight off to hospital experiencing breathing problems and suggestion is he was coughing up blood too. It’s feared he has broken one or more of his ribs, we should know more later today.
Hopefully it will be just bruising, enough to keep him out of Englands game on Tuesday, but not enough to stop him being part of the squad to face Norwich a week today.
Other than that, England went onto win 5-0, a scoreline which should have been 15-0 and I only watched the second half!
Why do I mention that, well after the game, sudden football expert Adrian Chiles with his little crew of Lee Dixon, Roy Keene and Gareth Southgate were talking about how England really should have beaten San Marino by many many more goals and just how poor they were. During the game, one of the commentators sarcastically said, ‘there is another half to this pitch, the grass has grown three feet up there by now!’
That was because all the San Marino players were camped in their own half, mostly in their own penalty area, trying to prevent England from scoring. Roy Hodgson and a few of the players said similar after the game about how hard it is to play against sides to have ten men behind the ball.
We experience that most weekends….
One good thing happened in the game though, and that was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scoring his first international goal, was a good one too.
Elsewhere there were easy victories for Germany and Spain. Wales defeated Scotland 2-1 and Belgium also won with ease. That just about covers most of our players.
That’s about it for another day, other thanย Bordeaux are ready to take Chamakh off our hands, when he’s finally realised his days with us are finished…
Let’s hope we get some good news about Theo later…..
Have a good one….


New Post up….
Morning all.
What a bright, sunny but very cold morning. The first frost, lovely…
Falcao to Chelski ๐
Keeping players fit for the majority of the season, remains the biggest problem for Arsenal, imho.
Transfer speculation will rumble on right up to January and beyond.
But I think we have a strong squad as it stands.
We just need to keep them on the pitch.
With up to 5 players due to regain fitness over the next week or two, I cannot see where Wenger needs to dramatically strengthen?!
Midfield runneth over, defence is strong with Koz, Sagna, Miquel and even Djourou available.
Up front, maybe another striker, but that could spell the end for Afobe and/or possibly Campbell?
Goalkeeper is another area that could be in need of attention, but not until next summer possibly???
I don’t want to see another ordinary foreign goalkeeper brought in to keep all the others company
Falcao….
Was he ever a realistic proposition???
Somehow, I don’t think so, not at the kind of fees being quoted.
Tbh any Arsenal linkage to Falcao, I have to say, that I found preposterous as Wenger would never entertain the kind of fees Atletico Madrid required for his services…
Llorente, now that’s a different matter!
Ericksen had, I believe, made it clear that he didn’t want to play in England at this time.
So, no shock there…
And is he ‘that’ good anyway?
AVB wants Erickson (Ajax) on January
Chelsea wants Falcao on January (60 million euros…)
You too Dg, have one for me ๐ Nighty
Jimario & Rico have a marvelous evening. I’m off to grab a cold one on behalf of HH.
C U 2morrow.
That’s me done for the day, you all have a good Saturday night…
‘Til tomorrow guys and gals…
Night all…
I am hoping they are just bruised…. Maybe now he’s back at the club they will tell us the extent of his injury…
Then again…
Hopefully find out more over next few days, broken ribs can be a bugger though, nothing but rest can repair, even sneezing hurts like hell
Its not been disclosed yet jimario… not sure why
ARSENAL supremo Ivan Gazidis admits ever-increasing TV money risks alienating highly-paid players from fans ever further.
Yet he left the stage at the Leaders in Football conference before he could be asked any questions concerning his own spiralling pay packet.
Gazidis said: โThe introduction of money and the extraordinary growth of revenues that we see in the game is a fantastic success story.
โBut it clearly creates a lot of issues in terms of how our fans are able to feel that theyโre still connected with those players who are earning enormous amounts of money.
โThatโs something we have to continue to work on to make sure we can make fans still feel proud of their football clubs.โ
But what about highly-paid executives?
That was the question nobody was able to ask, after Gazidis had finished discussing the future of football with Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre, Paris Saint-Germain general manager Jean-Claude Blanc and AC Milan organising director Umberto Gandini.
Some Arsenal fans raised eyebrows recently when the club announced that former Major League Soccer chief Gazidis enjoyed a basic pay hike of 36 per cent to ยฃ1.366million last season, while his total package rose 24 per cent to ยฃ2.15m.
And to think they say that Americans do not do irony!
Any news on how bad theo injury is?
Anyone home?
Just off for a snack….
back shortly….
See you Micko, have a good one…..
Night Micko. And again I apologize. I’m a princess palm with her five sisters. That should make it even. ๐
Right guys, it’s Saturday evening, i’m off for my feed, catch ya tomorrow.
Ha ha Micko, what about the ‘Moo Police’ ๐
I don’t know that either Micko, surely he is considered to be better than Mannone and to be fair, both have a weakness with crosses….
Sorry Micko couldn’t resist. Had to Google caber tossing and it launched me straight on urban dictionary.
Keeps the goats, sheep and peacocks happy I guess and don’t worry I haven’t reported him to the rooster police before you ask.
I didn’t even notice Micko doing that ๐
You are harsh on our young man Dg ๐
Fair dews dutch, point taken.
What’s the story with Fabianski, is he injured or out of favour ?
England vs Poland this week, fit and he should start.
How fab Micko, I am envious….
Micko that’s realy unnecessary info. We don’t wanna know you’re texting while taking a dump.
Micko that’s realy unnecessary info. We don’t wanna know your texting while taking a dump.
Rico maybe Wenger wants him in while he’s still hasn’t got a clue. Or to tell Theo, while he still remembers, what a migraine feels like.
Caber tossing Dutch.
rico, woke up to a load of cows outside my kitchen window this morning, the farmer next day must have got himself a small herd, used to seeing them every day but not that close.
Micko it’s from the days they threw telephone poles for sport. I believe it is called, tradition or something.
Theo has been ruled out of Englands game on Tuesday…
He has returned to Arsenal….
Any excuse Dg ๐
Its ok for Andy Murray though Micko…
Kev, they used to have wrestling on at Brent Town Hall when I was a kid, I think it’s just used for Indian weddings now.
Dutch, anyone would tell ya William Wallace was just a big girls blouse, can’t understand men running around in skirts.
Good movie, inspired a lot of kids and dads to wear make-up at England international games. Even Wain Wooney got into it.
a11730, at least he will have plenty of time to talk about it ๐
I think I saw that one Dg… I like MG
Rico It’s where Mel Gibson got his inspiration for Brave Heart, I believe.
Lets hope Theo is ok and recovers well. Not being harsh,but trust this body blow knocks some sense into him. He then signs his 5 year deal. Sorry to be cold. Have a super weekend mates.
Come on you Reds
Thanks Tsgh and hello to you ๐
Nice picture DG…. ๐
Unscrupulous body check, Rico. Dutch commentators were appalled by it as well. Unhealthy determination to avoid a goal that’s gonna come anyway.
Check your inbox Rico
Hi there everyone. Better late than never…
WROAAAAARRRRRRR I’M GONNA COLLECT A BAG OF BONES. THEO WALNUT YA BETTER WATCH OUT I’M COMIN FOR YOU AND YOUR FREE TICKETS TO A KISS CONCERT.
http://deadspin.com/assets/resources/2008/03/Warrior.jpg
Ha ha Ak, you bumped into stars recently?
No Rico, i’ve never heard of any of them.
But then, i’m just a youngster… ๐
No Ak, the old days of wrestling, you must have been in your 50’s ๐
Dg – I wasn’t pretty was it..
http://www.visimag.com/shivers/images/h97_cont_bayl.jpg
What about WWE wrestling???
Once seen, never forgotten…
I reckon Mick must be a fan of The British Bulldog…
In all seriousness. Shouldn’t you wear ice skates to get away with such ‘punk-rock’ violence?
Ah, silly me, course he did JW, and a fine Catweazle is was too…..
Didn’t he play Wurzel Gummage Rico?
Jon Pertwee Micko?? ๐
Afternoon guys, peace at last ๐
Have a fab holiday Will, but I suspect you are long gone now…
Rico, look no further than Catweazle !
The Ox and his ole man have re-written the history books, the only Father and Son combo to both play and score for England, not bad eh !
Schumacher went on to be Battiston’s best man at his wedding, this after he almost killed him !
hello there?
How is Theo?
Kos is ok.
Bob ‘clay pigeon’ Spencer and Jimmy Woo Hong ‘clasp-knife’ brings back fictitious memories too. Ahhh those were the days. Unrivalled at the time.
Afternoon all.
How about Nigel ‘ruff neck’ McGee, Stevie ‘jackboot’ Williams or Keath ‘gin croak’ Hoyte?
trap out!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tally o’kaye….what about him? Afternoon all….
Bye JW take it easy mate.
Off for now,
Back tomorrow.
Keep the Faith.
Blimy you have the memory like Rico. thats them.
Bye Will, somewhere warm i hope.
Safe flight Will.
Hi guys! I’m off to board my plane. Hope Theo is ok.
Hi Steve,
Much better thanks,
Bert Royale and his younger brother Vic Faulkner, but it was all rigged of course.
Perhaps i could have worded that better smudge
Hi JW hope your well mate yeh those names come flooding back talking about tag who were the two brothers tag team supposedly good guys
Steve I thought you were a bloke ?
Hi Smudge glad someone likes them ๐
I’m a bit like that myself when they say positive things about us i handle them well .its the downers that get on my tits.
Morning all,
Thanks for the write up Rico,
Like you I only watched the second half, at times I thought I was watching The Keystone Cops as the England players kept tripping over each other in their anxiety to see who could make the highest number of unecessary passes.
It looks like Hodgson has a job on his hands to get the captains armband off of Wooney, it’s the only time I’ve seen a player sit on the bench still wearing it.
I don’t like to see any player get injured but at least the FA will have to pay Walcott’s wages until he’s fit again, so that should save a few quid.
SP1,
Les Kellet was always good for a laugh, Mick McManus’s tag partner was Steve Logan, other stalwarts of the grappling game were Billy-Two-Rivers and Johhny Black Kwango, not sure we could call him that now, it was all stitched together by the great commentator Kent Walton. Those were the days!!
Morning stevie enjoy your posts. Think this could be our year .That Kwik fit goon coud be on to to something.. I never tyre of his opinions such as his. ๐
I have to pop off now, family coming for lunch so best I get busy…
Back late afternoon unless I can sneak on later ๐
Have a good day all….
Up for a bath catch you all later.
Morning smudge – i think we need more than that to start celebrating ๐
๐ Steve – no, no news from Sky Sports, just hope nothing too serious…
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1369156-theo-walcott-injury-updates-on-arsenal-stars-rib-injury
the latest i could get
You can tell it was an Arsenal player injured last night, not a word on Sky Sports. Had that been Wooney, it would be all over the news….
Hiya Smudge, you made me chuckle last night ๐
Thats the kiddie rico your Dad taught you a lot ha ha. any news on Theo
The last time Arsenal scored five against spurs and won the cup before 2004/05 was 1978/79. The first trophy after 1978/79 was 1987 eight years โฆyeas eight years . So if history repeats itself them eight years after 2004/05 will be a trophy season. Yes guys we can almost celebrateโฆ this season is the year!!!
This was posted by a gezzer called Kwik Fit on Le Grove last night.
I tell you what that guy could just be wright!
Morning Rico et all!
Les Kellett Steve ๐
I just watched it on TV, usually with with Nanny and Grandad, loved it ๐ My fav was the BigD…
The tag was good too, so really fit guys, and very athletic…
Something Kellit i think his name was
Steve Logan Jackie Pallow Kendo Nagasacky and my favorite that i can’t remember his name a little guy who had a little body swerve, i used to go and watch them at Edmonton Green many years ago.
Ha ha Steve, I watched him – and Jimmy Breaks, Big D, and the haystacks and many others ๐
Your Dad must have told you about him Rico ๐
Morning Steve, I’m not sure even Rooney would have got up after that tackle.
Mick McManus, now you are going back, 3.30 on a Saturday afternoon ๐
Morning all nice one rico,
Although Theo was taken out as Micko said last night with what looked like “for those that remember him” a Mick Mc Manus body slam, i still feel that Theo is a bit lightweight to be Arsenals centre forward, speed and pace is great but you do need to be robust as many centre backs will come in contact with you as well as stupid keepers. Hopefully Theo will not be to damaged to much, but for me he needs to stay protected on the wings and let the tougher guys do their job in the middle
Morning vida and all…
I hear Ramsey had a bit of a cracker for Wales last night, amazing what taking the armband can do… Good for Aaron and good for Arsenal….
First Post!!!
Straight from Toronto 4:43am