Morning all.
It didn’t quite work out for England last night in their last match of the group stage as they fell 1-0 to Belgium. Well, that’s how the media will no doubt see it as they wait for to break their scathing headlines about how England failed yet again. It’s what they do isn’t it? Pump them up as if they’re number 1 in the world and then when things go wrong, bang, they’re on them like a tonne of bricks. The bigger picture of that loss though is England have now secured an easier path to the final, on paper at least. Southgate made many changes but even so, there was no room in the starting eleven for Danny Welbeck.
When Arsenal signed the big English striker, I was pleased but it seems that no sooner he made his debut, the injury curse hit him and since then, it’s been a bit of an uphill struggle. At the same time, his England career has taken a bit of a dive too. From being one of the first on the team sheet, he now appears to be a bit part. So much so, I wonder why Gareth Southgate even bothered to pick him. I sure as heck couldn’t see why Vardy was selected ahead of him last night. The one thing Welbeck does really well is work, he never gives up and tracks back at any and every opportunity. I know that’s not his role and he’ll always be judged on his goal scoring numbers and assists and perhaps that’s justified. My guess is that there’s a conversation between him and Unai Emery to take place when he returns to training and if the Englishman.
Looking up his appearance stats for his club, I was surprised to see he made 43 appearances in all competitions last season, 28 of those in the Premier League. He scored ten goals too, half of which were in the league. Funny enough though, the only goals of his which sticks in my mind is the one against Leicester a couple of seasons ago when he came off the bench in the dying seconds to head home an Ozil free-kick to win us the game. We were the only club to beat the eventual league champions that season, both home and away. That season still irks, it could have been ours. No, it should have been ours! But what next for Welbeck? Will he stay, or will he go as Emery makes his changes? The ‘home grown’ rule might come into play when any decision is made on him, the Europa Cup too.
Back to the World Cup, the group stage is over and the knockout stages begin tomorrow. Here’s a full list of the fixtures.
Saturday 30 June
France vs Argentina – Kazan, 3pm
Uruguay vs Portugal – Sochi, 7pm
Sunday 1 July
Spain vs Russia – Moscow (Luzhniki), 3pm
Croatia vs Denmark – Nizhny Novgorod, 7pm
Monday 2 July
Brazil vs Mexico – Samara, 3pm
Belgium vs Japan – Rostov-on-Don, 7pm
Tuesday 3 July
Sweden vs Switzerland – St Petersburg 3pm
Colombia vs England – Moscow (Spartak), 7pm
On paper, there should be some cracking football on show in a few of those fixtures but to be honest, after a great game between Spain and Portugal in the opening week, I personally don’t think this World Cup has that exciting, apart from Germany getting knocked out of course. Fingers crossed it improves now and when one considers the players on show for their respective countries, it should do.
On the transfer front, if the media are to believed, the three signings we’ve been linked to for ages could be announced on Sunday as it’s the 1st July. That’s Sokratis, Torreira and Banega. Could be four if Soyuncu joins as well.
Have a great weekend guys…
“If the media are to be believed”….
That’s a bit of a stretch Rico, you been on the vape? ?
Afternoon Gooners, good post Rico.
Danny Welbeck or Lucas Perez, could be a straight choice between the two for Unai, unless of course Arsenal decide to send Nketiah out on loan for a season to complete his education?
As you say Rico, Danny being English helps the balance of the squad of 25, as it stands Arsenal currently have 16 place filled in their allotted 17 foreign players, leaving only 1 spot available. So if Torreira, Sokratis and Banega are signed at least 2 of those have to go.
There is some wiggle room as Koscielny doesn’t have to be registered as he won’t be fit until December/January, then there’s some players who can be cut from the 17 like Ospina and Campbell (but not Monreal, that rumour is pure bollocks).
Afternoon Kev, what’s vape? 😉
As for England, Columbia are going to be tricky, we underestimated Uruguay 4 years ago and got our arses smacked, despite those morons in the media I think that most England fans realise at this stage that there isn’t an easy game, as Belgium will discover against Japan.
I like Vardy, but he needs a proper service from midfield, but Dier, Loftus-Cheek and Delph was painfully unable to provide it. The only service for our strikers came from the wing-backs in general although Rashford did some good work when he dropped deep. Finishing is always going to be an issue for this England team with Kane being the stand alone quality finisher.
Jones is a very lucky boy to be in this squad, he lacks in so many ways, I personally would have taken the Burnley centre-back with the Polish name instead. And Pickford is showing a worrying trait of repeating that stand-alone Peter Bonetti performance of 1970, sends shivers down my spine. Let’s hope he sorts his head out pronto.
Welbeck looked ok when he came on, I mean he almost scored, he’s a useful guy to have around and tbh I think he’s a safer bet for a goal if we are in trouble than any of Rashford, Stirling or Vardy, but it seems he’s No.5 in the pecking order.
Thanks Kev.
I can’t see Monreal going this summer, he’s Spanish after all… 😉
Surely there’ll be a number of players sold on if we get the four players we’re linked to. Chambers and Holding need a good pre-season imo, but home grown is on their side too although it shouldn’t be and might not be if Nelson, AMN etc are named in the first team squad. Ospina and Cech could both yet go too and IF, although it’s a big one, Macey or Martinez are to be backup for Leno, both are home grown I believe. Macey obviously is. I can’t keep up with the ruling.
“What’s vape?”
You’ll have to ask Mr Costco, Rico? ?
Chambers about to sign a new contract according to the BBC, shows what I know eh.. 😉
Holding signed one in May too which I forgot so I guess they are both staying…..
Yes Martinez is home grown Rico
This pre-season is going to be very important for the likes of Holding, Chambers, Mustafi etc, I hope that Emery gives most of our squad a fair crack, as just because Wenger couldn’t utilise them it doesn’t necessarily follow that Emery cannot?
Reiss Nelson needs to get his future sorted out asap.
Mr Costco. 🙂 Kev.
I think he will one way or another, either in the league, Domestic Cups and Europa, certainly in the early rounds.
Can a manager name two different squads for the domestic and European competitions, or can only players registered in the league squad, play in Europe too? My head tells me they can but I’m not sure..
I think you could be right Rico, I think that the european squad can be different from the domestic squad, but in most cases those squads are the same.
Maitland-Niles-Niles is young enough not to be counted in the senior squad so he can be included in the U21’s alongside Mavropanos, Willock, Bielik, Zelalem etc.
Afternoon Rico and the House.
You have written some excellent posts since I last commented.
And I must say Kev is right up there with you.
As I see things if we sign the players (who are said to be signing on the 1st)
we are linked with there are 7 or 8 who will be sold or leave on loan.
Kev I think you will find that Mavropanis must be included in the 17 group of
foreign players . Because he was 20 when we signed him he cannot get the 3 years
that are required to be home grown. That is how I see it
Rico there is nothing in the rules from stopping us from playing the U23 team
in europa ,Arsene named them in the squad last season.
Good afternoon Rico and all.
Reflecting on last night’s game All the talk after the game that England are now in the easier half to progress to the semis maybe correct but as a team they need to improve dramatically.it might have been a nothing game but that applied to both sides.
IMO the last 16 should go into a hat like the Cup games .Practically every debate after the game was about this advantage of the draw, but not that compared to Belgium we have an inferior squad.Southgate was visibly disappointed yet this has been a strange World Cup and predicting results have often been wrong.Colombia will not be a walk in the park.
It appears Danny is in the squad a bit like Walcott and I wonder how Emery will use him.Perez returns on July 2nd bought in August 2016 for 17 million with two years left on his contract,I wonder what will happen to him.
I think Emery is getting his priorities right and at least he knows at Arsenal he will be given time but I still feel that the club won’t change in a financial sense that the one or two prize assets we have could well be sold before they enter the last year of their contracts.
I am quite excited that finally the policy has changed and with time we will improve and we are acting in a more positive manner than before. Let’s wait and see.
Hi Rick, not sure about that, isn’t Mavropanos U21 and therefore doesn’t have to be in the 17 until next season?
I see that AC Milan have been chucked out of the UEFA Cup for financial reasons.
Morning guys, had an internet failure yesterday. Great when it works, pain in the butt when it doesn’t. I blame Brexit, too much sunshine and anything else remotely unconnected… lol
Kelsey, I agree. If countries didn’t know who their next opposition might be, it would make many of the final games far more interesting. More fair too imo.
Thanks Rick..
Fifa doesn’t do random apart from it’s accounts.. They like structure so that they can plan ahead.
Can’t see Columbia being easy, Ooospiinaa will want to set his stall out and will have a bit to prove.
And a a new club to attract Potter…
New post up now..