Good things come to those who wait.
The United gravy train was wiped out by a massive lump of doorstop thick Hovis last night as Thomas Tuchel crushed a bland United (0-2).
I know, it’s sickening for many of you, one of my hipster faves dropped us a favour. The wonderfully eccentric Tuchel organized his Paris team perfectly to nullify the basic strategies of United. No highline for him. He sat two midfielders in front of the PSG defence, he kept things super tight and he stopped Paul Pogba feeding the rapid front line of United.
It’s amusing that fan complaints are similar wherever you are in the food chain. United supporters bitching and whining that they need to invest in their squad is incredibly satisfying. They have more than enough good players to make a go of it against PSG, they were just outsmarted by a more tactically astute manager, who organized players who were out of control last season into a tight unit.
They still have the second leg. Paris are a bit Spursy, so no doubt a surprise could be sprung next week. Remember, this is the team that lost a 4 goal lead against Barcelona in 2017. Anything is possible. I’m just glad United are having to go to Paris to chase a game. I hope it’s really tiring.
It’s a huge season for Tuchel, he’s a man with special sauce, the problem is it’s been a little too spicy. He has the crazy ideas, the sublime footballing vision, he’s been praised widely for his handling of big names/bad boys and he’s dealt with squad conflict well. From what I’ve read, the players also have a lot of respect for his powers at this second.
I don’t know for sure, but I think PSG might have done their homework on their man and tried to surround him with a team that could iron out the creases in his personality. Their assistant coach, 39-year-old Zsolt Lőw, is a darling of the coaching scene, adored by players and sporting directors, and also a target for Premier League clubs a few years back was hired at great expense last summer. He’s known as an innovator and a coach players go to war for.
It’s an interesting project at PSG. I think the mission points to the future. Great clubs will opt for coaches who are innovators, and most importantly, entertainers. Stan Kroenke called sport a content game. If the world of football distribution is being democratized, clubs are going to have to work harder for eyeballs. Look at how the kids are engaging with the game these days, little short clips of the best games on the web. Those clips are marketing fodder. They tell you where to look when you have 5000 games to choose from.
The teams that offer the most value for people’s time will be the most worthy of sponsorship deals. Ugly football that wins won’t cut it, because I can watch beautiful football that wins in Italy, or Spain, or England if I choose. The modern fan is not loyal, they go where the excitement is. I think PSG have identified that and that’s why they opted for a manager who hasn’t won titles (also worth noting that Bayern were also very keen on Tuchel).
Cannot wait for them to now be turned over by Phil Jones shinned effort, followed by two late headers from BIG Mo Fellaini next week.
The test is really on for Ole G now he’s lost his first major test. I always wince a little bit when things are going well for a new manager and the press start asking about how such genius came about. They all fall for it… Emery was talking about banning fruit juice and not allowing his players to be cowards… Ole G was talking about bringing back simple joys like purified water and allowing players to smile. Now we’ll see how much was genius and how much was the adrenaline shot of not having to walk Mourinho metaphorically wax his balls in front of the dressing room every week.
In transfer news, Matt Law rolled with a story about intermediaries trying to sell Ozil this summer. I love it, it’s like some dodgy rabble of estate agents trying to sell a Miami beach house that’s going to fall into the sea in 15 years. No one is going to pick up those wages and there is no way Mesut is going to exchange London for anywhere in China. He doesn’t need to.
The more worrying part of his story was he also mentioned the lower fee of £50m this summer. I’ve been told this info is coming from Arsenal PR, and that would now mean 3 well-connected journos are peddling sub £50m, versus Ornstein who says £100m.
I really can’t fathom why the club is so keen to dampen enthusiasm for summer. It’s like they’re not even trying to convince fans to buy season tickets. It seems way too early to pushing stories like that. But whatever, it’s not great news.
Still, at least we’re being linked with Grimaldo of Benfica… we certainly need a fresh look at left back. Right back. Centre back. Right wing. Left wing. Back up keeper. M… just kidding.
Those pennies are going to have to go an awful long way this summer!
To tackle that, we’ll need a good technical director. I’ll hopefully rustle up some fresh names for you tomorrow, assuming Arsenal will be a bit diligent over search and select and interview more than one candidate for a job that’ll shape Arsenal for years to come.
See you in the comments.
Ozil is a remnant of the past regime. The Wenger regime.
For those that so desperately wanted Wenger out of the club then really they should be shedding no tears now if he is frozen out of the club.
Of course it is perfectly understandable that those with a penchant for Wenger will want to cling onto Ozil.
Pedro
We are 1 point off 4th, why don’t you wait until its mathematically impossible to finish in top 4 before carrying the Emery Out banner?
I’m pretty sure Emery will be judged on the position his team finished not the style or vision of his team.
Even Abrahamovic won a few trophies first before he started looking for style.
*Concede not as good as I thought. Although he’s already proved he is a top player.
Azed, why don’t you stop bringing everyone down by saying top 4 isn’t possible?
Emery is either a good coach who will get more out of his team as they adapt to his ideas, or things are going to go south after 9 months, indicating he’s maybe not that good.
You can’t have it both ways.
Arsenal run/cover the most ground in the whole of the premier league.
Something is amiss, if the players are putting in the steps you’d have to figure what they’re being asked to do is flawed for it to yield such a porous defence.
4 clean sheets in 26 games…
Liverpool have 14 (BEST)
City have 12
Chelsea have 11
Spurs 10
–
Newcastle have 7 [Rafa magic]
–
Arsenal have 4
Huddersfield have 4
West Ham have 4
Fulham have 2 (WORST)
Dissenter – Juve, PSG, Barca, Bayern, Madrid. How’s that for an appeal to authority?
Pedro
Can you point out were I said top 4 isn’t possible?
Newcastle have 7 [Rafa magic]
Magical season they are having
CG
“Ozil has had a stellar career- and won the highest of accolades.”
If its about winning accolades, why do you want us to sign English players? When last did an English team win anything of note?
The Spanish won the world cup and euros buy you don’t want Spanish players….
Axed, I would hope Emery is judged on his style, vision and where we finish.
This might sound harsh but if we get CL qualification I would not have a problem if management have their head turned by an inspirational candidate and decide to replace him. This is unlikely I know but at the moment I have no great confidence in Emery’s ability to be the manager to return us to the top. I hope I’m wrong.
Azed, did you read CCs stats, do you think he’ll be judged on those?
Love that you’re naive to think style and vision don’t matter. Empty seats for a Friday night United game.
Champions League will be a disaster for Emery and will speed up his demise.
He’s struggled to manage fitness with a team in the Europa League, he’s totally fucked if he has to play 3 games a week with a first team.
Paulinho
You knew my views about Ramsey. I was one of his harshness critics here but he’s won my respect with how he’s conducted himself.
More knowledgeable people at Juventus [more than anyone here on this blog] agree with the the opinion you have held consistently.
You had him right. He wasn’t properly utilized by Wenger.
Can’t argue with the facts on the ground and the massive money they used to outbid for his services.
Pedro
“Champions League will be a disaster for Emery and will speed up his demise.”
CL will be a major disaster for any team that starts games with Monreal, Mustafi , Koschielny and AMN in the defense.
That’s not the back-line of a serious club . There are teams in the championship with better defenders.
Azed, we made the semi-finals of the world cup, Liverpool were in the final of the Champions League, we have the best league in the world, we won the U17 world cup, the U20 national championship, we have the best young player in the Bundesliga.
England is where it’s at my friend.
Dissenter, interesting to see whether Emery is given the CL money upfront if they make it… or whether we go cautious, like some shit club coming up from the Championship.
Leftside Except I don’t for one second buy the story he’s been injured Where exactly has he picked it up? I mean he’s barely featured and Emery always uses vague lines of him not ‘physically ready’ for certain games I think he’s simply being alienated and Both coach and management are going about it all the wrong way gambon Exactly! We’re top the chart for most grounds covered in games but can barely see any formative pattern or style in the way we play,just a rather disjointed and huff and puff until we’re sucjer punched time and again It doesn’t… Read more »
The days of England bashing are over.
I really think England is over-flowing with good footballers now.
Which is why I support Charlie [chuckle] George’s posy of yesterday that stated that the new technical director must have an intricate knowledge of the English game at the lower levels.
There have to be more Holdings in the league one. Enough of depending on crocked defenders with names that take some reflection to type up 😉
“Azed, we made the semi-finals of the world cup, Liverpool were in the final of the Champions League, we have the best league in the world, we won the U17 world cup, the U20 national championship, we have the best young player in the Bundesliga.
Under 17 and under 20 mean nothing. I know that because I am a Nigerian and we have won a lot of kiddy tourneys.
Stan paying off the bonds would effectively mean a cash injection of £95m this summer, and £60m in 2022, £2025 and 2028. Stan wouldnt lose anything in theory because the enterprise value should rise once the debt is paid, since the price of a share is based on the future cashflows associated with that share. _______________ I’m almost sure I read in Swiss Ramble or somewhere.. That there is a substantial penalty if the bonds were to be payed off early. They made this agreement with the bond lender to encourage people to invest in the bonds and so they… Read more »
Under 17 and under 20 mean nothing. I know that because I am a Nigerian and we have won a lot of kiddy tourneys.
Loads of it
Azed, we’re following it through with the seniors.
Southgate is a king. Next world cup is ours.
azed
The difference is that the Nigerian teams often have players with completely fused epiphyseal plates that defy biology of growth.
In a nut shell they are often more [cough…cough] advanced, shall we say.
There’s the story of Phillip Usondu, the highets goal scorer in the team that won the first U-17 championship in China. The Belgian club that signed him had to let him go because their youth were breaking their bone when they collided with him in training.
There’s youth… and then there’s youth.
Ramsey didn’t also travel to Belarus…why is no one upset about that
Dissenter is about how young you feel not how old you are.
Macaulay Chrisantus was in his 30’s when he won one of the youth tournaments golden boot…but i am pretty sure he felt 20 at heart
Jamie – Just to add,you have to at least concede Ramsey is a better player than you thought, simply by the logic you used.
You put the opinion of these top clubs on a certain pedestal a few months ago, and since events have proved you wrong, you’ve now downgraded their judgement due to mistakes they made over the years. So either you underrated Ramsey’s ability, or you lack logical consistency and integrity.
Pedro
“Southgate is a king. Next world cup is ours.”
Are you in Denver, Pedro? Put that cigaweed down, and slowly walk away.
Side note to Sal… Thanks for the music tip yesterday. You da man.. I’m still stuck in my Blues phase.. Think it comes from being old and liking alcohol a little too much.
Macaulay Chrisantus was in his 30’s when he won one of the youth tournaments golden boot…but i am pretty sure he felt 20 at heart
Lmao
falsification of age, a tricky one for all sportsmen,happens everywhere
Axed “The Spanish won the world cup and euros buy you don’t want Spanish players….”” There are indeed good Spanish players. Brilliant ones! (Our Wenger signed Carzola and Hector – for buttons.) But They are even better- when they play in the slower, staccato Spanish way over there in La Liga. But in comparison- nothing to The Anglo French players – we should aim for them. I am just hoping – emery gets a touch of ‘The Jose Reyes’ – and gets homesick- and goes ….He has done enough damage… Is it right – we have not kept one clean… Read more »
Next world cup is ours.!
It is our time!
There’s the story of Phillip Usondu, the highets goal scorer in the team that won the first U-17 championship in China. The Belgian club that signed him had to let him go because their youth were breaking their bone when they collided with him in training.
There’s youth… and then there’s youth.
Lol
I grew up around a local team and that team also had a player named Osondu and he kept on trying for years to get a club in Europe but never succeeded. Man was like 33 claiming 20.
According to Emery, Ramsey didn’t train the last few days (probably busy signing the new deal) and speaking during his press conference in Minsk, Emery explained he felt that the Ozil was still not ready to compete following his latest bout of illness.
Nigeria probably has the most successful teams in the kids tourneys but the players always get lost immediately they win it..no transitioning or anything
C, Macaulay
Osimhen
Nwakali
I, success etc
It’s puzzling
Paulinho – I question the veracity and authenticity of all PR. It would be a dereliction of duty, in the commercial sense, to slip your 2nd highest player in through the back door without selling his ‘attributes’ to the paying supporters. When does this ever happen in football?? The PR is textbook stuff. Did Wenger believe Sanogo would score a shit ton of goals when he dropped his “we’ll make him a 50m striker” clanger? Maybe. Was it accurate in the end? No prediction has ever been wider of the mark. People make errors in judgement. You do, I do,… Read more »
Receding
You bite every time some Rafa bait is dangled it’s hilarious. Also, Newcastle fans would be happy to stay in the league under current ownership so not sure what you’re on about.
The same guy pissing his pants at how measly 70 mil apparently is in todays market when mentioning Emery, meanwhile Rafa has won the championship and finished 10th in the prem whilst earning 40 mil in transfers – and here you are making out of touch remarks about how they’re doing this season.
Ramsey on £400k is mental. He’s 28 years old. Never won anything major. Is tactically dim (because he’s never been trained). Doesn’t impact games often enough.
It is a HUGE punt.
But fairplay to him, cannot applaud his agent enough. That is the most spectacular deal ever struck in football.
Southgate is a king. Next world cup is ours.
Sure is. And then the next one and then the next one. Good news at least you got Declan Rice to commit.
Rafa Benitez is never going to manage Arsenal. Learn to accept that
Jamie – There is quite clear logical inconsistency. When you said if Ramsey was a top player he would end up at a top club, you were well aware these said clubs had made poor signings in the past, and yet you still put their opinion on the highest pedestal to the point he was a top player if he ended up at one of them. So, by your own logic, Ramsey is now a top player, or at the very least better than you claimed he was a few months ago. As ‘difficult’ as it is for you to… Read more »
Marko
I’m not yearning for Rafa, I rate him more than Emery. That is literally it, he was a comparative example and nothing more. Maybe accept that instead of being about as literate as a Shetland pony.
Marko.
Rafa has to be the favoutite for the next Arsenal Manger, surely by logic ,alone.
(When Emery goes.)
Spanish – we will be stocked with Spanish players soon
Raul – still here…
Knows the Prem
Proven And respected.
Safe pair of hands
Easy to prize from Newcastle.
Think who Kroenke would choose
Not who – you would choose?
Rafa B will manage AFC !
Probably by Oct 2019
Maybe accept that instead of being about as literate as a Shetland pony.
Cruel.
Charlie George
Why not Eddie Howe?
I hear he speaks pretty good Spanish.
gambon No, I get all of that. I’m not missing anything. I just wanted to clarify what it is that Kroenke can do under FFP rules and what he cannot do. What he can do is pay off the stadium debt, which would make an additional £20m a year available for transfer spending. What he cannot do is simply add money (from his own pocket) to the transfer kitty. That wouldn’t be allowed. (I know that you’re highlighting the £35m as well — the amount we no longer would have to hold in cash — but I’d just note that… Read more »
Vic, I don’t think this absence down to injury its documented as “illness”.
Graham as I said
Not a case of who or you would like..
Just on logic,alone
(It has to Benitez..)
Who will Kroenke turn to?
He will want a safe pair of hands – when this Emery experiment goes down the toilet!
I agreed Newcastle were having a magical season… Dunno what you are on about Charlie
See u still going on about the seventy million Emery wasted while competing for top four, good on you.
Receding
You think Emery wasted 70 mil? Weird change of tact
My view of Ramsey is that he is a very good central attacking midfielder in a very specific system. He needs a striker holding the ball so he can run beyond him. In the season where he was brilliant the system suited him. BTW it is the same system that Wales was playing at the Euro. However that system did not suit Arsenal, so Wenger changed it. He then bought Özil and that was it. Özil and Ramsey can’t both play in the same team in their preferred position. Obviously Juventus have analysed the situation and decided that as they… Read more »
FFP is so 2006.
That was a Wenger argument way back when. I see it’s still tearing its ugly head.
There is no FFP. Never was and never will be. Like the very big companies: Amazon and Facebook who pay about £2.50 tax per year, clubs will hire the very best people to ensure they DONT pay the big cash or have to adhere to the ‘rules’.
FFP was and is an Arsenal problem. No one else’s.
Hackney
Ummm, no. You can’t compete in European competitions if you violate European FFP rules.
Valentin
Ramsey enjoyed possibly his richest vein of form whilst Ozil was in his first season at the club.
Bamford, FFP is dead and everyone in world football knows it.
Peter
Some people are still clinging to that terrible and flawed philosophy created by Arsene and Arsenal. No other club even mentioned it. Not one. Because they all knew it was beatable and bullishit.
Bamford. You may sell yourself as the educated guy…but you are very wrong. FFP was and is a myth.
Guns, Nasser Al-Khelaifi was elected to the UEFA Executive Committee.
Letting that fox into the chicken coup.
While I obviously see the advantage that would flow to the club if ownership were to pay off the stadium debt, I would like to note two things: one, unless I’ve missed something, when the club entered into this debt arrangement in 2004, ownership at that time did not say that they would be taking this debt off of the club’s books by paying it down; this is not something the board expected of ownership or that ownership expected of ownership. It is a call that some are making now upon ownership. Two, it would get us an extra 20m… Read more »
Pedro
It is, and it’s funny that for years it was arsenal who were referring to it more than any other club.
It’s actually embarrassing.
Paulinho – I’m happy for my arguments to be stress-tested, but I won’t accept logical fallacies made in my name. If memory serves, I countered Bamford in the summer that Ramsey was top tier. Either you said it first, or he did, but you both agreed. Fair. I chimed in with my crude assessment of his ability, which was (again) that he was good, not great. His level, in my view, is at a club pushing for European qualification. Everton/West Ham seemed like decent shouts – they have money to burn, and would most likely offer him the £250k a… Read more »
Midwest Gun in !
Ozil out !
Karim, back from the dead.
with this* fatality move
Pedro
Really? Then why do gambon, Terraloon and others (who seem to know what they’re talking about on this front) talk about FFP, especially European FFP, as though it does matter?
Could someone do a little research on this point and come back to us?
Peter I had to look that chap up…he’s a tennis player. Look, you’re in the business of bullshit, I did my time in an industry famed for bullplop and I think we all know that the world rolls on lip service, who you know and how much you have. I play the fucking lottery because I want to win. Not because I want to give to charity…I want to win for me! It’s a dirty world and only the really mucky ones get ahead. Arsenal are too clean or too stupid to rock around in this playground. Arsenal and the… Read more »
Pedro
This place really is a strong magnet, we all keep coming back !
Can’t help it…
Once again, for those who choose to ignore other people’s comments.
Per NBC Sports (reputable source here in US):
“It is now being reported that Ramsey will not be earning close to that amount, as Italian outlets say that his salary is close to $8.4 million per season gross, which works out at about $161,000 per week after tax.”
Midwest Gun in !
Ozil out !
_______
Kareem my brother from another mother…. ! You like my avatar then? LOL It’s what Ozil looks like on a webcam when he is playing Fortnite.
Have to run.. but good to see you back again. Maybe we will get the band back together.. where is that pesky N5?
Ajax 1
Real 2
Tottenham 2
Dortmund 2
Geezus, karim, you scared me. I thought they were playing already.
Great to have you back Karim!
Valentin has been keeping your place warm with some good chat on PSG and French football
K.. contacting my bookie now. If we win I’ll cut you in for 10%.
Jamie – Yes, I am well aware of your opinion of him as a player. You keep repeating it, but you’ve already trapped yourself into admitting he is a top player using your own logic you set up only a few months ago, unless as I said, you’re deserting your own argument in an attempt to evade admitting you were wrong about his abilities.
Why don’t you two get a room?
Midwest
Good times ahead, have a good time man, cool to hear from you !
“Valentin has been keeping your place warm with some good chat on PSG and French football“
Straight into the arms of the Ex, and Feb 13th too…. that’s cold
Can I not love both the same? 2019 and it’s all about fluidity…
Are we still debating Ramsay Bolton as a player?
The guy had one stellar season and the rest were forgettable.
Is Kevin Phillips one of the worlds best forwards because he won the golden boot once? No. What about that fat piece of shite Jardim who was too shit and fat even for Sam Alardyce.
Ramsay is and always will be a 7/10 player. Capable of a 9/10 every 5 seasons but will generally hover around the 6/7 out of 10.
No loss. Get over it.
Pedro out whoring, such an Essex lad
“Can I not love both the same? 2019 and it’s all about fluidity”
I had that philosophy once and it ended really badly with my pants around my ankles in a clinic with the doctor asking me about work.
Oh and the nurse saying “would you like to lay down while we do this as a lot of guys pass out”. It was the swab up the urethra. If anyone has had it, they know.
Swapping fluids only works until you catch a dose. Worth it though.
WTF is wrong with Declan Rice?
Hugely disappointed
Cheers Pedders !
Upstate Gooner
It’s only half- time, don’t worry !
As a caveat. I gave two people clamidya (sic)…but I myself was given it by a right Friday night special. I didn’t stop, even though I knew she was a right one.
In fact, I think I have gone through the spectrum of STDs except for the big one.
That’s blow and the 90’s/2000’s for you.
I should be called Bums of Hackney.
Thanks for the laugh Guns..
Bob
It was no laughing matter.
@Chris,
His best was before his injury by the Stoke’s orc.
Also in his first season Özil or Ramsey were alternatively shunted to the right of midfield. Neither liked it. They both want to play in the middle of the park behind the striker.
We then had Coquelin Cazorla in the middle. That was a great combination but we had no proper winger to really hurt team. Walcott and the Ox mixing hot and cold performances there.
We kept switching systems trying to accommodate everyone. None worked because our game tactic only allowed 1 CAM.
This London stadium really looks big…
I know Charles it’s every day though and he’s never going to be Arsenal manager. Literally pointless to discuss him. I’ve only ever really seen you discuss him to any great lengths around here. Best to let it go
Valentin I think Ramsey was starting to show signs of real quality before his terrible injury. A goal at Upton Park in the Cup sticks in my memory. And against Fenerbahce in the Champions League I think. In terms of his production and recognition surely it was his form in the 2013/14 season that was his best time in his Arsenal career? Fair enough you are probably right about the positions of him and Ozil in late 2013 but maybe a stretch to say they couldn’t play in the same team, after all, they both played and were playing well… Read more »
Sancho is a class act.
Robbie Savage commentating I’d rather stick knives in my ear holes
Thanks Pierre, wish I could say the same.
Alderweireld has bailed them out a couple of times already.
The wibbly wobblies are getting quite stretched here
Having actual wingers in your squad makes a difference.
Jokes aside may need to change my handle once Jadon Sancho becomes a household name, just to avoid confusion. Great play from him so far.
@DM ” It’s not Emery’s fault that Özil is paid what he is paid; nor that he has the big name that he has. If he played well for us, he’d be starting. He doesn’t, and he isn’t. I respect Emery massively for that.” Great post DM ! I think the same every time I see people say Ozil needs to be playing… Fuck that. He’s had chances and done fuck all !! Been totally ineffective , can’t dribble past a man and slipped in a killer pass. He hasn’t earned the right to play. Hopefully his treatment might make… Read more »
Sancho is big time. To think City will be paying 90 million for him soon enough to replace Mahrez.
Agree about Ozil. He’s had his chances.
Give Overmars a job and let him bring some Dutch talent, Ajax looking good.
And no one is calling Pep clueless for letting Sancho walk