Morning all.
We’re nearly there. Just Sunday’s match against Everton and next Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Chelsea to go and then we can all walk away from domestic football for a couple of months and boy do we Arsenal fans need a break. Some sunshine with a bit of luck and sand between our toes if that’s what floats your boat.
For the club though, they’ll be little rest. Perhaps a week, maybe two but with so much needing to be sorted out before the new season kicks off, maybe the board members are more likely to be working overtime than playing volleyball on a beach somewhere.
There’s players contracts to sort out, the coaching staff, the Board of Director recruitment if one is coming, new signings and finally, the future of Arsene Wenger if that is yet to be resolved. I’m hoping he hasn’t, not yet. Stan Kroenke is reported to be jetting in for our FA Cup Final which is nice of him to spare his time to watch the club he is the majority shareholder of and apparently, whilst he’s here, he’s to hold ‘crunch talks’ with Arsene Wenger. It’s always polite to tell someone he’s no longer required face to face eh……
With a summer comes transfer rumours. Some outrageous, some silly and some are seriously worrying as Arsene goes all out to find another unheard of with hope that he can turn him into the next Henry, Campbell or Vieira but the chances of such a thing happening these days is slim to none. Harsh some might say but we’ve seen to many promising young footballers arrive at the club, only to stagnate or worse still, regress. Tony Adams has been quoted as suggesting that ‘Arsene Wenger couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag’, a sentence written in his latest book. A sentence which our old defender says probably ensured he’d never return to the club whilst the Frenchman was manager. After second thoughts though, he removed it which is a shame because I don’t think he’s far wrong. I’m not a football coach but when watching the team play, logic would suggest something isn’t quite right and it hasn’t been since Arsene ditched footballing men, to footballing boys. The men could work it out for themselves, the boys needed guidance in order to improve, something which a few clearly didn’t get, otherwise Ramsey wouldn’t still be trying flicks and kicks and Walcott wouldn’t still look like a rabbit in headlights so often when he gets the ball. He’d have learned, or been taught at the age of sixteen when he first arrived how to beat a defender, when to get in behind his man, when to cut into the penalty area and go for goal. He’d be able to drive at defenders knowing full well his pace and strength would give him the advantage but no, he’s been left to stagnate to the point that so much of what he does is habit and it’s not that good.
Aaron Ramsey. The poor bloke looks like he doesn’t know if he’s the Arthur or Martha in midfield and to be honest, he’s neither. One minute Wenger says in the media that he has to be more defensive, then he needs to play with more freedom, then he needs to forget about scoring goals or something like that. No wonder the Welshman has had just the one great season since he arrived.
There’s been others too but if I go through them all, I’d be writing until midday so I’ve used both Ramsey and Walcott as examples as they are still at the club, whilst others have long gone, many not having a great career which in itself perhaps tells a story. I used to believe it when the words ‘Wenger got it right’ were written having offloaded yet another player whose career didn’t really go as he’d hoped it would at his next club, but perhaps the reason they didn’t go on to excel in the game is because like Ramsey and Walcott, they’d already got into bad habits which were far too ingrained in them to be removed.
I was going to throw Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s name into the mix, but with Arsene Wenger having switched to three at the back, the Englishman has hit some good form. Shame the same can’t be said of Kieran Gibbs, although injury hasn’t helped his cause, just as it hasn’t Jack Wilshere..
There’s a nice story related to Arsenal FC in The Mail this morning which relates to last night’s big fund raiser. Can you believe that someone stumped up £24K to have dinner with Arsene as the event raised just under half a million pounds for The Arsenal Foundation.
See, not all is doom and gloom.
Finally, as I mentioned transfers, here’s today’s rumours hot off the press:
Arsenal eye Corentin Tolisso transfer with French midfielder set to quit Lyon to boost his World Cup chances. (Mirror)
Arsenal are determined to do a lot of business this summer, with Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar another on their summer hit-list . Meanwhile, No2 goalkeeper David Ospina says Wenger is willing to let him leave Arsenal for the right price and Giroud wants to move on for the sake of his French career, that is if Wenger signs another striker. (Mirror)
Arsenal have been linked with a summer move for Malaga midfielder Pablo Fornals as Arsene Wenger gets set to re-tool his squad this summer. ( Marca, earlier this month)
What did I say about enjoying the summer break…….
Morning all. Nice one Rico. I think our players have only just got over the Christmas break! Another protracted holiday will end our spell of of a sort of revival! Next season I shall be eager and waiting for the Arsenal to amass 37 points at that point we should have avoided relegation for another year!
Wenger as a,coach Adams may have view, we all do but, having lately played 7 or so games Ams and won none, I don’t think he is in any position to criticise another manager. Where paper bags are concerned Adams should try getting out of his own multiple failures. Great player but a paper bag specialist in failure, as the poisoned dwarf might assert!
As for transfers in, I’ll believe any new recruit when it’s published on the dot com web site. Of that the sort of noises coming from Wenger seem to suggest that he has every intention of carrying on next year. Unless Kronke is coming to sack the old geezer! You’ve got to wonder, haven’t you?
Weather watch. It’s wet…..again…..hardly sand between toes time…….yet!
Stan always comes over at the end of the season doesn’t he Wavy? Certainly when we are in a FA Cup Final.
But I’d like to think on this occasion he’ll be sacking Wenger, well, ripping up his contract offer if there is one….
Joseph should be in government and be put in charge of education.
Isn’t the Internet an interesting but quite worrying place.
It certainly confirms that old saying that ‘there’s more out than in’…
Morning All
Morning Rico
It’s a shame that there isn’t a coaching position for people like Keown, Adams, Dixon, Paul Davis, Vieira, Winterburn etc.
I think, that like Henry, a few of them have found it more lucrative and easier to sit in a TV studio and critique other managers work.
I laugh when I listen to the expertise of Alan Shearer and Gary Neville, baring in mind how hopeless they were in the hot seat.
Vieira is the one who really slipped through the net.
Of course he does Rico, I’d forgotten he comes over to see his tonsurist for the special refitting service, the sort that only the British can offer! Then he goes to the Emirates for a bit of a knock about banter with Sir Chips and his cronies. Wenger is only seen as an afterthought! Then he goes back to the US and seeks the total anonymity that only his vast acres can offer.
And good riddance. His absence is one of his finest qualities imo.
As for politics. No matter what their colour they are all liars and cheats and dedicated to removing us all from our cash! ?
Weather still bleak here!
Morning Kev, Keown is the one I wish we’d kept on board. Still time for Paddy to make a reappearance…
And to sign a few blank cheques Wavy… 😉
What? for his toupees, they’re surely not that expensive!?
Gr8 post rico,
Wouldn’t be a nice change for some of The Arsenal transfer gossip to actually come true. It’s what the supporters, the world over, deserve, but especially those who go to the games week in week out.
I’ve got a good feeling about the FA Cup. I mean let’s be honest, the current manager is the FA Cup King. No one does it better in this competition & The Arsenal is in form?
……also, I reckon Arsene Wenger will call it quits after winning the FA Cup.
Stan ‘The Rug’ Krankey plans to be in London to say goodbye after the win on the 27th.
Ronald Koeman anyone?
You know it makes sense? Koeman with a big war chest could do wonders @ The Arse, & especially @ such short notice with all other potential suitors like Allegri, etc already tied up for next season!
Koeman with Denis Bergkamp as his wing man. Opens it up for other former invincibles to return like the donkey or Martin Keown.
Gnarley Knows?
Actually, donkey wasn’t an invincible was he?
Ok, night all?
Afternoon Rico and All
Big Tone Tells it like it is;
I used to see and chat with Big Tone
a time ago,before the treatment: I thought he was normal.
After the treatment it was like talking to a Zombi.
Anyway…Why would he tell lies about Arsene.
Bouldy is a mate of Tones….Work it out guys.
Or just look at pitch level for 90mins.
Arsene cannot coach through a game: Just look.
Elastic bands,Zips,Water bottles and Puffer jackets.
Never coaching or much passion..Just Tension.
Thats what I see Guys.
Over the last ten years:How many players have improved that much?
Only one transfer I want…
Adams is in Granada (spain) and it’s a disaster.
That’s right JM..big Tone might be an arsenal legend, but when it comes to coaching he is.. to put it politely a big failure.
I was watching his first coaching sessions with Granada, and I thought he must be preparing his players for the next coming Russian circus tour!
It was embarrassing. .and looked even worse as Granada got humiliated and beaten in all games that followed .
However, I kinda agree with him about wenger in play tactics and coaching skills ..
Afternoon all
Massive breaking news. Kroenke has turned down a £1bn offer to buy the club from Usmanov.l.
Afternoon Fred and all. Night Gg, sorry I missed you…
Evening Rico, saw the headline..
If true,are you surprised?
Evening Bt. I thought the ship had sailed but I’m very pleased… excited actually… lol
The BBC and Sky Sports are reporting the bid by the way…
Read the bid was made a while back, no formal answer given but SK had privately told people he was not for selling..
Though the delay with The Rams project may well change that..
Ah, I thought it was recent…
All Usmanov is got to do is to get
Mr Putin to have a word with Tramp…Simple
Rico, i think it was last month from what i read..
Ha ha Fred.
Thanks Bt, he should soon be back with a better offer then.
Rico,could there be others lucking in the background waiting to bid?
There sure could be Bt, we could see a bidding war unfold. Fingers crossed.
But will Cronky sell, part with his cash cow. Perhaps he will but it won’t be until he’s plunged us into total mediocrity. Too late then. We need change now and a sugar daddy who wants to compete at the top table not at the wrong end where the scraps are thrown.
Usminov the Uzbec may be the saviour, then again.
Interesting times.
Everyone has their price Wavy.
The Chinese are coming
Hope you’re right and we get the right SD!
I’m off guys, let’s hope these Usmanov story works out well real soon..
Nighty.
The Chinese are already here kev, have been for over 175 years, it’s just these days they’re bringing their ‘cheque books’ so to speak.
As for Stan, all I can say is…….
“Take your rug & shove it, we don’t want you round here no more,
It’s time you left, after 10 average seasons, you rug wearing American bore.
We ain’t gooner stand in your way as you’re walking out the door,
So take your rug & shove it, we don’t want you round The Arsenal no more”?
Night Rico, has Usmanov not always stated AW must stay and even pick his own successor? That’s a big worry imo.
Kev, what have you ordered?
As for my play thing Tottenham Hotshit. Near enough is good enough for that pimple on an Arsenals’ arse when it comes to PL titles. I mean, if near enough was good enough for Captain Cook, Australia would be Tasmania; Apollo 11 would have landed on Saturn; Scott of the Antarctic would be known as Scott of Macquarie Island.
Evening all and thanks Rico……………………………broken down twice today………….13 1/2 hours on the road and I`m ready to fall a sleep standing up, but before I go to the land of zed, let me big up our own oracle !…………Kelsey !……………he told about Usmanov trying to buy Kroenke shares on Tuesday way before todays news………….well done Kelsey !
Lets hope Stan visit to London is more about selling to Uzzy………………………….I can only see him being like Abramovitch but richer !
BT, it’s always Singapore spicey noodles mate, occasionally with a curry sauce, bloody marvellous.
I see where there has been a £1.7 billion take over bid rejected by Stan. It’s right about now that all those aligned with Hotshit get a reality check about how far behind they really are in the North London pecking order?
Oops! $$ not ££
Let’s hope that usmanovs offer was just testing the waters maybe now he’ll up it a bit and Stan will except please to god let it happen.
The fans in London it really is up to you now to get the kronke out banners going… get the plane’s in the air etc… make as much noise as possible against him… an FA cup final flyby while Stan is there.
How about flying over his ranch and dropping A few thousand leaflets ? that’ll piss him off.
Wenger and kronke have only themselves to blame for this situation the club has stagnated for a decade now with the current best player’s about to leave again. they basically couldn’t give a fuck about the supporters or their concerns all they want is your money And they’ll do what they want with it…
Morning Rico and all. Hi Kel. I would imagine that whether Usmanov succeeds or not is largely a matter of the numbers now.
Morning Kel, Adam and all.
I’d have thought so too Adam, if he’s serious, he’ll be back again with another offer.
The timing is interesting. Perhaps Usmanov is eying the transfer window and looking to next season. Perhaps this is part of the reason Wenger has been so cagey about his future because he knew this was just around the corner.
But, if Stan doesn’t really want to sell it will take a mega offer to get hold of the club.
We can only hope for better things.
Spooky, I had a similar discussion at home yesterday. I’d imagine Dein and Usmanov are still in touch and a message would have got to Arsene Wenger.
No wonder he’s been smiling…
I guess it depends on how serious Usmanov is and he’d have expected to be turned down at first, of that i’m sure.
New post up now.