Still the best Ramsey pic
Torreira sounds like a man who missed training, stayed in his hotel room watching Jay and Silent Bob, whilst dealing with 5-6 fat blunts.
‘Arsenal are a good team, one of the best in the world, but at this moment I am focused on playing for my country. Am I an Arsenal player at the moment? I don’t know.’
I can’t say I’m disappointed, man’s gotta relax.
You know who can also relax now? The whole Argentina team! The Croatians put in a masterclass yesterday, decimating the Argentinian’s 3-0 in a devastating second half. I mean, it could have been helped had Messi’s boys fielded a keeper who’d played extensive amounts of first-team football last season. Much like Colombia, they fielded an Ospina like figure in Caballero and he helped break the deadlock with some terrible sweeper keepering.
As for Messi, he’s taking a roasting in the press for not being able to carry his team. I don’t understand why people think he needs to support a side with Mascherano, Higuain, Aguerro and Dybala. Look at the state of the Portugal team Ronaldo is LITERALLY carrying on his back.
I also think the absolute hot take of ‘He can’t be deemed the greatest if he hasn’t won a World Cup’ is amongst the most appalling of opinions in world football. He’s been an incredible figure in the game over the last 15 years of his career. A man-monster of a player, his intelligence, grace, goals, assists, movement and penchant of the spectacular in big moments will cement him as the undoubted greatest for many years to come. I understand how Ronaldo makes the ‘maybe’ list, but as a friend said the other day, Ronaldo’s biggest compliment is that he’s even entertained in the conversation of GOAT. You can’t tell me with a straight face he’s at Messi’s level. No is or ever has been. I also can’t buy into going too far back in time. Messi is operating in a game that is more technical, fitter, faster, more powerful, knowledgeable and more analytical than at any time in history. He’s still dominating. Even Bergkamp was playing in an era where players had to be taught not to drink before games.
Gareth Southgate popped off at the press for publishing his team sheet.
“Obviously any time, if we were to give the opposition the opportunity of having our team it’s a disadvantage to us. So of course our media has to decide if they want to help the team or not.”
Amusing to see the press pop back saying that NO HUMAN MUST MAKE MISTAKES. Ahhh the hypocrisy of a press core that LAMBAST Sterling for turning up late and spoiling the team spirit, but are quite happy to reveal the team sheet to the world if it’ll generate some clicks for those ads everyone has blocked these days.
It’s also nice to read England coaches talking about tactics like they know what they are. This piece in the Guardian is really interesting.
“I spent a year with Antonio when Chelsea won the league with a 3–4–3, with [César] Azpilicueta, a full-back, in a back three, Gary Cahill on the left and David Luiz, as it was then, in the middle. The first time we’d tried it [3-4-3] with England, in the friendly against Germany [in March 2017], we lost the game, but it was a more than reasonable performance. So the next stage was how to get the midfield balance right. We had good forwards and if we played [3–3–2–2] we could get two on the pitch, rather than one. The only criterion, after that, was: ‘Do we have the wing‑backs?’ And the wing‑backs are the least of our problems: we have all sorts of different types of wing‑backs. So it made sense.”
When I read that, I thought, damn, this is exactly the sort of chat going on at Arsenal right now. Can you imagine how fucking great it’s going to be to see our coach experimenting with systems next season?
Then I started thinking about what still needs to be done at the club. Then I started thinking about Danny Welbeck saying goodbye to Jack Wilshere on the internet yesterday. Then I welled up, but held it together to write this post.
It’s clear we have our backroom team sorted. Rightly or wrongly the club has let the new manager import an entire team. A lot of people have been telling me that’s a normal thing to do, I won’t go into the details of why that’s not a modern approach when hiring non-Galactico managers, but just take a second to think about it if you’re having trouble… the manager brought in a fitness coach of his own. If we’re operating a decentralized corporate setup, you don’t bring in your own fitness coach.
Squad wise, we’re really shaping up. Banega and Torreira look like the final pieces of the jigsaw, then we’re good to move into phase two of the project.
Balancing the books.
We’ve added what looks like more than the £7m or so we’re allowed to add to our wage bill by the Premier League.
This was January-ish.
Wages Out:
- Theo: £140k
- Sanchez: £140k
- Giroud: £110k
- Coquelin: £80k
Total: £470k
Wages In:
- Mikki: £200k
- Auba: £200k
Total: £400k
Net Spend: £70k (£3.6m)
So far this summer if all the deals drop.
- Ozil: £210k
- Lichtsteiner: £60k
- Sokratis: £80k
- Leno: £60k
- Torreira: £60k
- Banega: £80k
Total Spend: £550k (£28.6m)
Players Leaving:
Jack Wilshere: £100k
Arsene Wenger: £192k (net £96k)
Net Spend: £406k (£21.1m)
Now, it looks like we’re massively over budget at the moment. We need to sell, and we need to do some serious cash juggling.
- Ramsey £100k
- Ospina £60k
- Cech £100k
- Nacho £90k
- Welbz £100k
Where do the new deals go?
Here’s what we do know. Arsenal have very publicly stated that Ramsey is a priority, he was our best player last season, and he’s most suited to an Emery system. He’s going to be asking for Ozil money. Why not as well? It’s his last major deal. He’s at his peak. He’s fit. He’s on form. He’s rested. He’s our longest serving players. His agent will feel the leverage, especially as the fans universally love Rambo. Question is, how do the club drop another net £200k+ without blowing that wage limiter?
Where else can we save money this summer?
Now, I won’t pretend to be an expert, the above is very topline and it’s not 100% exact. I’m not considering the Rwanda deal impacting our ability to push the wage bill up. But topline, that’s not going to impact £21m worth of deals.
Are the club preparing for life without Ramsey, or do they have some deep cuts they can make that we’re not aware of?
All we do know is this: There will be a plan, because the club have proper people looking after it.
Let me know how wrong this assessment is in the comments below.
P.S. Someone fetch yer da a cup of water, Neymar just lost a penalty because VAR caught him cheating. If you’re not happy about that, football isn’t the game for you. Shame Costa Rica couldn’t hold on…
V
A
R
Tr4phy
4th?
damn you grooveydaddy
Nice!
Cheers for teeing that up, Sal 🙂
1st
Hard luck Ashton. 1 second… 🙂
Erm, did Cazorla & Mertesacker not earn wages?
*Ashwin….sorry for the auto-correct
Messi is overrated. He played well for Barca because of the team which was playing with him.
Ronaldo is far more of a complete player than Messi, even though Pedro your argument to hate Ronaldo is for his conversation skills. Silly.
Watching Neymar pen overturned by VAR was GOLD after that shameless dive.
“Ronaldo is far more of a complete player…”
Good luck with that Ashwin
How is ROnaldo more complete?
Neither player defend much.
They score equally.
Messi touches the ball far more, creates far more chances, passes far more, dribbles far more.
What exactly is your definition of “more complete”?
Im guessing “more complete” means “scores a few headers”. Which is laughable.
grooveydaddy
Thats alright!
Pedro
You’re not factoring in increased (non TV) commercial revenue which can go towards the wage bill. That ‘Visit Rwanda’ thingy on its own adds about £200k/week, no?
Ronaldo is more of a complete player as compared to Messi. Ronaldo is literally carrying the team on his own with very little support from his mates.
Oops
I missed the bit where you mentioned it. Apologies.
If VAR is being used why if a player dives is the referee
not giving cards.
Our media are a joke. Can’t say I was surprised at the them publishing the team sheet.
Proper shitty thing to do.
Also, I always assumed salary of coaching staff wasn’t accounted for as part of the players salary budget .
As for Ramsey, if we can get £30M>£40m for him then I say we take it. He’s hit his ceiling. But I’ll leave that to Emery to mail over.
Put it this way, he isn’t a £200k p/w player. No fucking way!
Gambon
Yes. neither of them defend much. hence comparison was among those two players.
Players around Messi make him look good. but his flaws are out in open the moment his team is not playing good. He cannot carry his team all alone like Ronaldo does. That is my point. So he definitely is not a legend as Pedro is drooling.
See Ashwin, if youre gonna start saying these things, you should probably make sure youve got facts to back up your statements. It takes 2 mins to fact check this bollocks. Messi was responsible for 46% of Barcas 99 goals last season (G+A) Ronaldo was responsible for 33% of Madrids 94 goals So who was carrying their team? Youre gonna need to make a much more convincing case than “Ronaldo is more complete because I like him more”, which is what you’ve just done. Ronaldo is a better player is an acceptable position to take, trying to suggest a player… Read more »
Long read? Lemme just stop you there no he’s not worth it. Here 10 years he’s had enough time to prove himself.
Also Brazil cannot start with the same front three going forward. Willian is playing poorly and Firmino has to get a start
Navas MoM?
Wage bill? No problem: GIVE Ozil to someone. I am sure a club like Everton would pay him £350K a week on a free transfer.
And while they’re at it, sell Bellerin to Barca, and get the Club a REAL winger who can turn a defence or a REAL RB who can defend.
Ronaldo was not responsible for Portugal winning the Euros, it’s revisionist history. He limped out of the Final early on and took on a cheerleader role. Eder funny as it sounds was the man who won it for them combined with some inspirational defensive work from their back line.
He’s scored all Portugals goals so far and been great for Portugal but it ultimately means nothing if they get dumped out in the last 16/QF.
Navas or Marcelo.
And topping the group might not exactly be a good thing, despite the difference in form between the Russians and Uruguay, I know who I would rather face in the last 16.
Ronaldo is literally carrying the team on his own with very little support from his mates.
Which team are you talking about?
Ronaldo plays on the shoulder of the last defender, Messi has to come deep into midfield to get the ball.
Also, didn’t we rework the Emirates deal this year?
I had a dream.
Emery calls Ozil into his office and tells him what he told Jack: “Sorry, mate, but I can’t promise you playing time.”
The trouble is, I can’t remember the ending. Does Ozil say “Right, I’m off,” or does he stay home and count £18 million more in his bank account each year?
Portugal beat France in France without Ronaldo. Their midfield of Silva, Carvalho and moutinho, though not at Spanish or German level, is pretty balanced and dare I say classy. With or without Ronaldo, they’re hard to beat.
Good start to the game, must win for Nigeria and Iceland know that they are there for the taking.
I don’t care who is better, Messi or Ronaldo, I just wish Arsenal had one of them.
According to Arsene, he could have had them both.
Come on you super eagles
funny how we dismiss ronaldos influence in the quarter finals and the semi final of the euro. instead people want to focus on him getting injured in the final. Ronaldo doesn’t have the technicalities of messi but he has better athleticism than messi. He doesn’t create goals, he scores them. how many goals has messi created for Argentina. or is it that we only see the best stats of messi (I.e his goals for country but his assists for barca ? ) and we have to see the worst in Ronaldo ? or is it cause he humiliated arsenal so… Read more »
As much as i absolutely adore that Nigeria kit, i’m all Ice in this one.
Population 350k marauding way into WC knockouts, is top stuff.
people comment like messi is playing for a piss poor country. Argentina is a greater footballing nation than Portugal. put ronaldo in this Argentine side and see how the players perform with a born leader who only wants to win at all cost on their side. who knows, Argentina May have won the last world cup if messi had ronaldos instinct to win…
Messi had humiliated us far more than Ronaldo ever did.
“Messi had humiliated us far more than Ronaldo ever did.”
Amen, said it yesterday whom would you rather have at the Arsenal in peak form?
I’d likely give a testicle for either, may add a little something extra for Messi.
I’d give up all of my pubic hair for both of em…
African nations have been shit at this World Cup.
Worst Nigeria side I’ve ever seen.
Just think Wenger could of had Ronaldo for in 2003 if he’d of met the £12m asking and kept all his bits and bops.
Messi no question Sal.
We would have been treble winners in 2007-08 with Messi in the side.
Would Ronaldo still be Ronaldo had he come here and worked with Wenger instead of going there and working with Fergie?
Why pay 12 million for Ronaldo when you can buy Jose Antonio Reyes for 17 million just five months later?
Marko
Henry didn’t suffer, that kind of talent finds a route regardless of opposition.
Of course not what am I thinking Wenger never won back to back titles Ronaldo won three in a row at United or the champions league which Ronaldo won as well at United
Fair point re Fergie.
Think he would have been great no matter what though. This way the guy that used to sneak out as a teenager at Sporting Lisbon and break into their club at night to hit the weights.
He also used to run with weights on his ankles after training according to Neville and Ferdinand.
But yeah, Fergie no doubt made him mentally stronger and pushed him more into a well oiled machine as opposed to the flair player he was when he arrived in England.
To be honest, Argentina, with the talent they have, on the verge of going home after 3 games, is an absolute disgrace. When you look at their players one by one, you can certainly say they are right there as being considered the best NT in the world. Then you look at how they play and it’s just not serious. It’s sad. Truth is Ronaldo is a unifying factor for Portugal because the dude delivers time after time, again and again. Messi’s presence is the opposite of unifying because he doesn’t deliver as often, and afterwards he get’s blamed for… Read more »
True sal but Henry should have won more things in his career though. We should have won back to back titles or a champions league with the invincibles
Nigeria gone for pace and shit
Marko
Certainly can’t argue with that.
Pepe is easily Portugal’s second best player and it’s not even up for debate.
To call Aaron Ramsey “fit” is a bit puzzling Pedro, it’s exactly his lack of fitness that is a valid point of contention when discussing the merits of signing/selling.
How many league games did he start last season? High teens? That’s indicative of his time here for a decade and whatever way you cut it that’s not good enough. Theres a limit to Rambos new deal imo, wouldn’t go above the 180k mark.
Pepe is easily Portugal’s second best player and it’s not even up for debate.
Old Cunty McDickhead? Nah Bernardo Silva is. That lad was a massive missed opportunity for us. Compare what he went for and what we gave up to keep Ozil and it’s unbelievable. A brilliant playmaker who plays on the wing he’s awesome
raptora
Thanks for your last post.
Any rational mind will agree Messi’s star has to be diminished by even a smidgen for not winning the world cup after FOUR bites at it, despite being surrounded by excellent players.
The Messi boys say NOTHING that happens at the national team level should reduce his status. I can that viewpoint horse crap.
Right trying to work out permutations for the group, an Iceland win basically renders Argentina knocked out due to GD. Would the Argies prefer a draw or a Nigeria win? Because the former means that Iceland qualify no matter what by beating Croatia but a draw means an Argie win would see them progress presuming Iceland draw both games. Nigeria if they win will surely set up to defend though? Means they would be harder to break down. And Iceland if they win still likely progress on GD unless Argentina were to smash 3 or 4 past Nigeria which seems… Read more »
Marko
He’s a cunt but he’s an absolutely world class defender.
Was their star man in their Euro win.
What is an emery board?
Five guys who owe him a living.
Nigeria compared to the Senegal performance the other day is unbelievable
Tough watch this one.
“Nigeria could be a dark horse” “Nigeria could surprise” lololol they’re shit. Awful team really.
Who was it that raved about Iheanacho on here a while back?
That was a painful half of football to watch from a Nigerian perspective.
Disjointed and toothless …balls crossed into the box to Ihenacho surrounded by men taller than him, Moses always looking to go to ground…no one willing to take on his marker
Dreadful stuff
“”Who was it that raved about Iheanacho on here a while back?””
Nothing to rave about..basically a finisher..not that much pace, average movement …i knew Pep was going to get rid of him. Not that i rate Gabriel Jesus that much higher anyway.
Great goal.
Musa at it again in the world cup.
Good stuff, that should open this bitch up.
Get in boys
Argentines praying that Nigerians rack up a scoreline here.
Goal!!!
GET IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nigeria finally arriving at the World cup with a bang here.
Musa summoning his inner Kanu there… how many times did we see Kanu to the same thing? Damn he was a player.
I’m with Charlie re ramsey. To call him fit is pushing it. I understand he has been here a long time but there are dozens of central midfielders out there better than him. Frankly I wouldn’t give him more than 100k a week.
Now that’s what a goal can do to a teams confidence… almost 2 there..Ndidi with the ranger…. pile in the goals boys!!!!!
*do the same thing…
Iwobi’s doing well today……..
Jon Obi Mikel looool
probably need a second goal here,goal difference might be the deciding factor,Iceland coming out more will resort to more opening
expect Iwobi to come on soon and exploit such spaces
Mikel is 2 years younger than Koscielny….
The Nigerian jersey is simply just a beauty,what a delightful sight to behold
Rooting for Nigeria today, need Messi and Argentina to go through to the next round.
Eagle
Thats incredible has a bit of the Diego Costa syndrome, bet he’s on a tidy salary in China though.
ohhhhhh, hit the woodwork.. unlucky Musa
Musa on FIRE
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Naija !
Just had a more in depth look at ramsey and over the last three years he has a total of 5703 prem minutes. That’s 21.1 games a season. No thanks. I’d sell him.
Musa loves the World Cup doesn’t He?
Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!
So if score stays the same Nigeria would be 3pts, Iceland 1, Argentina 1.
If Argentina beat Nigeria they’ll probably qualify as can’t see Iceland beating the French.
Argentina may live to fight another day.
2-O!!!!
Gonsterous
Yeah…Ronaldo is a born winner….who hardly ever wins the league.
The Argentina I watched yesterday will be lucky hold Nigeria to a point
Musa is on fire!!!!…he’s going for both golden ball and golden boot… Cr7 who?
Another Nigeria goal would completely wipe out Iceland’s GD advantage.
Meaning Argentina with a win would be guaranteed of qualifying so long as Iceland don’t beat Croatia by a greater score than them beating Nigeria.
Nigeria will be more than happy to play for the draw though and are dangerous on the break so far from easy for Messi and friends…
what a daft tackle by Ebuehi.. not a pen though
Here we go more VAR…