Daily Bits and Bobs

Walcott/Sterling summer swap? FA taking a risk….

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Happy birthday to Paul Merson who is 47 years old today.

The BBC are showing the FA Cup semi-final between Reading and Arsenal on the 18th April and on the same day, pretty much the same time, Sky sports are showing the Premier League clash between Man Utd and Chelsea….

Whatever happened to the FA Cup weekend when all other fixtures were postponed? Ah, Sky Sports and those who challenge them. With Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd fans all in London around the same time, I hope for the FA’s sake, there’s no trouble.

Oh well, it’s back to a proper 3pm kick-off time tomorrow which is great news for the Arsenal fans with tickets, bad news for people like me who will have to rely on Sky Sports for a later viewing, or the BBC for their three minute focus on our game on Match of The Day. Unless we lose of course, then I bet we’ll get more air time but we’re not going to lose are we…….

Theo Walcott is grabbing a few headlines again this morning…

His wife Melaine says he’s an amazing Dad and The Mail Online suggest he wants a big pay rise if he’s to stay on at Arsenal FC for a few more years. Well I’m one of his biggest fans, although right now he frustrates the heck out of me but a pay rise? He’s having a laugh surely? He’s far from earning the reported £90,000 a week he’s being paid let alone a figure over a £100,000 a week which is being suggested.

Liverpool and Man City are watching on with interest apparently, especially Brenda who fears Sterling might be on his way out of Anfield. Perhaps a summer swap looms large….

I’d imagine Walcott will start tomorrow, as could Tomas Rosicky who returns from injury. Tuesday was a tough match both mentally and physically so we could see a few changes. Not too many, but Alexis certainly needs a rest and maybe Mesut too. Gabriel could also make a return to the starting eleven allowing one of Koscielny or Mertesacker to have a breather.

Mathieu Debuchy and Mikel Arteta are still 2/3 weeks away from returning…

Newcastle have their own injury concerns with manager John Carver admitting he has thirteen senior players who are fit enough to play. Eleven out, either injured or suspended. Makes our injury list look quite small in comparison….

Despite going out of the Champions League this week, Mesut Ozil remains very positive about where we are:

I want to praise the whole team. We dominated the whole game there and gave everything. We couldn’t find that last goal but we can be proud of ourselves.

We knew that Monaco would make it difficult for us by playing defensively. We dealt with that very well and created a number of opportunities, that we unfortunately didn’t convert.

We can be satisfied with that. We’ve got lots of important games coming up, especially in the FA Cup, where we’re in the semi-finals again.

In the Premier League everything is possible and we have to look forward now. We have important games in front of us that we want to be successful in.

Arsenal went out with a victory and he’s right, the team did play well, very well and if they carry on playing that kind of performance until the end of the season, top four, if not higher, will be secured.

And who knows, we might get to keep the big jug for another year too…

Have a good Friday all…

rico

168 thoughts on “Walcott/Sterling summer swap? FA taking a risk….”

  2. tsgh says:

    Well said Ozil! Shirt swap or not Ozil was fantastic for us imho…
    Maybe AW should poach Kondogbia from AS Monaco over the summer seeing as he and Ozil get on and share a love of the party scene. 😉

    Theo; well he wants to play as a striker whilst Sterling likes to hug the touch-line…; I normally defend Theo for being a big game player but as I said during the time theo extended his contract last time round.. he is half the footballer Sterling is…

    Top read btw…

  3. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Nice post Rico. And I do hope we get Sterling. An upgrade on Theo and with a year left the dippers will end up with a couple of eggs in their faces. Ha ha. that would teach them a lesson or two on what to smoke up there in the docklands.

    Imagine having Danny and Raheem on the wings and playing for England as well.

    Yes I would swap Theo and money for Raheem.

  5. rico says:

    Thanks Devil, Ts..

    Sterling – younger, fitter and English.

    Perhaps Kondogbia just wanted to see what an Arsenal shirt would like like on him….

  6. Joe says:

    Morning all, Theo has a very good player within him somewhere not sure is it injuries or he’s attitude for the fact it’s not showing.
    Hope it’s not all about the money.

  7. Brian Price says:

    Hi Rico
    Sterling would not be a good swap for Theo – we need someone who plays as a true winger on the right, Sterling drifts around too much and is probably best on the left or up the centre. I’m sure Theo’s agents will be floating lots of stories like this one and sounding out what other clubs would pay him, but I don’t think anyone in Manchester would pay him more than we would.
    At least the Reading game is on BBC on a Sunday – the Man U game was on Monday because the BBC was already covering the Davis Cup on the Sunday.

  8. tsgh says:

    lol Rico..
    Geoffrey reminds me of Edu or Phillipe CoCu…
    AW was after Kondogbia before he moved to AS Monaco from Sevile…

    AW was just not interested in paying 20 million Euros for him at that time…

  9. eduardo says:

    sterling is no upgrade on Theo, all hype and little end product. sterling is very like Gervinho, beat two or three men then feck up the shot or the pass. Sterling is a Great dribbler, who threatens far more than he actually delivers., 6 league goals from 66 shots this season,

  10. rico says:

    Hard to fathom why we don’t see better from Theo regularly Joe. He’s showed what he’s capable of, he’s just very inconsistent…

    Hi Brian. Can’t see us doing business with the Dippers or them with us tbh, not after the Suarez saga…

    Think they have little choice as it’s the semi-final, had to be Saturday or Sunday…

  13. rico says:

    Eduardo – can’t see it happening so I’m not overly worried about any arrival of Sterling… lol

    Who would you sell Lee?

  15. scottfromoz says:

    I’m with Eduardo here…….Sterling, IMO, is over rated.
    He’s a good player, but not that good.
    I’d let Theo go because of his stupidity in thinking he’s worth a pay rise.
    Morning all.

  16. scottfromoz says:

    Lee, I’d keep Merts, but being in another CB to give us ample cover.
    Arteta, for some games and a possible coaching position.
    The rest I’m with you 100%

  18. tsgh says:

    Eduardo I get your point re no end products but as you may have noted against Monaco, we need proper old school dribblers in tight games…
    A swap is decent; we shouldn’t go out to get him as we have Toral and Serge who can easily replace Theo.. not forgetting Crowley.

    Hi Scott,dev

  20. Lee says:

    I think Sterling will flourish better than Walcott and Merts needs upgrading.
    Cech
    Subotic
    Schneiderlin
    Dybala

    for starters….

  22. tsgh says:

    No one is saying Sterling is Gotze or Pedro but his off the ball movement is far better than Ox or Theo..

    Theo can be world class if he can be bothered as we all know.

    Arteta is already doing a coaching job… he was rumored to have had a chat with AW abefore Man city game re. formation…

  29. tsgh says:

    Lee- we were linke with the Brazillian last January when we needed a striker..

    He is neither a striker/winger or a midfielder… he seems to play anywhere up front but he isn’t clinical enough in my view…
    why?

  33. tsgh says:

    Aranguiz is the one I said you will probably tell me off for being too short. I said he was the DM version of AS17

    He is arguably the best DM or fittest midfielder…

  37. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Stirling would flourish under AW imo. Yes he is an old school dribbler who can hog the ball, but we do need these type of players during certain games. and at least he prefers to hog the wings, Theo begins the game on the wings and ends up on the penalty spot most of the game.

  43. tsgh says:

    Vidal is top player but now too attacking imo…
    Dr Rico reckons Vidal’s knees are gone too..

    I am going to the Brazil-Chile game to see Aranguiz

  45. Dick Swiveller says:

    Just have to say, the last thing we want to do when we’re so close to having a squad which can compete for the league is to gut it. Flamini will be off, possibly Theo too but Arteta is the only DM cover we have at the moment (I expect someone like Schneiderlin in the summer, if not the man himself) and Mertesacker is comfortably good enough to stay, especially considering the intangibles he brings to the club. Wilshere is a weird one though, he might sort himself out over the Summer and reach the level of consistent brilliance tht we’ve only seen in fits and starts for the last 18 months, or he might never do it but he could still contribute as a squad player with someone solid alongside him.

  49. rico says:

    Dick – AW doesn’t like to sign more than 3/4 signings at once (yes, I know 😉 ) so I doubt he’ll let many go during one transfer window, otherwise he’ll have to be very busy and spend a lot of money..

    He’s not keen on doing that either….

  50. Dick Swiveller says:

    I’d be surprised if we see more than 2 significant signings tbh, Schneiderlin or another DM plus an attacker of some kind, maybe an attacking CM but probably a forward. If we all chant loud enough and sacrifice enough goats, we might get Pogba.

  52. Snaparse says:

    Howdy Rico and ts…… I don’t really like aranguiz height good player but imo we really lack height across the midfield we will do with some height and of course I prefer gonalos lol

  53. Dick Swiveller says:

    Just thinking about Pogba and Welbeck combining to destroy them at OT is more excitement than anyone could bear.

  54. kel says:

    Good post rico. Was giving some thought yesterday to who we should let go. …
    Szcznesy, has to go for me just not good enough.
    Flamini, no use what so ever imo.
    Diaby, for obvious reasons.
    podolski, just hasn’t got the workrate we need.
    sanogoals, enough said.

    Those 5 players alone is costing Arsenal in and around 250-270k pwk… if we add Walcott and Arteta that becomes imo around 400k… i personally would like to keep theo and arteta, but if wenger decides to let them go we have some serious wages freed up, to be reinvested.

  57. Dick Swiveller says:

    I think Sanogo has tremendous potential, Drogba-like potential. I’d like to keep him for a few years and see where it goes.

  58. rico says:

    Thanks Kel – that’s always been the problem in the past, sell players but don’t replace properly. If that will definitely change in the summer and any player leaving is replaced by better, then there aren’t many I’d keep… 😉

  59. kel says:

    For me rico i would rather replace quantity with quality lets say wenger releases 6 players.
    Gk, Arteta, flam, diaby, pod, San.

    And brings in for example… cech, schnerdlin, cavani… id say the squad is stronger even tho we’d be lighter in bodies…

  62. Nashua Gunner says:

    Good Afternoon Rico and All

    Good read Rico… I’m all for selling Theo if he demands too much, especially these days when he goes missing. But wait, he hit the post against Monaco when he came in. Sterling over the present Theo but, if selling Theo means putting the money in the bank for safe keeping, then don’t sell. We been down that road so many times When we sell players and replaced them with ones below average or put the money in the bank.

  65. Dick Swiveller says:

    Yep, wasn’t Drogba a bit shit until he hit 25? Can take a while to sort out a bigger body, see also Welbeck, D.

  66. rico says:

    Afternoon Ng, and thanks..

    Agree, take another 3 years on what he’s earning now, or go…. Can’t see any other club paying him more mind you…

  69. Dick Swiveller says:

    It’s fair enough, I thought Anderson would rip it up for United when he signed so my opinion isn’t exactly infallible!

  77. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Afternoon all

    Looking at yesterdays post, it would appear that I am of, how did Wath put it…. “Very limited football knowledge” as I don’t rate Ozil. Fair enough, everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but I will say as loudly as those Ozil lovers crow on about him and the fact that those who can’t see how amazing he is and can only see the obvious and therefore too dumb to see past that, that I don’t like him. Don’t think he does enough, and looks far too disinterested. I would have much rather had an industrious player like Rosicky playing than Ozil. But hey, what do I know…. My limited football brain is clearly about to go into overload thinking about the pretty colours boots come in these days….

    Regarding Walcott. Not good enough and / or doesn’t play enough to warrant the wages he wants. Let him go if he tries to hold the club to ransom. Anyone who gets him should be under no illusion that he will play regularly. His bones are made of dried spaghetti.

  78. Adam says:

    Scholes is trying to earn a few quid out of being a football pundit. The fact that is an unadulterated moron hasn’t yet dawned on those who might employ him. Being a once-great footballer is zero guarantee that you might be capable of original rational thought. As Adrian Durham proves on a daily basis, very low intelligence, spite, a chip on the shoulder and the undeniable ability to talk unmitigated bollocks whenever he opens his mouth are strong selling points in the football punditry business. Not all men are this gifted.
    Many Arsenal supporters (in particular) seem to scour the blogs and the newspapers as well as listening to Talk Shite, fully aware that they are going to be outraged by the comments. They want to be outraged in fact so they can post their indignant response on other blogs. Arsenal of course provide plenty of ammunition for the haters. Wenger, Ozil, Walcott, Jack and Giroud, to name but 5. There’s lots more too. The club’s perceived on-field arrogance, the fact that they are not managed by an egotistical sociopath, their astonishing wealth only highlighted by their well-known tightness. Add their failure to win the Champions League and their excessive desire to rip their fans off at every opportunity plus of course their serial under achievements and the recipe is there for profound criticism. We are seldom underwhelmed in this regard.
    Personally, I don’t take any notice. As I said, it’s just a few sad men looking to make a few quid. If someone offered me £500k a year to sit and criticise I would most likely take it.

  81. Adam says:

    Rico. For a couple of days work? That’d be ok. I could lie on the sofa for the rest of the time and pick at exotic fruit.

  82. Lee says:

    Well I disagree Rocky, I think Ozil is pure class and if we had a CF not a statue in front of him we’d see more from him…
    As for Scholes, never trust a rust!

  85. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Fair enough Lee. But Welbeck and Sanchez can’t be used under the same “Statue” umbrella that Giroud (I take it you mean him who I am also not a fan of but can give credit where its due at the moment as he has been very good for us of late) is. They make so many runs, and not in the same areas as each other (first leg against Monaco aside).

  86. Lee says:

    Sanchez was shite on Tuesday….. I thought Ozil played well, just imagine we could of spunked another £20m+ on Di Maria.

  88. Micko says:

    Afternoon folks,
    I would love to know just how many times “we couldn’t find that last goal” as Ozil put it in all the years we’ve consecutively gone out of the Champions League, think it something like 67 now………zzzzzzzzzzz.

  89. Adam says:

    Rico. I don’t know if Brudder Lee is a fan of exotic fruit as he is something of an exotic creature himself, as you well know. 🙂

  91. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Di Maria has been wank all season. So glad we didn’t. Can’t afford to have him and Ozil on the same pitch. Be like playing with 8 men. Sanchez WAS shite the other day. But the rest of the season? By far our best player over the season. Even the commentators were saying that Ozil was constantly just strolling about, shrugging his shoulders. I don’t think he had a good game at all. But then football is full of opinions.

  92. Lee says:

    Yellow Mangosteen
    Star Apple
    Malay Roseapple
    Pulasan
    Herbert River Cherry
    Giant Granadilla
    Black Sapote are my real favourites

  94. Adam says:

    The foods of the Gods Brudder but none better than a perfectly ripe Alphonso mango. Unfortunately embargoed from these shores last year due to the insecticide employed in India.

  95. Lee says:

    What the fuck do the commentators know? Hypocritical blinkered fucktards generally…. I just think that’s Ozil’s demeanour. Anyways each to their own I guess.

  96. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Generally I agree. But they all say it far too often for it to be a coincidence. And I’m not basing opinions on the likes of Clive Tyldsley of that massive cleft, Andy Townshend… it is just my opinion. I don’t understand why, if he is THAT good, he can only play well when players in front of him make runs. If he is that amazing, make something happen yourself. He shouldn’t have to rely on others all the time.

  98. Lee says:

    I don’t think he does rely on others but to get more out of him you need movement in front of him….
    Ronaldo on Ozil…”Yes, Mesut has made me better. If you have great players around you, your play becomes stronger,”

    “Ozil is fantastic. He can read the game and knows when he needs to play the pass, when he should take a dribble – that’s simply class.

    “We have a really good connection and this is still getting better. I love to play with him, he is fantastic.”

  104. Bob John says:

    Hi all
    Given that Stirling chose the dippers over us when he left QPR I doubt Arsene would go for him. Can’t see many takers for Walnut given the ridiculous opinion of him he or his representatives have. Maybe City could be mugged off again!

  105. Adam says:

    Rocky. Getting there mate. If we beat Newcastle tomorrow I will feel even better and might crack open a bottle of Tizer.

  106. Micko says:

    Knew you’d know Lee !

    rico, reading back I see Lee Dixon had a birthday this week.

    Loved his spats with Ginola, a lot of bad blood between them, remember Ginola coming on for Everton I think with about 20 minutes to go and Dixon taking him out big time !
    They were both asked how they rated each other.

    Dixon on Ginola, he’s a great player but he has to cut out the diving !
    Ginola on Dixon, he’s a great player but he has to stop insulting my Mother !

    Always makes me laugh thinking about it, sure they’re the best of buddies now.

  107. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Tizer? Oooh, you saucy bitch! Used to love a Tizer! Should beat Newcastle, right?

    Lee – Just a quick retort regarding Ronaldo’s comment about Ozil… We all remember being stunned when Hazard said the following:

    “‘Great players inspire you. The best player I played with was Gervi (Gervinho).

    ‘We didn’t have the same qualities, but we both tried to make the difference. He taught me some things. He makes the right runs.’ – Didn’t see TOO many of those with us.

    And in another interview
    “And, in France, Gervinho – his skills with the ball are insane.”. I was always particularly fond of when he fell over the ball, ran while leaving the ball behind, and missing open goals from 3 inches.

    Football will always have strange opinions. We just all think the other persons opinions are the strange ones!

  110. Lee says:

    Bobby P “If I had to compare Ozil with someone I played with in my career, I think I would say that he has a bit of Zinedine Zidane in him, in terms of vision, touch and genius to make others play around him.”

  113. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Totti on Gervinho – “I saw him play 2 or 3 times at Arsenal, but from up close he’s a beast. If he were to score goals too he would be Cristiano Ronaldo and Roma would never have signed him”

  115. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Pires stated “in terms of vision, touch and genius to make others play around him.” Yet everyone has been saying criticism of him is unfair because those around him aren’t playing around him. Can’t have it both ways! Either he makes players play or he doesn’t!

  121. rockyrocastle07 says:

    if he was a good mate while they played together… Why would he then slag him off, given how bum-chummy players all seem to be with each other these days!

  122. Lee says:

    Well he supplied him with loads of assists and he rated him highly….. “The sale of Ozil is bad news for me. He is the player who knows best my movements in front of goal. I am very unhappy about the sale.” We’ll have to disagree on Ozil.

  123. goonered says:

    I say give Theo his payrise… Make it a token (to people that rich anyways) 10K p/w.

    People complain about his football brain but the guy is so productive.
    In Gareth Bales last year, Theo’s last real run of form, I remember seeing Stats that showed Theo was directly involved in as many goals as Bale was. Theo’s were evenly spread between goals and assists whilst Bales were slanted towards goals. One was being raved about and the other questioned. I’m not saying Theo’s better than Bale, far from it. Theo is a valuable player though.

    But, on the proviso he signs a 4-5 year deal but the 1st year he plays for his current terms to make up for being injured for a whole year whilst pocketing his 100K P/W

    Ungrateful little shit.

  125. rockyrocastle07 says:

    And regarding your “what the fuck would a world cup winner know”, did Totti not win the world cup in 2006? Gervinho MUST be like Ronaldo then in that case!

  126. rockyrocastle07 says:

    definitely agree to disagree on this!! Hopefully it won’t be brought up at the next convening of the Curry Club, as life’s too short!

    I’m off too. have a good weekend all.

  127. rockyrocastle07 says:

    although I don’t see Ronaldo’s goals per game suffering too much since Ozil’s departure!!

  132. rico says:

    Goonered – but those days re Theo are a long time ago, he’s got to start doing more when he plays and earn his money..

  133. Joe says:

    On Özil I agree with Lee he is playing brilliantly at the moment my problem is with Sanchez and it’s not scoring it’s the fact he is given the ball away to often during recent matches.

  136. Joe says:

    I agree and we can now give him a rest tomorrow would be great if he was rested for the international break but that’s not going to happen.
    But I am wondering is he just try to much when he is in control of the football but anyway at least put him on the bench tomorrow.

  137. rico says:

    I hope he’s rested tomorrow… I don’t think he tries too much, he just tries to give 100% each game, just sometimes what he tries doesn’t come off….

  139. Joe says:

    Maybe so but I can’t help and feel the the team would be better off if just did the simple things for a while.
    It will do Martinez good to have a spell of first team football for the rest of the season.

  140. rico says:

    I think he suffers a bit like Mesut, he doesn’t always have an outlet..

    Agree re Martinez, no point in sitting on the bench..

  141. Joe says:

    I am now in the camp that thinks we need a new first chose keeper and I think Cech would be the best available In the summer transfer window.
    I said this last night so sorry for repeating myself but if Chelsea want 20m for him we should just pay it.

  144. Joe says:

    I see we have Micheal Jones as the ref for tomorrow’s game bit of a homer and doesn’t give penalties to the away team.

  145. Micko says:

    Joe, he wasn’t worth 10 million in his prime 10 years ago, I’d take him on a free to cover Ospina but wouldn’t give the Chav’s a penny for their sloppy seconds.

    Still has me reaching for the sick bucket when I think of Yossi Benayoun ! Big club, small mentality syndrome, just makes us a laughing stock, why a club like AFC has to do loans has me dumbfounded !

  146. Joe says:

    Loans I agree Micko we should not do them didn’t we try it again with Ba in 2013 when we got Özil the septic dwarf pulled the plug.

  148. Joe says:

    I am in moderation is it because I used Micko in my comment 😉
    On Cech I don’t know of a better keeper we have a realistic chance of getting and he is better than either of our goalkeepers.

  149. Micko says:

    Just like Ospina is doing rico, by all means get him on a free and make him fight for his place.

    Safe Hands was a legend and a giant of a keeper for us but was prone to getting lobbed, his achilles heel if you like, I was there in Paris that night, Koeman in the World Cup still bugs me, I’d like to see Ospina make the keepers spot his own and I think he will.

  152. rico says:

    I worry about his height Micko.. If there was a sniff if a chance De Gea wants to move to London, he’d be my choice..

    Cech will never be because of the dwarf….

    Ospina over Ches though, any day of the week, he’s done really well…

  157. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Hello!
    TW was spent the best years of his carreer with us.
    He is not old enought but his style of playing and their own characteriths, are very difficult to improve, very difficult to staying at the some level after the 25th-26th years old.
    Moreover, he is not a strong player. With the injuries, his performance has decrese a lot. Now he is fit and I must see one/two more goals for knowing if my predictions are right.
    Sterling? I think we have a new “Coquelin” on loan in Spain.
    Szesc is our best keeper.

  158. Micko says:

    Looks like she’s thrown the towel in on us Joe, say what you want about wath but he’d never desert us like this !!!

    Nite Gooners.

  160. potter says:

    Wellington Silva I believe might replace Theo. It’s too media friendly to do Sterling attachment. ………..btw learning to walk again.

  165. allezkev says:

    Morning All

    Morning Rico/Adam

    Potter, does that mean that you can restart your Zumba classes…
    Old twinkle toes…

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