Mesut rocks German FA – Is there an Ivan succession plan in place?

by .

via @arsenal

via @arsenal

So, part III of the press release dropped from Mesut and he dropped the QUIT bomb on the German national team.

It’s very sad. His PR team has done an excellent job in conflating two issues for me. Firstly, racism from the right wing, which is particularly grim when the attacks come from a country most Europeans hold on a pedestal for their welcoming attitude and strong stance on integration. Secondly, posting a photo with a despotic leader.

There’s been some great writing on this topic. Rapha H made the point that sports stars who have bravely spoken out against Turkish rule have faced ramifications with their families. Turkish basketball player Enes Kanter said Erdogan is ‘the Hitler of our times.’ Turkey lobbied America to extradite him to face a 4-year prison sentence. Not only that, they also targeted his dad with an arrest warrant. Hakan Sukur is a man in exile in California in a slightly darker story where he was aligned to Gulenists who were blamed for a coup against Erdogan. When he didn’t renounce his allegiance, he was banished and his father imprisoned.

Maybe Mesut felt he had to take the picture, only he will know that. I guess you make the decision which side of history you want to stand on. He’s made his from a position of influence as a German immigrant (Merkel is his leader), other stars with a more direct link to the country made theirs and paid the price, but will live with the knowledge they stood up for their country. Also worth noting you can respect your ancestry without standing with a vicious tyrant.

Anyway, it’s sad that Ozil was hounded out of his national team. When history looks back on the journalists who sought to divide countries by picking on its immigrants, I hope it is cruel. We’re no better. Raheem Sterling was ravaged in the build-up to the World Cup. It was only the intervention of the fans that stopped a majority of the ill-will. Which is something special in my opinion. There’s a lot of talk it was Southgate that heeled the press wounds, maybe partly, but for me it was the fans utter disgust at the attacks on the team and the players that kept the rabble in check.

That said, caving to the racists sets a precedent. That’s a victory for online hounding. A real shame for the German immigrants coming through that needed a bit of leadership. Hopefully, the whole thing shames the German FA into taking necessary measures to protect players… then we’ll see the return of Mesut. I guess that’s dependent on how forgiving the German fan is feeling with regards to a photo that shits on their values.

Another hot button topic whilst I’m here. Karius is having a preseason disaster. His confidence is shot to pieces. I was a goalkeeper. A shit one. If you drop a howler, your mates are all disgusted, you’re nervous, every ball that comes near you is like a grenade. You have to work through it and build your confidence. It’s hard at Sunday league level. Harder as a pro. But that’s what you’re paid to do. You are where you are because of your mental resilience.

For all the amateur head doctors out there, stop saying he’s suffering mental illness. Stop saying he needs to go to rehab. Stop saying he should be dropped. You don’t know him, his state of mind, or what he’s going through. He’s in the top 0.0001% of keepers who made the grade, he’s a fighter, he’s resilient, he’s an athlete, those are all facts. No one at that level wants three months off. He’ll be desperate to find that form. I am all for deeper conversations about depression and anxiety, but I am not for projecting these issues on players who haven’t asked for that treatment. We’re layering a societal taboo on a sports player who is going through a confidence crisis because it feels contemporary to do so. I think that’s unfair without consent.

Finally, some are suggesting Raul S might take over from Ivan G if our CEO ducks out in September. The thought being that maybe he’s the succession plan. I’m not so sure here, Raul’s corp background at Nike was sales, marketing and Barca merch. Not normally where you seek a new CEO. Ivan is a lawyer, lots of CEOs come from finance or product. But we’ll see, I think a lot of City’s backroom guys are exNike. Tom Fox was also exNike, though the Villa project didn’t exactly go to plan.

Right, that’s enough from me today.

See you in the comments.

 

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Pierre

Ozy
“Twenty-three goals, 40 assists – which is a German record – and five-time German player of the year – three of which come after 2014.”

Where’s Marko… Surely he can’t be allowing someone to put stats on le grove proving ozil’s undoubted quality….

5 times German player of the year was he… Not bad I suppose…

Pierre

The ozil obsessives are out in force tonight.

Cesc Appeal

Marko

We’ve been linked to so many Dembele, Vazquez, Lozano, Costa, Cuadrado, Zaha, Sarr, Coman etc to varying degrees that you just have to hope we really are trying to bring in a winger.

The N’Zonzi links persists as well, I think we would be doing some smart business getting Torreira and N’Zonzi in. Changes the dynamic of our midfield completely.

Marko

Where’s Marko… Surely he can’t be allowing someone to put stats on le grove proving ozil’s undoubted quality…. Where’s his Arsenal stats? The last two seasons? Why would I care about his German stats when it’s his performances for Arsenal that I care about. Besides who gives a good toss about international football. In qualifications Germany would likely play one half decent team. They only time you get to play good opposition is knockout stages of a world cup and Euros. I’d personally be shocked if 90% of his German stats were against dirt teams. Anyway all I know is… Read more »

Marko

The ozil obsessives are out in force tonight.

Probably wouldn’t be talking about him if he wasn’t so poor and dumb at the moment

Redtruth

Your Comment Here

Pierre

“Mesut created more chances in the 2018 World Cup per 90 minutes than any other player”

Yes ,it’s true ..and he plays for the Arsenal ….As Arsenal supporters, how proud of him we must be .

Pierre

Marko
“wouldn’t be talking about him if he wasn’t so poor and dumb at the moment”

How” poor “must he be to create more chances than debruyne,messi,Ronaldo,coutinho ,Eriksen and the rest at the 2018 World Cup….

Radio Raheem

Richarlison gone for £50m

Hahahaha hahaha

Lads get your boots on hahahaha

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

The most truthful comment you’ve made red,,,

Marko

Pierre you never answered my question what about his big chances created stats? That’s a thing

Marko

His 35 million follower boys, who of course do not exist in the real world, think he has played excellently if he plays a cross to a man.”

That’s you P

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

I’m thinking maybe Rambo staying… bit of same old same old arsenal….dithering..

He either signs or ship out…

Pierre

CA Yes, it would be perfect if we brought in nzonzi alongside torriera ,that would be the midfield sorted for the next 3 years ..the same could be said of our attacking third if it all gels this season. I still have my concerns about the defence ,I feel that unless mavropanos proves he is the real deal or kosielny returns at the top of his game then we haven’t fully addressed the deficiencies at the back ….that’s why a midfield of nzonzi and torriera would be essential to add protection to the back 4 . Hopefully gone are the… Read more »

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Feel we need one more sparkle before season starts… to get us all singing the same song…

Marko

Hopefully gone are the days of allowing our centre midfield license to play all over the pitch ….our midfield needs discipline ,discipline and more discipline .

Surely not Ramsey? Does Ozil get a pass even though he’s a CAM? That’s a central attacking MIDFIELDER by the way…

Marc

What are the odd’s that all of the “Karius” was suffering from a concussion are just more scouse excuses.

Always the victims – never responsible, never to blame.

Marko

What are the odd’s that all of the “Karius” was suffering from a concussion are just more scouse excuses.

Maybe more to save the lad from a lynch mob. You know how they are. They love Liverpool players they’re their heroes but any away game in Europe and they’re robbing the fuck out of their houses.

Marc

Marko

That’s probably what’s on his mind causing a “distraction” having signed a new keeper he’s surplus to requirements. His whole family are at risk.

G8

My biggest worry is Socratis and the defence in general.
He was pants with Dortmund, and the thought of him playing alongside Mustafi Bellend,Montreal and Cech behind is still frightening. Can Toreira be the missing piece ?
Hope Emery has some tricks up his sleeves or otherwise it’s wenger’s de ja vu thrashing all over again.

Marc

G8

Why would Sven in his first summer transfer window risk destroying his reputation by recommending a player he knows is a dud?

Marko

Some of that is brilliant. Actual football banter you cannot beat. Not this Ozil shite. Fucking boring

KAY Boss

Thumbs up Mesut. whether u are loved or not, u still our player. Let the past be and deliver for the club as u did in your early 5-6 months at that club.
Mesut hasn’t been at his best for the club for sometime now but he isn’t a dross player. He shall come good.

Marko

Let the past be and deliver for the club as u did in your early 5-6 months at that club.

Here 4 years… good for a few months apparently… probably about right

Marc

Marko

I don’t get this vitriolic joy in seeing Wilshere fail. As a youngster he had huge potential that was destroyed by injuries, he never fucked the club aka RVP etc etc.

Would I like to see him play well against Arsenal – no of course not. Would I like to see him beat the Spud’s, Utd, City, Chelsea and Liverpool – yes.

Marc

Marko

You say the Ozil talk is boring but you respond and bite at every comment about him.

Give it a rest.

Marko

That’s not really what I was seeing Marc more taking the piss than hoping he crashes and burns

azed

E54_

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“Jack Wilshere has reached a level where even his playing on the field without getting injured is uploaded and applauded.”

Marc

Marko

Wasn’t actually suggesting that you were the culprit re Wilshere there – more that’s there’s been so much venom against him which now seems to be mostly directed at Ozil that I just get fucked off with it all.

As far as I’m concerned it’s a clean slate for everyone with the new manager now.

Pierre

Marko Of course that includes ozil.. I have already said that I would prefer mhkitaryan in the cam role as he has a better all round game though I would be perfectly happy with ozil there. The thing is though marko, if we have 2 players sitting in midfield, then the need for our attacking third to defend is not so great.. It’s about keeping the shape which we have had difficulty doing the last 3 years or so since the coquelin /cazorla partnership. Ozil was playing his best football for the club with those 2 behind him.. Ramsey was… Read more »

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

g8

I’m hoping he plays him in a bit of a sweeper role…

My early enthuasim is beginning to wane…

Wobbly new keeper
Sock to old to slow

Lick coach role?

Not sure I am looking forward the start now

G8

Marc i did say it’s a worry ..
big one.
But I am hoping it turns out to be just that ..
a worry!

Carts

What a sad cunt Globalgunner is.

Carts

So Roma have signed both Kluivert & Malcom, to add to their burgeoning young talent pool of Under and Schtick.

Truly amazing work by Monchi.

Would love for Roma (or Napoli) tonfinlly sntch Serie A from juventus.

Marc

G8

We went into the invincible’s season with only one recognised CB, the media were tearing us apart on a daily basis.

Let’s hope it’s jitters noting more.

Carts

I think we need an upgrade on our Iwobi nd Welbeck option before we direct funds to Nzonzi, imho.

Not totally against that acquisition, just think right now the priority should’ve been someone like Malcom who offers pace and the ability to beat player from wide areas

Marko

Pierre in a high press everyone puts in a shift it’s pointless if everyone is pressing and Ozil isn’t. His defensive duties don’t disappear with the introduction of Torreira and possibly Nzonzi. These signings aren’t an excuse for him to saunter around the pitch… still

Marko

So Roma have signed both Kluivert & Malcom, to add to their burgeoning young talent pool of Under and Schtick.

Some brilliant talent there

Marko

We went into the invincible’s season with only one recognised CB, the media were tearing us apart on a daily basis.

Is that through that doesn’t sound true. Campbell and Toure were ever present and Keown and Cygan played. Nah I’m calling baloney on that respectfully

Leftsidesanch

Globalgunner do one you mug

WengerEagle

Schick looks pretty average, wasn’t at all impressed by him last season for Roma.

Under on the other hand looks a talent, Malcom and Kluivert are great pick-ups too. Will be very interesting to see how Pastore does as the fulcrum of the team once again after an indifferent spell at PSG.

Juventus are still well out of reach but Roma could be building something pretty exciting if they can put a few more pieces together with the Allison/Nainggolan funds.

Redtruth

Ozil’s stats have not saved him from the German chopping block and neither should his Arsenal ‘stats’.

HillWood

Marko
You really need to get a life

Marko

Excellent point hillwood

KAY Boss

Barcelona hijack this Malcom deal. Being reported they have offered much than Roma. Bordeaux have cancelled Malcom’s flight to Italy and are now in talks with Barca. willian to Utd?

Duzie

Stooooooppppppp discussing politics, especially Nigerian politics (I am from Nigeria by the way, and our politics is a borefest). Can we get back to discussing Arsenal?

Duzie

Barcelona are actually stockpiling, if that Malcom hijacking is to be believed.

Dembele
Coutinho
Malcom
Messi
Alcacer
Deulofeu
Ffs

Carts

WE

tbf, Schick spent most his time on the bench. I wouldn’t pay much attention to his stats.

From what I saw, and it was very little, he’s definitely got a bit about him.

WengerEagle

Lol, Malcom the little slut.

Carts

Oh snap, if Barcelona has pulled an 11th hour then we’ll played.

Chelsea have played themselves LOLOL. They should’ve bit Barcelona’s hand off with that outrageous 3rd offer

Cesc Appeal

The official Twitter account of Roma stated they had reached an agreement, if Barcelona have stepped in at the last minute I imagine there are going to be some words.

Maybe Barcelona were priced out of the Willian move and decided it was better to go for a younger player if they are looking to buy Rabiot as well?

Over £100 Million for Willian who is 30 and Rabiot does not look that great.

Marko

Dembele
Coutinho
Malcom
Messi
Alcacer
Deulofeu

Deulofeu was sold to Watford and Alcacer is likely to be sold. But I get you. Could be good for us though possibly Dembele loan?

Marko

Pavon ain’t going to Barcelona anytime soon

Marko

Surprised Guedes hasn’t gone anywhere. We could probably get him on a loan if we pushed it

WengerEagle

Carts

Talking from watching him mate, never looked threatening for me off the bench for Roma in the CL or the Serie A matches I saw him in.

Was Monchi the Sevilla bloke btw?

WengerEagle

Pretty stupid for Chelsea not to accept a 55 million pound offer for a moody thirty year old wide man as good as Willian is.

Think his best years are behind him personally and Chelsea will rue that one.

Marko

He was WE. He’s a very shrewd DOF one of the best around especially for a club who likes to pick up young talent and sell for eventual profit

Leedsgunner

WE

Monchi was Emery’s director of football (or equivalent) at Sevilla, they had a great partnership.

WengerEagle

Marko and Leeds

He definitely has an interesting history, any idea why things went a bit sour for him towards the end of his time in Seville?

Duzie

The squad still seems incomplete.

I hope to see Nzonzi, Kovacic, CB and Brandt at the club before the close of the transfer window. Which CB do you reckon we chase?

Carts

I think Chelsea probably would’ve sold had Barcelona made one more bid. That way they’d be looking close to £70m.

More worryingly is that Barcelona were about to go full Chygrinsky.

I’m sure even at €40m Malcom we be a sound investment. I mean, there’s a 9 year difference between he and Willian

Carts

WE

that’s fair enough, bud. Wasn’t insinuating that you haven’t watched him.

But we’ll see. Roma also pid good money for him

WengerEagle

Carts

You reckon Dembele is still in Valverde’s plans? I think that it was way over-stated how much he ‘struggled’ to settle in last season considering the injury he suffered, he still put up very good creative numbers on his return and began to look like he was gelling with Messi and friends.

I reckon he slips Coutinho into Iniesta’s role in midfield and Malcom/Willian would play wide opposite of Dembele behind Messi and Suarez, then one of the wide players would be dropped for a CM in the bigger matches where they need to combat the better opposition midfielders.

WengerEagle

comment image

Carts

WE

It would be nothing short of myopicness if Barcelona give up on Dembele.

He’s got Plenty n his locker: just needs to stay fit and get minutes.

I think Arthur will take iniesta’s place. Or at least that’s my understanding. So you’re looking at Arthur—Busquets—Coutinho, I reckon. Front line picks itself

Dissenter

Barca’s transfers have been quite pathetic for a while now.
Messi has carried that club for so long.

Guernsey gunner

I can see all this oil nonsense being a real distraction this year, the last thing we need trying to bed in a whole new approach. I hope emery approx the club are ruthless with him if he doesn’t deliver immediate results on the pitch. His salary demands that he must.

TonyD

Whilst the article is less than has been extensively hashed out here, the stats are interesting, such as 50 goal assists since 2013.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5983877/Mesut-Ozil-Arsenal-star-player-splits-opinion-like-no-other.html

Like I said it all or nothing for Ozil this season and the ball is firmly in His court

azed

Carts.
You left out Rakitic.

Kay

Yeah, Ozil is so shit but he managed to land only 92 caps at only 29 because there is no one better than him in his role for 10 effing years for arguably one of the most talented squads after spain of 2010?

Just dont get the hate.

Kay

And Arsenal were great over he last 6 or 8 years? Ozil is easily the top 3 in this period inspite of the dumbo wenger.

Pierre

Kay
“Just dont get the hate.”

Simple really…. It’s le grove and he plays for The Arsenal =hate.

Emiratesstroller

Arsenal will start next season in 3 weeks and the Ozil saga has been frankly
a distraction, which whilst important should have been best avoided.

Ozil is a very talented player, but he has underperformed in recent times with
too many offield distractions including the contract saga alongside Alexis Sanchez.

He has been offered a very generous new contract with Arsenal and it is now
time for him to find his best form and deliver for the club under a new head
coach.

TonyD

Kay
“Just dont get the hate.”

Simple really we just want value for money and more importantly value for the team.

No one hates ozil, we’re just fed up with the lack of effort and him wasting his potential ability.

TitsMcGee

No one hates ozil, we’re just fed up with the lack of effort and him wasting his potential ability.”

Sentiments echoed by Uli Hoeness lol

mysticleaves

Schick is a white little bit better Sanogo so far. He can improve though.

As for the new “Ozil was good for first 5-6months of his career” line, wasn’t it in his second season he almost broke the EPL assist record?

Ozils first season was very good, 2nd season excellent. 3rd till now meh. I expect this season to range from good to excellent and every one SHOULD be happy.

TonyD

When one doesn’t like someone it means they hate them right? CA and Gambon have often stated they don’t like Ozil in the course of their discourse

mysticleaves

‘They all have flaws but you don’t make a living out of your weaknesses, you make a living out of your strengths. Therefore the coach must emphasise the strengths as much as possible and put players around this person who hide his weaknesses.’

Spot. But I wonder why the speaker always neglected the weaknesses of his teams. Does my head in…

HighburyLegend

“No one hates ozil, we’re just fed up with the lack of effort and him wasting his potential ability.”

Amen to that.
(p.s. : even if we must admit that his “potential abilities” are not the same anymore since, let’s say 3 years now…)

Pierre

Mysticleaves
He certainly never practiced what he is preaching now…. That’s for sure.

TonyD

‘I wish I was smarter but I’m really dim’ Pierre Here’s a stat for you. 50 goal assists in 5 years = 10 assisted goals in a potential 198 games = 0.05% return Ah I hear you say he didn’t play in all 198 games we have to allow for holidays and all injuries imagined and real. Perhaps then you can give us the total he played and the the % return. We await your conclusion. As you’re alway knocking Le grove then why do you keep posting? Why not just keep with your buddies on Untold who will lap… Read more »

mysticleaves

“50 goal assists in 5 years
= 10 assisted goals in a potential 198 games = 0.05% return
Ah I hear you say he didn’t play in all 198 games we have to allow for holidays and all injuries imagined and real.”

Total tosh. lol.

Who has better assists since 2013 in the PL?

Ozil needs to score more goals though and the people will attack him less. Goals cloud alot of people’s judgement. That’s why Ramsey is a star and Ozil is shit

Pierre

Tony “No one hates ozil, we’re just fed up with the lack of effort and him wasting his potential ability.” This perceived lack of effort is just a stick to beat him with. No one ever said that Alexis Sanchez had a lack of effort or was lazy but it has been reported that ozil’s work rate was consistently higher than sanchez. Let’s be honest here… Not much is going to change . Ozil is never going to go flying into tackles or win countless headers.. He will carry on doing what he is doing but Hopefully Emery will encourage… Read more »

Jamie

Pierre –

Define ‘work rate’. Not as simplistic as distance covered, although you like simplicity like ‘chances created’ without any context.

There is no one in world football who thinks Ozil’s effective work rate is higher than Alexis’. Citation required.

TR7

The problem with Ozil for me is not his work rate or his attitude on the pitch but rather the way he plays. Drifting wide and putting crosses in is all he does which makes our attack very predictable and easy to deal with. Give me a Rosicky or Cazorla over him any day who play through the middle and get in the box more often and in doing so they often take two to three opposition players out of the game.

raptora

New post.

InsideRight

Ozil was dropped by the German team manager because he did his disappearing act at international level in a team that couldn’t afford passengers. What he expected was to be treated as special, like when Wenger dropped £350k a week on him without any justification at all. All racism should be condemned. It’s unacceptable. But Ozil chose to put heritage over nationality for whatever reason and didn’t like the reaction after he compounded it with a lack of effort for Germany. People in Germany can be forgiven for thinking he would prefer to be playing for Turkey when he does… Read more »