I read that one of the rags shed 200 jobs last week amongst the writing staff which is another nail in the coffin of the traditional newspaper business model. Do I feel sympathy for the people who lost their jobs? Of course I do. Am I surprised? Definitely not.
If you continue to target the lowest common denominator when printing news, you’re never going to garner any sort of loyalty. The John Terry saga represented a surge in newspaper sales which encouraged newspapers to believe that toilet news was the way to higher sales. For me, that view is far too black and white. You’ll get a spike in sales because people are curious, but does that news story command loyalty? No… because the type of people who buy a newspapers to read that type of story aren’t interested in real news.
I notice that many newspapers have taken themselves off the news feeds in the hope people will go direct to their sites. Well, I can tell you one thing, I haven’t been to the Sun or Mirror websites since they disappeared.
I know how important news aggregators are for our readership, so I can imagine the impact it’s having on firms that need to generate revenue from their sites. The reason they’re doing that is because they’re hoping to get us to pay for our online dose of News Corp crap… in America, they are even talking about taxing websites to prop up the dying Newspaper industry… how long before they bring that idea over here?
If Fleet Street want to generate higher sales, how about a bit of honesty? How about some journalism that requires effort? How about sacking off the boring showbiz tripe you pedal on a daily basis?
This got me thinking about the sports section. I don’t know what journalists earn but I can’t imagine they are on the bread line. How about cutting all that dead weight off the pay roll and paying fans a nominal sum to report on matches they’re attending? How about taking advantage of the glut of talent on the internet that write for free. I’d much rather read an article from a fan than some of the crap you read in the papers which is usually heavily agenderised.
Will it happen? Doubtful. They’ll keep flogging the same old dated business model in the hope that smut and showbiz will save them. Then they’ll complain that people are stealing their made up stories, then they’ll try and gain industry acceptance that pay per click news is the way forward… then, if that happens, I’d imagine we’ll see a collapse.
When that days comes, I’ll be drinking a celebratory Peroni.
Anyway, back onto football.
Argentina. Amazing.
Can I just leave it there? Ok, well they played superbly, Barca-esque. Messi was dealt with in a Wengerish way and he tore through Nigeria without a finish. The Eagles keeper kept them in it with some unbelievable saves, he really did play very well. Maradona made himself look like a genius for dropping Zanetti in favour of goalscorer Heinze… his top right corner diving header was a superb opener to the game.
England? Well, I feel this phrase perfectly fits the Fabio Capello situation.
You can’t polish a turd.
It’s as simple as that. England only have one player capable of magic and he could be sporting an Arsenal shirt in the coming months. Surprising that he didn’t get a game. I was shocked that a team full of so called superstars couldn’t muster more than a few shots against what can only be described as a very weak team. There you go, that’s England for you. Rope a manager to a new deal before he’s proved anything and pray to the footballing gods. I’m not going to lose any sleep over it, lets hope we can beat Algeria and Slovenia. Rob Green? Stick him on the goalkeeping scrap heap with Lloris… a truly unforgivable mistake.
In transfer news, we’re apparently interested in 23 year old Italian keeper Salvatore Sirigu. He plays for Palermo but sadly I believe this story to be a Goal.com special. I can’t see us signing a keeper who’d prevent Chesney making a break through. If we’re going to sign any player from the Italian club, I’d hope it’d be Simon Kjear… he looks a very promising defender who could be within our reach.
Barcelona have come back in for Cesc Fabregas stating that this could go on all summer. I’m not really sure what Arsenal can do? Are there rules around talking about other clubs players? It’s all a bit classless if you ask me. It’s also disappointing that Cesc is refusing to say anything. A very poor show from our club captain. The only thing we can do to get them back is to steal their youth team players… a pretty weak come back you have to say. They have no need for him and they still believe £35million is an acceptable offer.
I hope this time next year, after we’ve seen a year of Barca wrestling with debt repayment, Madrid become the only club who can afford him. That’d make me laugh… I wonder what Cesc would do then? I’m struggling to see how the rest of the business world are struggling with cash flow, yet highly risky businesses like Football clubs seem to have a never ending supply line?
Right, I’m off to sulk about the annual disappointment that is English tournament football.
See you in the comments!
Lahm is the youngest german captain ever ?
well that should be right up wengers alley ..
that and neuer !
mind you even if wenger had a bid they would only think he is taking the piss ..
And if u can get Joe Cole on a free – go for it, he’ be a gr8 addition to our squad. Ship Rosicky out, he’s just lost it.
—————————-
replace one injured over paid crock for another ?
GOOD PLAN
Not really sold on Joe Cole. Couldn’t really care less about his experience and know how. We need better than him. Wenger likes him because he has talent obviously but its just that he is free.
we need MORE …
replacing achieves sweet FA …
something this squad has visibly lacked for 3 or 4 seasons is ‘options’ .. getting cole in then giving rosick the flick achieves nothing from a fans perspective ..
the way i see it is keep them both and you might have 1 complete player
people to give the flick are people who are treading water .. almunia – eboue – denilson .
Funny thing ive just noticed is out of all the 9 odd games played to date in the WC , all 2 goal keeping
tragedies GREEN – SCHWAZER are linked to us …
further proof wenger should NOT PICK our goal keeping future .
wenger knows how to pick a player
AKB !
i feel joe cole quality no question but he is yet another player tends drift just behind the siriker in central position risicky aa nasri all top quality but what i call winger but these players are very versitile plus i dont think wenger is willing spend to much on any attacking options particauly when sole gallas silvest senderos are all going and it does seem as if he is on the lookout for an experienced keeper
BUT NOT A GOAL KEEPER !
ONLY GOAL KEEPER WENGER INSTALLED WHO WAS ANY COP WAS JENS …
even then he had an inbuilt self destruct button ..
or temper button ….
i think wenger needs to stop with his philosophies of we dont buy stars we create them .. with goal keepers.
in fact the only thing wenger can create is midfielders
ethan as good jens wsa i think he wsa not as good as david seamon but i do think he will go for real experienced keeper as he not willinh give up all young keepers he has now
yes leon he is invested -ill give you that …
but really whats the chances of making them come good ?!
they would need a season or 2 out on loan ..
(thats my advise)
you dont become good sitting on the bench ..
hart is good because he got the starts last season ..
and any youngish goal keeper only gets that way by regular games … even older ones ..
we got the young argie and 2 pols & 1 Italian .
then we need someone EXPERIENCED …
i think he is going to bottle neck someone good a proper ..
WENGER YOU NEED TO LOAN SOME OUT !
SERIOUSLY !!!
top goal keepers are like top strikers ..
no point to gamble ..
just buy them ..
they take too long to create , and might never be created …
especially seeing some of wengers choices in the past ..
i mean i know the chezsey pol , was supposed to of looked quite good last season , but look at the division he was playing ..
the EPL is quite a step up ..
it will be quite different when you have drogba coming at you .. 1 on 1 !
i think wenger needs to snap out of it and look deeper into the options ..
the WC should be his scouting ground …
not just settle on Schwarzenegger .
the way i see it is we are 1 of the top 16 teams in the world .
we should have a keeper who is a starter in the world cup …
so wenger .. its that simple .. ive given you a 32 name short list ….get cracking ….
but rest assured .. our next goal keeper by rights is playing in the world cup as a teams 1st choice keeper …
its Neuer for me after last night ..
he was quite tidy.
even thou i hate germans
i can see Neuer as the Chavs or man Us long term keeper .
wenger should snap out of it and get some class if he wants a young side ..
i think id rather be known for assembling the best young talent on earth and playing them together as a team , as against try to create them 1st … then do it …
one sounds a stupid impossible dream and the other sounds like an achievable target ..
if i could see wenger signing pato or bojan, neuer, gourcuff THOSE TYPES of signings then fine ! i could see the direction ..
long term ..
but taking a punt on an unknown is just a revolving door ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAydj4OJnwQ
where’s gnarley?
was thinking that myself
he knows it was a big ask last night ..
its funny thou a man with a 2nd name more like a german
than the current german keeper ..
makes you wonder what side he’s really on
hopefully he wont be on our side
mind you wenger probably saw enough last night to make him a priority
because his value will be pretty low now
…if he plays another game like that ,
we can probably pick him up on a free too
and i dont use !!!! all that often !!!!
thankyou
!!!!!!
and the smiley faces are my full stops !
in my twisted little mind it makes perfect sense !
if you have the functions use them
GG
cmon lad .. its ok you only had to watch germany spank you for 90 minutes , i did the shit for 10 years pal
talking to yerself, eh ethan.
Afternoon all
Well what a hiding Australia got. We aren’t used to such a result in World sport. Oh well
The Tigers won 
& my phone text has been running hot, like my Tiger Cubs yesterday.
Back to Australia. They were, in short, shit, and I won’t make any excuses.
ethan, Mrs GG went to the Arsenal shop in Patong (is that how you pronounce it) & got me some goodies.
Rohan, like my old man used to say, “Win’em & wear’em boy” We just have to take it on the chin.
But it was really embarrassing to get a pounding like that
……….I did say earlier that there will be a blow out & an upset in the 1st round of the group stage, & we got the blow out. If New Zealand gets the upset, then it will be a double whammy
for us here.
Schwarzer was crap too, mon ami Le gaffer.
Is anyone sick of those horns that the locals constantly blow. It drowns out the atmosphere of the fans IMO.
Here you go expat ethan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sUJ_V4cCIs
haha fair enough gnarley although I think it had more to do with germany being awesome than aus being shit. Most teams would have gotten raped the way Germany were playing…
They worked hard till the end so got to give them credit for that.
There was only one way to describe the Germans Rohan
Oz was shit. It was embarrassing to put up such a performance for all the world to see. The players did what they could, but it was sling shots against AK-47′s
ARJEN ROBBENNNNNNNN
Germany really could go all the way. They looked like well oiled slick mean machine….Why am I not that surprised?
WESLEY SNIJDERRRRRR
DIRK kUYTTTTTTT?
RAFAEL VAN DE VAARTTTTTTT
AND
I’m going with a RvP brace including a thunderbolt of a 30 yard freekick plus a goal from Sneijder in a 3-0 win against the Danes since Bnedy isn’t playing.
THE BOY WONDER…………………..
Kuyt shouldn’t play although he prolly win. it should be affellay.
ROBINNNN VANNN PERSIEEEEEEEE
UP THE ORANJE
Yeeaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oranje ftw.
THE LEGEND THAT IS RUDD GUITT SAYS THE GUYS SHOULD TAKE IT EASY TOMORROW.
Kuyt will start Rohan. Elia will start for Robben.
Cant the Dutch just get along. Come on Wesley, Robin
Who takes the Free kicks. Van Persie, Wesley, Rafael or Robben
Yep I have a soft spot for the Dutch.
Sixx are you sure you are Dutch
Rudd is the lame Australian PM who is about to get dumped here, & its spelt Ruud Gullit. Ruud has said he wants the Oz job, but after the latest lame effort, he may not.
u wearing flip flops Gnarley
They’re all big mates now. I think Sneijder is first choice for a right sided free-kick whereas if it’s left sided it’s a toss up between RvP and vdV.
RvP is first choice penalty taker though. I really think they’ll be hungry to perform and they prolly will too especially after seeing Germany yesterday. They WILL want to make a statement of intent.
Since Bendy isn’t playing I really think Denmark just might get raped.
Im not Dutch. I have a Dutch mentality. Im Jamaican
If NZ get something from their game I may as well wear flip flops. Thats what kiwis call thongs
Jamacian
Do you like whacky backy?
Rohan there was a bust up at the training ground yesterday involving Sneijder and someone else. Dont remember who
Whacky backy? What the hell is that
Oh. I dont smoke. My bro died from lung cancer
Since Bendy isnt playing? Didnt kno Nik was a CB. Theyre gonna get raped regardless. Especially with Sorenson in goal
Thats very wise sixx, but Jamaica is renowned for its excellent weed, thats why I asked, oh and for being the setting for many a thrashing of west indian cricket by Australia.
About the only thing ur good at. I dont care too much for Cricket to be honest. Limited overs and 20/20s are okay. But to sit and watch a test match, no way
About the only thing ur good at? You have a couple of sprinters that send your country crazy, & we have umpteen sports men & women who make your medal tally @ the olympics look like a pimple on an elephants arse. You need to do your homework sixx before you come out with niave statements like that
I can’t find any thing on that sixx pac? Do ye have a link?
But can I say this sixx & Rohan. thanx for not hoeing in the slipper when I’m down, you know the 4-0 etc. i owe you one, each
plenty of things the aussies are good mate 6 –
swimming – rugby – cricket – golf ..
as against , drinking rum and getting stoned
haha, I’m still supporting the Aussies to go through the group stages. It ain’t over yet. Where’s that Aussie spirit and all that?
2 wins against Ghana and Serbia and you go through. Come to think of it, 4 points should be enough IF a game goes your way.
good@mate…
i mean …
and well its the HOME OF SURFING !
compared with the populous Australia is a country of sportsmen !
yep its England and Aussie for me too !
ill see how far either can get …
not sure the aussies can do it , the poor cunts got a bad draw last time too ..
It’s Holland and Germany for me. Can’t stand England because of the cunts in there. Would like to see them win but can’t stand seeing the likes of JT being knighted and portrayed as the second coming of god.
Spain-would have supported them were it not for xavi and co. and barcelona – fuck them, the little bastards.
Yep Oz, then, dare I say it
England, but I do have a soft spot for the Netherlands.
6pac
Man, I could get better than Usain Bolt.
I can do the 100 m in 10.95 and I’m still growing. BOOM!
Ethan I knew abt the cricket and Rugby. Not so much golf and swimming.
I must say the Aussies have a fantastic accent that is actually understandable( so unlike the English).
Before anyone comment that thier isnt a standar accent for either, im talking generally
Rohan how tall are ya. Usain didnt start running the 100 m until 2008. It surprised the nation when he ran 9.76 on his third try.
its the HOME OF SURFING !
90 % of aussies live near the coast …
me no exception… TRIGGS POINT ! except no substitute at 6 am in the morning !
http://www.bentessler.com.au/Coastal Photos/TRIGG POINT AERIAL P31-CR.jpg
it makes me home sick
I’m 5ft11 but will turn 17 soon. so I should reach atleast 6ft2 looking at my dad and male members of my family.
wow congrats. No smileys in ur last post
10.95 at 16. Thats pretty decent. Could prob shave a second off that by 18
Rohan
Just remember, I knew you before you became famous
fullstops !
it takes less time to get your pants off !
thats the only sport im interested in
Usain pisses me off with his obvious man love of C Ronaldo. First he was a Utd fan, now he’s a Madri fan
haha, I’m not too chuffed about it. I train more for fun than anything. Thing is I’ve been stuck at this speed for the last 6 month or so.
I’m more of a math geek at heart.
Pants off? Zipper down
lol…
Math Geek? Is that gonna get u the ladies. Indians
I got the complete package….chicks think I’m the second coming of god.
oops, that should read the second coming of Bendtner.
I’m planning to get myself more into cross country long distance running though. It’s more fun imo.. 10k run everyday this summer.
Ah. Ur hopeless. If u had a dad like mine u’d be running under 10 secs already. he pushe me so hard with my music
haha, it’s more of a hobby for me. I don’t intend to do my knees in by the time i’m 25 and find myself on the streets. I will be pretty honest in that I sincerely doubt I’m good enough for the real big time. National level, maybe but that doesn’t really excite me.
electrical engineering for the win.
Music? Who are you ? Sean Kingston?
Do u not see my name. Though i havent seen him naked im pretty sure Sean Kingston doesnt have a six pack.
I did music back in High school. Instrumental and vocal. Won some medals. Performed in Switzerland as part of our marching band
did you stretch your scrotum over a rain barrel so you could play the drums ?
that one was a smiley face hence the spacer in the column
(the one above is a full stop )
i didnt know they had black rappers in a marching band ?
sixx pac says:
June 14, 2010 at 08:34
Do u not see my name.
so let me get this straight are you a rapper or a drummer in a bush band ??:)
im confused ..
or does the 6- pac mean your just really hungry ?:)
I absolutely hate rap. I love alternative. 3 doors down, matchbox 20, Green Day and the All American Rejects. Also love Leona Lewis
NEW POST!
I’M SUPPORTING NETHERLANDS THIS AFTERNOON…
GO GO VAN PEEEEEEERSIEEEE!!!!
EVEN THOUGH BENDTNER WILL BE PLAYING FOR DENMARK.