Well good f*cking morning to you all!
2 days until I leave for sunny England. Land of the free. Well, nearly. I am hugely excited to head back home to reacquaint myself with that Essex accent I try so hard all year to suppress, get knee deep in Marmite, proper bacon and highly offensive ‘banter.’ Things are so bad in New York these days, a woman apologised to me the other day for saying ‘they didn’t have the balls.’
IT IS OK MY BALLS ARE NOT UPSET.
Right, what are we going to talk about today?
We could talk about SPOTY? Or we could decide that people who shriek about that need to grow the fuck up. It’s a popularity contest. Who cares?
We could talk about Mesut Ozil? NO. We should talk about the German Netflix show called Dogs of Berlin.
This show is about a German footballer of Turkish descent that’s murdered.
GERMAN ENTERTAINMENT FOLK, ARE YOU BLOODY KIDDING ME?
Now, I haven’t seen it, but look, we live in a culture of outrage. If my balls can get offended, then so can I over this abomination. Likely just a rough set of coincidences, but my word, not a good look after the carry-on over the World Cup.
Anyway, the German is being linked to United. Now, not that I’d be fussed if we could do a deal, as long as it doesn’t involve a player. We’ve had WELBZ, Silvestre and Mikhi off them. I quite liked Bailly from his Spain days, but he’s not cutting it in a terrible side, I’m not sure we should be taking a chance. That said, give me him over Cahill or Pepe.
Arsenal face BATE in the next round of the Europa League. Round of bloody 32. How boring. Even worse, the kick-off times are 5.55pm. That means people have to leave work extra early. What a pain in the backside. Additionally, City and Southampton move from Saturday’s to Sunday’s and our Bournemouth game moves from a Tuesday to a Wednesday. Europa is the absolute pits for weekend games. I really miss 3pm kick-offs on a Saturday.
What else could we talk about? How about the story that Rabiot is going to be sold by PSG this January because he won’t sign a new deal. Rumours are Spurs are in for him, as well as Juventus. No chance we’ll be in for a player Emery insisted wasn’t good enough to be a box to box midfielder, but it’s nice to dream of us picking up sexy deals like that.
Finally, I really love The Arsenal Community team. LOOK AT THAT KIDS HAPPY FACE. So damn cute.
☺️🎅@PetrCech was among the players that visited @WhitHealth last week#AFCGivingTogether 🔴 pic.twitter.com/RnS1mxzMHd
— TheArsenalFoundation (@AFC_Foundation) December 17, 2018
DM
2
3rd
Tr4phy
Gm
Ooooh!!!
Tr4phy
I was close today. Not bad with with europa legue place though
Tell me about it, its been like this for half a season and I still can’t get used to the Thursday/Sunday scheduling.
Receding Hairline “If we win the league cup will that save our season?? Just asking. We played in the league cup final last year and i don’t think anyone actually cared that much. Except you Pierre” It was only the select few Arsenal supporters who didn’t care about winning a cup final ( including FA cups ) …..your choice ,more fool you… I can tell you now, the premier league for Arsenal this season is going to be a long tedious and frustrating affair this season … The football is nothing to write home about and the games will get… Read more »
If you can read Pedro’s words between the line, you get this : “No chance we’ll be in for such a good player, as Emery’s name is clearly not big or glamorous enough to attract such great talents.”
You are welcome.
*lines
Pierre
Don’t usually care for the league cup. With injuries starting to pile up, the kroenkes unlikely to provide serious money to Unai for him to sign starting XI caliber players and not stop gaps in the winter, there is slim chance we make top 4. Want us to beat the Spuds because if Leicester knock out city tonight and we lose tmrw, Spuds will massive favourites to win it. Need their trophy drought to continue.
Have a nice day.
No one is leaving work early to watch Arsenal trudge it out against Bate Borisov…no one!
Everything is fine but…
Why the fuck le grove is spamming my email since yesterday by reposting old articles dated back upto 2013????
As for the Ozil to United swap? Great…I’ll drive him (I wouldn’t). However, United aren’t exactly swimming in talent at the moment, are they.
I mean, Martial is still being labelled as the guy with ‘potential’ as he has for the past 4 years…another Balotelli in the making.
Sanchez can go fuck himself.
Pogba is shite.
I guess if they wanted to give us De Gey…I would be down with that. Ozil and Ramsay for De Gey? Yes.
De Gey ??? Do you mean De Gea ??
Are you a big fan of “50 shades of GREY ??” lol
Jose gone…
FFS Jose sacked. They’re on the way up
HL
Ha ha…sorry. I honestly had no idea how he spelt his name.
who cares but all I know is I would rather watch Arsenal play in a league cup cup semi final than a meaningless league game. First off it’s the quarter final tomorrow not the Semi Meaningless league games?? The same meaningless ones you have been demanding we win first halves in all season? Cup games are all good and fine but league standing at the end of 38 meaningless league games determines how far a football club have come. The football is nothing to write home about and the games will get harder not easier … How so?? We are… Read more »
Who says Jose sacked?
Mourinho sacked
Wow didn’t see that one coming so soon
Very bad news.
I would be worried if I were Spurs.
Mind you, with United’s resources, they can get any manager they fancy.
Arteta probably.
Of course they are not Arsenal, they don’t wait 50 years before taking the right decision.
Ok, so we can forget any swap deal with them lol
Jose mourinho sacked.
SACKED
LÒOOOOOOOOOOL
Wowzers, just saw the news about Jose on
SSN
@GoB : what’s funny in that ?? They will became a force again, probably with Zidane in charge next summer.
Highbury Legend
They also have spend hundreds of millions to spend.
@GoB : what’s funny in that ?? They will became a force again, probably with Zidane in charge next summer.
Become a force,,maybe
With Zidane in charge,,,i do not think so
This is how big clubs do business.
To be honest, I’m surprised they waited this long.
If they get the next manager right…it’ll mean another shark in the fourth place tank for Arsenal.
Very bad news for us.
Would be funny if they took Wenger till the end of the season!
united have done the right thing sacking that mourinho
but he has a big history of messing it all up in the 3rd season and gets sacked before xmas
players don’t want to play for him afterwards and you can see why
his tactics was just buying expensive players and keeping team compact with experience and counter attack he was successful before but now the game has changed with high pressing and quick football with good fitness
“England international midfielder Jack Wilshere, 26, could be out for the rest of the season with more ankle problems.”
How can this still qualify as “news”
Westham wil rue Pelegrino’s advice to sign him to a multi year contract. They initially offered him a rolling one year deal contingent on being injury free.
Wilshere will forever be a crock.
“Would be funny if they took Wenger till the end of the season!”
lol indeed.
Carrick in charge until the end of this season.
Wenger waiting by the phone.
United had to act because several players were trying to negotiate their way out of the club.
Mourhino’s interview on Sunday after the loss just showed how far gone he was. It showed he was irredeemable.
Why did they wait for so long. They didn’t owe him anything besides his payoff unlike how we owed a certain manager a lot more than money.
Wenger at United would be AMAZING!!!
lol Jamie, just like he did so many times for Real, Barcelona, Bayern and others calling.
Wish my boss would sack me for 22 million quid……..
Pedro want a managerial swap deal : Emery to Manure, Jose to Arsenal.
“England international midfielder Jack Wilshere, 26, could be out for the rest of the season with more ankle problems.”How can this still qualify as “news”
Because he is still a youngster with MASSIVE potential i guess..what’s he now 26 right?? To think someone here said Emery will regret letting him go
United will revert back to being a force. They won’t hav any shortage of top managers lining up to take the job.
They need to try and sign Conte. He’s worked with Pogba before and is the type of hard headed manager that they need.
“Wish my boss would sack me for 22 million quid……..”
Wish mine would do it for 2.
United can afford to make another managerial mistake.
The only thing anyone would have about signing Conte is because he sued his former employers and decided to continue litigation when arbitration was an option.
I’m probably in the minority but I don’t think Utds squad is as talented as made out. Good thing for them is, they have funding and a younger model to come in and get them back to where they feel they need to be.
I really fear Zidane will be the next one.
Leftside,
United have players they can sell to generate funds besides having a larger purse to begin with.
We gave away that advantage with the shambolic mismanagement of the Sanchez, Ozil, Welbeck and Ramsey deals. That was at least £150 million out the door.
Oh well. That was good while it lasted. Said from before day 1 that Mourinho would give us a breather before United become a force. They were never going to have success with him. Like Wenger 12 years ago, Mourinho was done a few years ago. Ideas are no longer relevant and other managers have gone past him.
Warning. Beware United in 2-3 years time from now.
“Gary Neville has just told us that he thinks Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino should be Manchester United’s target to become new permanent boss. ”
That would be hilarious, too.
Zidane may not be the right choice for United.
Note would have been the best for the job since he has an operational knowledge of the English game.
He’ll wish he didn’t decide to stay in court.
He thought he was signing unto a big spending club when he went to Chelsea. He didn’t know Abrmovich had decided to close his wallet.
Diss
Agreed. We really are still feeling the effects of that woeful mismanagement.
No way Poch leaves for United.
United aren’t going to pay off Mourhino with 22-25 million and then pay Mr Levi 25 million to take away Poch.
Good thing for them is, they have funding
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As I wrote yesterday, it so pisses me off that our yank owner is worth double what Man U’s yanks are, but they’ll hand out the money regardless.
Kroenke: “I didn’t buy Arsenal to win trophies”.
Cunt.
Danny
The Glazers aren’t “handing out” any money. Don’t use that to knock Kroenke.
The money United will spend is from self-generated funds, what’s left after they’ve paid £18 million yearly dividend to the the Glazer family.
The Glazers didn’t spend a dime to buy United. It was hedge fund money.
The Glazers found creative ways to monetize SAF successes and extract the financial markets by publicly listing the club.
I don’t think Mourinho will ever recover from this new sacking. He’s done as a top-class manager.
United won’t become a force this season.
Mourinho is just feeling the hands of karma. No manager guarantees success.
United will jut OK and we’ll better them this season for sure.
I don’t think Zidane would succeed with that ManU team (should he be interested in the job).
Arsène will turn down the offer, he’s Real Madrid next target.
Josip Skoblar
Don’t think zidane is interested in England.
Think they will hire Jardim. I’ll be disappointed because I wanted him at Arsenal
Wenger at ManU could create a diversion from the Brexit chaos.
Dissenter
December 18, 2018 10:36:22
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Fair enough.
What about Liverpool, are they also like Man U? Kroenke’s worth 3 times what Henry is.
Dream10
I think you’re right. Zidane only rates the Spanish and Italian leagues. In football terms, it’s a bit weird. It must be something cultural.
I think MANU will not sign another defensive minded coach. Their fans want entertaining football back.
“Think they will hire Jardim.”
Pedro would never recovers from that!! lol
Josip Skoblar
I think Guardiola is similar to Zidane. He’s not impressed with English football. A few players from Latin countries feel that way.
Remember Eric Abidal and Xavi talking about a player in the PL, might have been Rooney, and they said his touch is not “English”.
Jardim
Zidane
Wenger
All available.
Take your pick.
It will be Pochettino
He’s done all he can at Spurs.
I think Zidane successes at Madrid with the CL were due to a unique set of circumstances that he will struggle to replicate elsewhere. This may be heresy but he’s not on the same league as Guardiol or Allegri yet. Just my unemotional take. United no longer have the institutional advantages that Madrid still have in Spain. United don’t have a collosus of a player that Ronaldo was at Madrid. The United squad is thinned down to near mediocrity after 5 years of nonsensical management. United have money….but so do so many other clubs. I hope they appoint Zidane. It… Read more »
Jardim
Zidane
Wenger
All available.
Take your pick.
———————
Conte?
Dream10
It’s a bit stereotypical but it is about that. Zidane said countless times in interviews that football is all about technique, anticipation and good positioning, not about running.
Spud fans should be shitting themselves. If they lose the Poch in the summer they are in serious trouble. Who’s going to want to go to a club under severe austerity who’s fans have unrealistic expectations.
gambon
I also think Pochettino is a strong contender. But he seems to like it at Spurs…
Arteta and everyone knows it.
Man yoo champions.
Fact.
MANU has just missed the boat. They could have hired that German guy who just beat us in South Wale.
Who’s going to want to go to a club under severe austerity who’s fans have unrealistic expectations.
—————————-
Arsene Fuckin’ Wenger!!
Danny “Dissenter December 18, 2018 10:36:22 ——————————- Fair enough. What about Liverpool, are they also like Man U? Kroenke’s worth 3 times what Henry is.” Good point. The FSG group have indeed spent their money,albeit strategically to extpand the capacity of the stadium but then that saved them from having to build a new stadium. The advantage Liverpool have on the field is from aggressively pursuing commercial deals. For a long time Wenger used to restrict the scale of preseason travel until he got overruled. Liverpool have been more aggressive to do both post season and preseason travel for commercial… Read more »
They could have hired that German guy who just beat us in South Wale.
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Austrian……..
United will want to get a DoF into the club first.
I was told Mourhino is spinning his exit as being sacked because he refused to have a DoF appointed over him.
Wenger would be a dream manager for them. Their fans like Le Prof’s attacking football.
Dissenter
December 18, 2018 10:58:30
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Thanks
So basically its only Abramovich and Mansour spending their own money?
Spurs have a very good squad
Lots of very good managers in Europe
Pochettino has not exactly won all there is to win with Spurs, he finished top four a few times and choked in Europe
Get a grip
Can’t see Sheikh Mansour sanctioning Arteta to Utd for any money. He’d literally be handing the title to Utd.
Pochettino has not exactly won all there is to win with Spurs
————————————–
A bit of an understatement – he ain’t won Shit!
lol
Wenger or Arteta ?? What a suspense…
Danny
“So basically its only Abramovich and Mansour spending their own money?”
That’s would be partially correct. Abramovich turned the spigot off long before Conte signed in. That was one of the things that vexed the Italian.
Sheik Mansour and the QSi owners of PSG are the only ones spending their sheikdom’s oil fortunes.
Pierre “I would rather watch Arsenal play in a league cup semi-final than a meaningless league game.” Weird comment. Not the bit about enjoying a cup semi-final — that makes sense — but the bit about PL games being “meaningless”. This does provide some insight, though, into why it so bothers you that others didn’t think as highly of Wenger’s last few FAC title wins as you did and why you think his last five seasons were actually quite good. For you, Arsenal are really only a cup club; the league is out of our reach and “meaningless”. Have I… Read more »
Mourinho’s sacking mid-season is a good decision from United. Whether an interim manager can turn them around will be interesting to see. Martial’s agent had just stated publicly that he had no interest in staying there. I wonder how he will play going forward, how he will be used. He’s a very good player. They have plenty of quality in their squad. The interim manager simply needs to do three things: create a positive atmosphere in camp; give them a well-defined shape and approach; pick the right XI. I guess they might have defensive shortcomings that can’t be fully solved… Read more »
F**k it.
How is it we got stuck with our imbecile for years and yet United only had to endure the shit we’ve been suffering for a number of years for a few months?
Bad news but Carrick as interim could still see them in trouble for the rest of the season.
If it is Pochettino bit of a double edged sword.
On the one hand weakens Spurs massively, on the other hand it improves United considerably.
Bamford
Martial’s talent has been incredibly wasted at ManU. That cost him a place in the French team. The lad is excellent.
“How is it we got stuck with our imbecile for years and yet United only had to endure the shit we’ve been suffering for a number of years for a few months?”
2 different cultures, 2 different thoughts about the “winning mentality”.
Receding “How dare a goal keeper try to stop a cross from getting to an unmarked striker who would have had a free header from a few yards out.” Again, the error was in his missing the ball, not in his coming out for it. Perfectly fine to come out for a cross — provided you push the ball away or catch it. If you miss the ball completely and leave the goal wide open, you’ve made a mistake. Further, coming out for it WAS an error if he could never have gotten that ball (on account of his position… Read more »
Agreed, Josip.
Martial’s stats are poor…really poor.
Perhaps we all got caught up in the hype surrounding the latest hot prospect.
Meh, he won’t be joining Arsenal unless we can offload Ozil and or, Ramsay. Then maybe.
I think losing Jose will invigorate United.
Managers like Jose and Wenger are relics.
Tony D
You seem like you might be a bit of a stereophile. What kind of music do you listen to? Any recommendations? I thought it was kind of a weak year for new music, but I found a few new-ish things I liked, e.g., Nicolas Jaar (Sirens), Liza Flume (Spain), I’m Your Vinyl, Lord Huron and Khruangbin.
Any year-end recommendations?