Morning all.
‘The last few results won’t change our approach to the window’ said Mikel Arteta and rightly so. As good as the last two results have been, to believe Martinelli, ESR and Saka for that matter can be the saviours every game would be naive, stupid even. The alternative options are William, Ozil and Pepe. Thank you but no thank you. Mo Elneny has been doing alright but mistakes have crept into his game. Xhaka, he isn’t going to change. He can ping a pass around, but his pace is non existent. Putting them all in the same team, bar Ozil of course, is the reason behind slow and boring football which PL sides find easy to play against.
Mikel Arteta said after the Brighton game that he needs to pay respect to the senior players who have helped the younger players come through and whilst I doubt very much he meant all of them, without a certain few, these young guys would be taking on a challenge to big. This League is hard, it’s like no other really. If Mikel took an entire team of youth to West Brom, Big Sam’s lot would kick them off the park. Literally in some cases as I’m sure Bukayo Saka would agree as over recent weeks/months it’s been clear to see that the opposition know he’s our danger man and by fair or foul means, try to stop him.
The key is the right balance, the right players, the right personalities and most importantly, those who believe in what the club is trying to do and how it wants to get there. Selecting players who aren’t on board with the clubs ideas aren’t going to win matches. They’ve already proved that. Mikel gave them long enough and now it seems they’ve been dumped. Good, he should have done it long before he did. If the stories about certain players going running to Edu to whinge about Mikel Arteta are true then in my opinion, they shouldn’t be selected again any time soon. I would suggest they play in the Europa League fixtures, the FA Cup or for the under 23’s but I don’t even think they deserve to wear the Arsenal shirt at any level.
The ideal solution is to sell the troublemakers and those who aren’t part of Mikel Arteta’s future plans. Surely it makes more sense to cut our losses now rather than keep paying deadwood for the length of their contracts which will work out to be millions anyway. We’d even make a few pounds on Willian seeing as he was free.
Whatever the transfer plans are for Arsenal next month, if any players come in on a permanent deal, someone else may very well have to make way. Certainly so if they are neither under 21 or homegrown.
Each squad must contain no more than 17 players who do not fulfil the “Home Grown Player” (HGP) criteria. The rest of the squad, up to a total of 25 players, must be “Home Grown”.
Well, we certainly have a long list of players who if we here on HH had our way, would be gone just after Big Ben strikes midnight. Not all will be possible I know, probably hardly any but it doesn’t mean we can’t list them. Although it might be easier to list who we’d like to see the club keep. Lol.
Go on then, who would you like the club to move on?
See you in the comments.
Morning rico, house. Lets start with Sokrates as he’s not wanted, Mustafi, Xhaka because he fouls too much and always likely to be red carded. Auba if we can get 30m for, as feel Lacazette fits in better. Bellerin although he’s recently shown a bit more. AMN, undecided, skillful but still has that lackadaisical feel to him, so I’d take 25m if it funded a good midfielder. Willian although he started bright, but seems a player like Auba who is only good when winning or team playing well. Kalasanic, although he’s not a bad reserve LB to come on for an injury. Wont mention Ozil! Sure Ive forgotten a few, Luiz another not sure about, he may be a good mentor, but we don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.
Agree with all Andrewh above but wouldsuggest that Kolasinac is not even good enough as resrve LB and Luiz is not as good for us as Mari and Chambers or even Mavropanos (who i watched recently). I think it would be good for the club to force Ozil out even on loan if possible.I dont think the club has the guts to clear them all out in one month but they should and bring through more young players already on the staff. With that lot gone and a possible influx of money for them all ( £70 mill ?) we could add two top class players already playing in the Uk leagues Buendina and Grealish spring to mind.
I didn’t know that Scott about Mavropanos, let’s see what Arteta thinks about him in the summer when he finally gets to have a proper pre season? But if our loanees are playing well then that’s a double plus because we either get a good player or we get a good transfer fee…
Morning everyone, it’s bloody frosty out there.
Morning Andrew, all.
I’d keep AMN but otherwise my list is similar to Andrew.
Pete, I reckon they would if they could but the problem is finding clubs who’d buy them. Plus Ozil and Mustafi etc probably want to wait until the summer.
Good question Rico and I reckon that pretty much the same names will appear in most contributors list, but how about loaning out Eddie Nketiah to another Premier League club and giving Foloran Balogun the opportunities Eddie would get?
Ozil won’t leave despite the rumours, his agent has said all along that he’s going to honour his contract so I reckon we should just ignore the circus.
Sokratis and Mustafi leaving, either on loan or permanently is a real possibility, I guess it’ll all come down to where they want to go and how much they’ll demand to leave, because as with Kolasinac we’re still paying a portion of his salary even if he’s reduced his demands. His wife wants him back in Germany and so do most Arsenal fans…
I think we’re stuck with Luiz and Willian until the summer, so it is what it is with the Samba twins. Everyone else I’d keep as we still need to retain some semblance of a squad unless we sign one or two interesting new players – not that I’m expecting that to happen.
Morning Rico/all
Apparently Kolasinac is lined up to join Schalke, taking a paycut but with Arsenal still subsidising part of his wages. If true it’s a good move for Arsenal.
As Rico says finding clubs who want to buy our unwanted players will be a problem. I think Ozil will stay until his contract runs out.
Our situation will be better then.
I bet Graham Potter would welcome Eddie Kev, his team needs a goal scorer. Good idea by the way, Balogun really needs to be playing more.
Unless he’s refused the new contract, making it clear he’s leaving.
Morning Limey, agree, better to pay half a salary than all and if it means a space in the squad opens up, all the better.
Wish we could strike a similar deal with Ozil.
Hi Rico and all it’s 10:37pm in Australia and the party has started Happy new year to every one
Good Afternoon Rico and all.
Rico….if it were for me I would sell around 2/5 of the squad. If only I could find any buyers.
Hopefully the following will set our mind at rest regarding Rhys Nelson…….”On the prospect of a January move and the speculation about his future because of his absence, Arteta said, “No. Probably it’s my mistake not to clarify the situation, and what was happening.”
“But, he’s not been 100% fit, and that’s the reason he’s been out and not featuring in the squad.”
Granted, he may still leave. But I doubt that the club and Arteta would be daft enough to let an Englishman leave. Certainly not with the ramifications of Brexit and how will it affect transfers.
Happy New Year everyone.
12 minutes to go here.
2021 will surely be an upgrade on 2020.
HNY Scott , enjoy the moment , speak again next year
G’day all.
Enjoy the party down under Scott and Geoff, socially distanced of course. 😉
The two players most likely be sold, and not much missed, are Torreira and Guendouzi. Although they are on season long loans so it won’t be until the summer.
Other than those two, I think we should pay up Ozil’s contract and ship him out and get what we can for Pepe, Willian and Aubameyang.
Buendia from Norwich City would be good buy, as somebody said earlier, but I wouldn’t touch Grealish with a barge pole.
If you did touch him with a barge pole he would no doubt fall over like he’d been shot.
It’s for that very reason, Limey. Can you imagine the relish with which Mike Dean and his mates would wave a yellow card at Grealish in an Arsenal shirt.
Very true, one rule for us.
I have just read on Italian websites that Arsenal are ‘getting ready a bid’ to sign Roger Ibanez. A 6ft 2′ CB Brazilian who can also play at DM. He is owned by Atalanta but is on loan to AS Roma. He is 22 years old and has played around 14 league games this season plus two in Europa league. He is right footed.
Italian transfer market websites are not usually reliable. They aim for clicks. But who knows. He is brazilian after all.
Fee mentioned is 30 million.
However, this is what I meant when I said I wanted to go for these type of players. At 22 years he is a relatively unkown but a solid defender. Good age for Arsenal to coach him and also have a sell on value later on if they want to.
Happy New Year everyone.
Transfers only this almost confirm: ” Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac is reportedly being lined up for a return to his former club Schalke.”‘
More Brazilians?
“One Brazilian in a soccer team is very good; two Brazilians are too many; 3 Brazilians is a Samba School” (J. M. Pedroto)
Happy New Year Scott and Geoff.
Good re Nelson Devil. I’m pleased it looks like he’s staying.
I’m pleased for Kolasinac, he’ll be playing again which is what all footballers should want to do..
https://global247news.com/2020/12/31/kyle-walkers-christmas-party-in-london-causes-premier-league-covid-infections/amp/
Afternoon Rico and the House.
Rico
I would like to thank you for all the hard work you
have put in in producing your fantastic posts during
this horrible year.
Its been great to see you banging the drum for the young ones
I feel encouraged that we will see more of them in the games to come
RIP Tommy Docherty great character and former Arsenal player.
Right half , saw him play a few times at the end of the fifties and the early 60’s .Had a colourful career and had some great one liners.
The kind of after dinner speaker that would be worth a night out.
RIP Tommy Doc.
Afternoon Rick, thank you for your kind words. I would say it’s been a pleasure, however… 😆
Our younger players make it easy to bang their drum.
RIP Tommy Docherty.
I have a lasting memory of Tommy Docherty, it was a NLD Dave McKay had just taken out our winger with a body check. A few minutes later Tommy hit Dave with a tackle that put the Spurs man off the pitch and left draped over fence with his head among the feat of the jubilant Arsenal supporters.
RIP Tommy, one of a kind.
FEET NOT FEAT. Stupid spell checker.
When he was with Villa at one time deadly Doug Ellis told him don’t worry Tommy I’m behind you all the way . To which he replied I’d rather have you in front where I can see you.
I’ll not be sorry to see the back of 2020 but the champagne is in the fridge and will come out not at midnight but at 11 pm to celebrate leaving the monstrous bureaucracy which is the European Community.
Sounds a plan , champers at 11.00 and a decent Port at midnight
Evening Rico and All
Couple of years ago a mate of mine ask me
to play for his walking football team,What the
Fukc’s that .come along have a look youre
love it..I went along to watch..Talk about slow,
Never thought no more of it till recently.
Watching them 3 ponsing about like crabs
don’t need to mention any names you know,
took me back to them very old geezers
waving their arms about trying to pass but
nobody was moving,and shouting 1-2.
We were crying out for bit of mobility in the
middle and forked out for Partyboy..great.
Just what we needed,half a season gone
return fixtures coming up.Welcome Thomas
So its Partyboy again for me,like a new
signing.
We don’t need any defenders at the moment,
up tops we have tons,all ok .
The keeper..Juries out…Back up at least.
Back to the middle,Partyboy will need a
partner,a strong 22/25 year old good
90mins player with legs,we have no one like
that in our squad other than Partyboy,who
we havn’t seen yet,hoping Mickys taken in whats it’s
all about and can see Partyboy can’t do it on his own.
Who do we let go,I would imagine who ever comes
in with a checkbook,and fancies one of our more
mature well rested professional footballers.
Thanks Rico for your amazing vitality towards this
site how you think of what to write each day baffles
me. Happy New to You and All the rest who pipe
in.
I know Rico agrees with this but the player that we are missing is Ray Parlour , not the most skilful but a solid 90 minute player .
Have a good one everyone
Evening Fred, thank you for your kind words.
Potter, you know me too well. Oh to have a Ray Parlour in this team today. One of the most underrated midfielders to play the game.
Happy New Year everyone, thanks for making HH what is is today and has been for the last ten years.
Goodbye EU, I for one won’t miss you. 🥂🥂
Happy New Year one and all, let’s hope it’s a good one for each and every one of us, the football club and especially Rico without whom life would be far less comforting, interesting and mildly contentious.
Thanks all it’s been a happy sanctuary despite all the gloom!
Roll on 2021!
Thank you Wavy.
Morning all.
New post up now