Whipping boys? I don't think so……

Morning all.

Well who’d have thought that eh, Italy were brushed aside with ease by Group D’s ‘whipping boys’ Costa Rica and of course, that result meant that the England team can start packing their suitcases ready for an early flight home. Before then though they too have to face Costa Rica on Tuesday and I wouldn’t be surprised if Roy Hodgson throws on all those who have yet to play or who have played very little, just to give them a bit of World Cup experience.

Costa Rica are already through to the knock-out stages and they truly deserve it. They have played without fear, been well organised and could cause a few sides problems as they progress. Joel Campbell had a quiet game last night and apart from winning what should have been a penalty, he was quite average.

Saying that, Mario Balotelli hardly looked like a £30 million striker did he and he’ll need to be a lot sharper when Italy play Uruguay. A draw in that match would be enough to see the Italians join Costa Rica in the next round.

Anyway, that’s why it’s never wise to judge players on one game or one tournament…..

France carried on their winning streak with a 5-2 victory over Switzerland. Giroud got the French team off the mark and later in the game turned provider after a pacey run down the left. yes, a pacey run down the left! I had to look twice to check it really was him….

Great result for a couple of our players but when you consider Djourou and Senderos were at the back for Switzerland, it was never going to be too difficult for them was it….

The late game saw Honduras lose 2-1 to Ecuador.

Today sees Argentina play Iran in the early 5pm game, Germany face Ghana at 8pm and then the late match is between Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Don’t think I’ll be staying up for the late one….

Enjoy your Saturday, at least the sun is shining and it’s going to be hot……

 

101 thoughts on “Whipping boys? I don't think so……

  1. frednerk says:

    Morning all,
    Liked the interveiw after the italy result rico,

    Woy..will you change now for the last game to a 4-4-2,
    nar..747…..more leg room.

  2. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Morning Rico, Costa Rica, certainly deserve their progress, no super show from Joel or Mario yesterday, but overall as great team performance from CR over two games. Giroud must’ve have seen somebodies husband in the crowd for that run.Nice easy read, another sun day ahead, at least Jack and Ox, should return fresh and fit for the new season.

  3. Micko says:

    Morning rico,
    Never in my life did I think we’d go into a Costa rica game as under dogs, hopefully they’ll show some mercy and put out their 2nd team.

  4. paynemaxxy says:

    #activegunner.!can someone hurry up and tell old keshi that the key to beating Bosnia lies in cohesive midfield?nigeria is tactically the worst team at the world cup.

  5. BigSanty says:

    Good Morning Rico & to All HHers::: That was our Giroud in all round action rout of Switzerland. Some say he is master in matches against average team, but guess what…. Swiss team is no push over. Just hope Wenger compliments him by getting another great attacker in our line up for the season. Doing so we might see another Giroud like he did yesterday. & Rico I’ll be staying late as i ll be supporting the Super Eagle all thru even thou i know that Bosnia is might nick it.

  6. frednerk says:

    The england team have just visited a Brazlian orphanage,
    it’s was heartbreaking to see their sad little faces with no hope.
    ..said jose aged 6

  7. Scott From Oz says:

    Micko, did you ever think Spain would be outsiders v Australia?
    Funny old game.
    Morning all.

  8. Micko says:

    Hope you stick with the young goalie scott, he must have been gutted after the dutch game the other day.
    I can see your lot out tika-takaing them spanish, that’s not a prediction btw, I don’t do them anymore ! Shame cahill is suspended.

  9. Wath says:

    Any one for bowls……………

    Morning you lot…. That includes the upside down fella as well 😉

  10. Micko says:

    Ah philippe senderos, so much was expected of him, turned down man united and madrid to play for us, promised the number 6 shirt, some big boots to fill, was all going quite well until Drogba showed up.

  11. Scott From Oz says:

    Micko, Matt Ryan is potentially good enough to play in the PL.
    That was a horrible error, but he is a top young keeper.
    They all have shockers.
    I hope we make a decent game of it, and I’ll be happy with that.
    A win would be just rewards, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

  12. Scott From Oz says:

    The Aussie kid Matthew Leckie is probably hoping to be sold for 8-10 million pounds.
    Not bad….his present club bought him in May for 1 million!!
    He obviously must back these performances up, but he’s shown the ability….one he just needs consistency.
    Still, pretty decent business!!

  13. Wath says:

    I’m always nice Scott I even share my GG…..

    Quite footie day…. sooooooooooooooo boring and that’s with the WC on…!

    You know there nothing going on when even the papers are quiet with their normal bullshit rumours…!

  14. goonster says:

    Morning scotty oz…ausssies going home early huh 😀 told ya. Just stick to cricket and rugby. You ll be fine 😀

  15. goonster says:

    Morning guys super Mario could be the reincarnation of a certain king henry. He’s coming from the same country that almost ruined king Henry so I won’t put it pass him to take the league by storm and retire a legend with us. Come on arsene. Sign him up already.

  16. rico says:

    One of the sports journos wrote ‘Senderos and Djourou showed just why they are no longer in the Arsenal ranks’…

    🙂

  17. Scott From Oz says:

    Me too, Rico lol.
    Stan, your mob are blessed.
    Of course, we did beat you 6-1 the previous day in the World Cup Hockey final, but that’s nothing new lol.

  18. Wavy says:

    Adam went to Cambridge last week and never………………….Ahhhhhh!
    Wrote again!

    Wenger said we’re all right up front and he is not looking to buy another forward! So no Balotelli. We have Campbell and the world class Le Quiff. He was superb last night as both goal scorer, provider and target man. Keep him fit and we have another gem.
    And I’m not convinced that he really wants to buy any more, maybe. A full back, but he has three, Bellerin, Coq and Jenkinson…. Eet iss enurf!
    A goalkeeper? He has three,eet iss enuff!
    A DM, zay ar soo urnfashonable!
    A winger? Vee af plintee!
    End of story……………No New Signings this Window!
    iMO
    Hello everybody. Happy Saturday. Happy sunny Saturday!

  19. Scott From Oz says:

    Wavy, even I’m not positive enough to believe we don’t need new signings!
    Damn, we are in trouble if Arsene does.

  20. goonster says:

    Hahahaha I knew you re gonna throw that in my face scott. Well wait for it. The Olympics is around the corner. You ll feel the Dutch fury 😀

  21. rico says:

    I’m sure he’ll be back soon goonie, maybe a top signing will tempt him away from working…. 😉

  22. goonster says:

    There’s one maam…TV finally came out and denied he’s going to old toilet. That means he’s off me thinks.

  23. goonster says:

    Sad rico really sad. I really rate verm even though he’s an Ajax man. He’s odd but not to manure. Arsene ll probably offer him a new contract if he refuses to sign then wenger ll sell him abroad.

  24. goonster says:

    I can’t find 3 of my post. What good is a goonster when he’s not allowed to express himself. Am like super man without his cape.

  25. ktr7 says:

    Good read rico on such a slow news day.I saw this quite astonishing stat earlier…

    Big stat via Kicker: In 99 games for the
    German NT, Per Mertesacker has only
    been shown 1 yellow card. Against
    Austria. In a friendly.

    Incredible!

  26. goonster says:

    Howdy Kt Am Not Suprise. Per mert is a beast. How about with us? How many yellow cards and red?

  27. ktr7 says:

    Goonie for his Arsenal career am not sure but in the PL last season he conceded 12 fouls in the league!…which is about a foul every 3 games!

  28. Sukky says:

    †̥ђƺ only card I can remember is †̥ђƺ red card agaisnt west brow.Why would he pick of cards,he’s not David luiz 50m.Giroud was superb yesternight,hope he continue like that with us.

  29. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Afternoon Sunshines and Moonrays.

    Seems that Aurier has agreed personal terms with AFC acc to NN

    We will soon see.

    4 players for the price of one…..RB.LB.CB.RM.

    His dad must have good DNA

    Howdy mates??

  30. ktr7 says:

    Howdy devil.You have a coaching background by all accounts and i’ve always wanted to ask you if you think we do enough tactical work at Arsenal in your opinion…

  31. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Hi KT

    Already going Kev??? 😉

    Imo I do not think that there is enough tactical work going on at AFC. Infact whenever AW had coaches doing tactical work we noticed it immediately on the pitch. Remember the CL run in 2006? And last season in the first 15 games?

    We are not enough proactive in this matter. We are reactive.

  32. goonster says:

    It’s all paper talk DG…Aurier is still miles away from us. Didn’t mvilla agree terms with us too. Oh wait up what about mata higuain and remy? I ll believe it when arsene stands next to him holding up his jersey. My gut feeling is jenko and bellerin next season. Hope am wrong.

  33. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I like him Rico.

    Goonie…..I feel that this one has legs mate. Especially as he can play in four positions.

  34. rico says:

    Bt, totally agree and I too wish Chuks good luck. I still think we have missed a trick with him….

  35. goonster says:

    Mvilla was decent with his keeping skills too devil. I ll wait for it. Won’t hold my breath on this one.

  36. goonster says:

    Chuks ll be back rico. So glad he went aboard. Watch out for him in 2 years. He ll be a beast. Yaya toure who?

  37. rico says:

    Totally agree goonster, just a shame we’ll have no buy-back option on him..

    Still peed off we let him go…

  38. allezkev says:

    Afternoon Rico. A post, with a hint of Cava about it. 😉

    Hiya Coach. It’s a hot one in London Town today, and crowded to boot…

    Rico, the cricketers are doing well. Bravo Robson…

  39. goonster says:

    Surely we had a clause in his contract to buy him back. The club wouldn’t be so stupid. Just hope maureen won’t buy him in 2 years time just to spite us.

  40. allezkev says:

    Coach, none of us really know what Wenger does in training, we can only guess, but in your case, having UEFA qualifications I think you can maybe read situations better than most fans.

    For myself, I believe it is stupidity not to take into consideration what your opponents will do.
    Against lesser talented team, the quality of our players often carry the day.
    But when facing the top-five opponents and european opponents, it doesn’t make sense playing the same way.
    Eapecially if ‘that way’ has repeatedly failed in the past…
    To play the same way, that has failed in the past, and to expect a different outcome, is naive…
    Offski

  41. frednerk says:

    Have to give wenger a pat on the back as regards coaching and fitness methods kev.
    Before he came to the arsenal we coached players to run 10miles at a time pre-season = to 90 minute game some would say.
    Wenger changed this to 600metre runs max and then to recoverier runs like sprinting the length of the pitch and jogging back,the players loved it straight away,wenger uses the the stop watch the whole session,and he takes most.

  42. rico says:

    Afternoon Kev, it’s hot everywhere 🙂

    Cava? Not had a drop in years… lol

    Cricket has taken a turn and not for the good… 🙁

  43. Gonerjoe says:

    That’s how a great player effects a game not like the darlings of the English press Rooney and Gerrard.
    What’s jack saying sorry to the England fans for he has nothing to be sorry about.

  44. goonster says:

    Well joe he was part of the team wasn’t he? Look on the bright side joe. Your future is bright. You have some amazing kids coming through. We have the English core in arsenal all within the 24 year bracket. Plus crowley afobe aneke and the rest. All you guys need to do now is retire the lampards gerrards of this world they need to go…..shrek included 😀

  45. Gonerjoe says:

    Goon
    I’ve been saying for years the England manager should always pick any English player in and around the Arsenal first team.
    I mean look at Gibbs he has played more CL football than any of the two left backs in Brazil and to my mind better.

  46. potter says:

    Agree with that Rico , he’s still the best left back in the country and Gibbs and Shaw should have gone as back up.

  47. rico says:

    I’d agree re Gibbs and Shaw too potter, Baines has shown that he’s really not as good as many pundits think he is….

  48. Gonerjoe says:

    The facts are the was not to much english talent left back in England.
    Gibbs or Cole are better than the two that went the only real talent not in Brazil is Walcott.
    I don’t know if the Ox would have made a difference in the the two matches he missed I’d like to think he would’ve.

  49. agirlagunner says:

    Muller is wasting Ozil’s super passes. And then they will say our boy has been ineffective.

  50. rico says:

    Joe, I think OC would have made a huge difference, just like Lalana and Brkley may have done if played more. As would Jack….

  51. rico says:

    agag, don’t let it all get to you… 😉

    As long as our boys all come back uninjured, who cares what the idiots say…

  52. rico says:

    🙂 agag…

    I’m off for the day, after all it is a Saturday night…

    Enjoy the footie agag and all.

    Catch up tomorrow..

    Night all…

  53. agirlagunner says:

    Good night, rico. I am off to bed, now. Can’t stand more of this boring schmoring affair.

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