Morning guys.
Typical isn’t it, Bank Holiday weekend and it’s dark, grey and pretty miserable yet just a few days ago, this weekend was forecast to be hot and sunny, with temperatures higher than the early May Bank Holiday which was freakishly tropical.
It’s Champions League Final weekend too, today in fact and as much as I know I should be supporting the English team taking part, I can’t. I detest Liverpool with a passion and will be routing for Real Madrid. The Final should be entertaining though as neither side are the best at defending. I’m desperately trying to think of a reason to justify me willing Real Madrid on but I can’t, not even having a close Spanish friend works as she’s from Barcelona and I suspect she and her family will be hoping for a Liverpool victory. Theydetest Real as much as we do the Toots. Still, it’s Real Madrid for me…
One day we might get to another Champions League Final but next time, win it and I’d say we’ve more chance of that happening now Arsene Wenger has departed. He just couldn’t master European football could he? Even his Invincibles side, as great as they were, didn’t get to lift the big trophy. Oh well, one day maybe.
For now though, my guess is the focus for the club and new man Unai Emery is all about improvement. Improving the players he has, improving training and tactics and turning us into a more organised and disciplined team on a match day. A return to the top four and Champions League football will be the minimum target I’d imagine, that and winning the Europa League. Emery has a history of winning those.
As he said in his first interview, he believes in the players already at the club and he knows a lot about all of them already. A sign of a man who likes to do his homework. Whether he meant it or not remains to be seen but it was never likely that he’d publicly knock any of those he wants gone if there are any. It’s tough for him as pre-season will be short but even so, by the time the season kicks off, I expect to see one or two departures, just as I’d expect to see a few additions too. In defence and midfield at least.
Aaron Ramsey is one decision to be made as he heads into his last year of contract. He might want out which if is the case, there’s little the club can do other than get as much money as they can for him. If he wants to stay and Emery wants that too, get him tied down to the club and move on. There’s Jack Wilshere too, although the midfielder holds all the cards there as he’s out of contract in just a few weeks time.
Between now and the 9th August, the back pages are going to be full of rumours linking many players to Arsenal, yes, even though we’ve only got a £50 – £70 million budget which in itself is probably poppycock and the latest are as follows:
- Arsenal are in talks to sign Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free when his contract at Juventus expires this summer, with the right-back among Unai Emery’s targets. – The Guardian.
- Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan Kroenke has already increased Unai Emery’s summer transfer budget by £20m to £70m and the club will look to tempt Sampdoria midfielder Dennis Praet to come to England rather than join Juventus. – The Telegraph.
- Arsenal remain interested in Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri following the appointment of new head coach Unai Emery. – Sky Sports.
- Arsenal are interested in signing Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini. – Sky Italy
- RB Leipzig winger Emil Forsberg is linked to Arsenal after impressing last season in Germany.
- Max Meyer could still end up at Arsenal for free having played his last game for his current club. – Everywhere.
The two which seem to be gathering more pace than other are Forsberg and Lichtsteiner. The latter seems odd to me considering his age but apparently he was still cutting it at Juve last season so hey, what do I know. He’d certainly bring a lot of experience into the dressing room. Perhaps Emery sees him as a future coach at the club?
Apparently something’s been going on on Twitter with Fosberg and somewhere along the line, Granit Khaka has liked a tweet linking him to Arsenal, or was that ‘like’ for Lichtsteiner – I can’t keep up, anyway, I’d certainly love to see a proper winger in the team. Is Forsberg one? I’m not so sure as he does like to drift into the middle for his club then use the overlapping fullbacks but I guess a lot of that is down to has his manager sets his tactics up. He missed a lot of last season through injury but if those days are over, he’ll be one to watch for Sweden in Russia. Well, that’s if by then he’s an Arsenal player.
Mind you, I quite like Marcel Sabitzer myself…..
Enjoy your weekend guys….
Morning Rico and all. Who will you be cheering on tonight?
I’m a Real man myself. 🙂
Morning Adam, I’d have thought you’d have known the answer from the post. Tsk tsk… ?
Good post Rico Only reason I am supporting Pool is that Manure fans will be really passed if Pool win. So anything to pissue off Manure fans. That will do for me.
Pissed not passed bloody autocorrect
Rico. I was throwing the question open to the House. I know your feelings on the matter. 🙂
Thanks Paddy, even knowing that is not enough for me. Lol
I want to see a dejected and tearful Liverpool team in a few hours time.. ?
Nicely done Adam.. ?
I’d imagine everyone knows my thought on the Scousers by now. Lol
Kev feels the same about them too. Horrid club. It’s a close call between them and the Totts but the latter just nick it..
Good win for Real will do me nicely ,
Can’t really find anything nice to say about that bunch of scarf waiving , song singing , media loved scousers I hope the ones that are stuck at the airport get there and they storm the gates as they always do and find the Ukranian police less than hospitable.
it’s already going off in the streets apparently but according to the Liverpool Echo it’s the Ukranians that are causing all of it.
Good Morning Rico and all.
Interesting to see the report that Kroenke has upped the Summer transfer budget by 20 illion to 70 million according to The Telegraph.
I think there is a misconception about this 50 million fiqure,(or whatever it is )and is misleading .. Every deal is different and usually when we buy or sell, the payments are staged over a number of years, rarely does one pay in one lump sum.So in theory a 50 million budgert could buy a number of players, a few or just one
.
A £50m annual budget with player amortization (accountancy practice to spread transfer fee over duration of contract) can technically mean that 5 players each worth £50m can be bought (£250m transfer fee) but shown on the accounts as £50m spent! (Each player having 5 year contracts so costing £10m each per season)
I think this clarifies the so called war chest.
Real Madrid for me, can’t stand Liverpool.
And Fulham to beat Aston Villa.
Happy St Thomas day!!!
Ah yes, let’s not blame the Scousers, they are goody two shoes… not!
Hi Kelsey, long time and all that. You pleased about Emery?
I think they will Kev, Villa are rubbish at Wembley.. 😉
Arsenal are interested in Sergio Rico, I might have to get a shirt. 🙂
Crikey, that’s come around quickly Lee. Happy MT Day, good omen perhaps should Liverpool lose out yet again on this day..
He’s a goalkeeper Rico ?
Number 1 Kev, how fitting… 😉
Reading between the lines Rico, I think Emery is a middle ground choice.The Artetas,Vieras have no real managerial experience (excluding Viera’s N.Y current experience) and Allegri who would my choice wanted a bigger say in things and would have cost Kroenke a lot more.Under no false illusion as there i so much work to be done and I expect a sale or two to boost the coffers.Emery doesn’t like twin striker usualy but he is adaptable and more hands on than Wenger in his last few seasons.I wonder if Perez will come back, but he isn’t playing ell back at Deportivo on loan.
Hopefully the new Head Coach can improve the main area and that is keeper and defence.Cech and Ospina have one year left so that is a priority. Emery likes Xhaka, I think he is a liability. Ramsey could be sold but he might be integral in Emery’s plans.Jack is in the middle of the devil and the deep blue sea.
I think we have to be patient.
G’day Rico and all the rest of you.
One name omitted from the “Linked with Arsenal” list is the Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno. If half the rumours are true our defence and midfield will be significantly strengthened, add to this some judicious coaching and I think we could being he verge of becoming competitive again.
Champions League final is looking a bit like the U.S. Presidential elections, “Anyone but Hillary” in this case it’s anyone but Liverpool, a sentiment with which I am in full agreement.
Hi Kelsey, nice to hear from you, hope all is well. I take it the move to Norfolk never happened.
Not overwhelmed then Kelsey. I’m quite excited tbh, really looking forward to seeing what a modern day coach can do with the squad which was kind of failing. Perhaps what Emery says and thinks about certain players are two different things and I guess he’ll want to see how they adapt to him and his ideas before making up his mind on them.
Interesting times, I think we can be sure of that..
Afternoon Cicero, a yes, I forgot him, oops… lol
No Rico,
I just think that the club went middle ground and I can see why.He is now Head Coach not manager and I sincerely hope it works.
Me too Kelsey, especially if he can turn our players into better ones which perhaps he can with a bit of coaching/guidance and different views.
I detest Madrid (brrrrr !!!) and Liverpool (brrrr!!!!)
So, I support the referee
Having watched, and thoroughly enjoyed, the Saracens v Exeter game I’m now into the Championship playoff final between Aston Villa and Fulham. I read earlier that without the money Villa would get by gaining promotion they will be in serious financial difficulty. That being the case I decided to root for The Villains. Then I realised that John Terry was playing centre back for them, at that point I immediately switched allegiance to The cottagers.
A strange nickname for a club to choose as before the legalisation of homosexuality, cottaging had decidedly unsavoury connotations. ?
Fulham get the £160 million for being promoted then. Top four for them if they spend it all.. ?
rico they have very young team and a very good coach. .dodgy looking owner though ??
Hopefully the team in the white shirts do it again
Common los blancos. .
evening all
Agree Kk, play nice football from what I saw. At least it means another london fixture.. 😉
Once the Fulham owner has bought Wembley Stadium, will he move the club there from Craven Cottage?
A boat trip on the Thames next season Rico,,,,
Evening all,,
A long one for me though Bt.. lol
No idea sorry Cicero..
All square at halftime, both teams have lost an important player due to injury Carvahjal and Salah. I think Liverpool will really miss Salah, Real will cope much better.
Evening all and thank you Rico.
Royal Madrid for me on St Thomas Day………………….only going home and finding their garage full of stolen hub caps has been looted will be more depressing for Scousers than a loss for them tonight !
Still sunny here, how you lot dont move to this country is beyond me seeing as you dont need a passport !
🙂
Also good to see Fulham win the play off final and put Steve Bruce`s nose out of joint !……………………although I bet John Terry swapped his shirt just so that he could sneek in and join Fulham`s celebrations !
Who the fcuks Marcel Sabitzer ?
Has google not reached your county yet Lc?
What a goal by Bale!
Just sent a carrier pigeon and found out he looks like Xhaka`s twin !………………….honestly never heard of him, not exactly a hose hold name !……………………is he as good as Bale ?
🙂
Oi Rico, this is a country not a county…………………was country before a county…………………..before it was invaded !………………………….although that is what the farmer next door told me !
🙂
Cornwall is a county on England’s rugged southwestern tip. It forms a peninsula encompassing wild moorland and hundreds of sandy beaches.
Sounds like you have been reading from a tourist brochure, Rico !…………………….
😆
Wikki Lc..
Great night for football. ?
Night guys.
Liverpool the Snowflake team!
A photo of some crying Scousers would be nice …………………………
😆
Bet Scousers think 26th May is the devils day or jinx day or something !………………..they will probably think it is on a par with Friday the 13th and stay at home in the future………………………..our cars will be safe……………………26th May …………………..Car Safety Day !
Lost the League on 26th May 1989 and exactly 29 years later lose the European Cup, how we laughed. ?
Morning all………………………..I know we have to give Dick a chance, but I`m curious to know how any of you would feel if it were Wenger rumoured to be trying to sign the 34 year old Lichsteiner on a freebie ?…………………………with CFG probably going to spend well in excess of £100M, I`m sure some would be going bananas !……………………………………..talking of bananas, what a goal by Bale !
Morning Rico and all. Did you enjoy the game last night?
Good question Lc but with one manager you know is because he’s tight, perhaps the other is looking for experience, leadership qualities both on and off the pitch and the trophy laden career the 34 year old player has had.
Also, it’s highly unlikely that this signing, should he arrive, will be Emery’s only signing.
Morning Adam.
I loved it, best comedy film I’ve watched in a while…
I thought that, after Ramos put paid to Salah, Liverpool looked like they were down to 10 men.
Me too.. one man team eh… 😉
New post up now…