My sauce references is metaphorical, but the sauce is The Ribman if you want it
This is Jonathan Blaustein’s monthly contribution to the community, follow him @Jblauphoto for his twitterings.
It’s March 27th, as I write this.
Yesterday, here in the Taos valley, it was 67 degrees Fahrenheit.
I can’t tell you what this is in Celsius, because for some reason, I’ve never been able to figure out how to make the translation.
Basically, it means it was warm and sunny.
Balmy, if you will.
But for the first time, I was able to ride the Kachina Peak lift at Taos Ski Valley, and found myself at 12,400 feet, on the very top of a massive mountain.
The lift only runs part of the year, and this season it was much delayed, due to the two tragic avalanche deaths off the same peak.
When I left my house in the morning, it was spring. The first shoots of green grass were standing perkily in the sun. The birds were chirping like they were onstage at Lollapalloza in 1997, giving it all they had.
But then, all of a sudden, I was in icy, snowy winter, like something out of Lord of the Rings, and I could see for a hundred miles in several directions.
(How’s that for the American perspective. Fahrenheit, feet and miles all in one column opening. Fucking arrogant Yanks!)
It’s a good feeling, to be able to see forever. And teetering between those seasons, spring and winter, is strange. But combine the two, (the distance and time of year,) and it makes for a particular perspective.
So let’s get into it.
At this point, I’ll mention another date: March 14th. That’s the last time Arsenal played a competitive football match. (I don’t care what happens in Dubai.)
Who did we even play back then?
Oh right, Rennes.
We spanked them 3-0.
And who did we beat before that? Manchester United.
2-0.
Say what now? Two clean sheets in consecutive massive games?
If any other coach had done that, while anchoring Arsenal in both the #Top4 and the Europa League, Londoners would be singing his name from the lamp-posts.
But something about the guy makes him seem less cool, less smart, less attractive, or less innovative than his fellow Top 6 coaches.
Be honest with yourself: it’s true.
During the huge winning streak, we were impressed but dubious, waiting to see what happened once the injuries mounted, and points were dropped in the depths of dark winter in December.
All along, it’s been wait and see, in particular in this very column. Now I’m suggesting that maybe it’s a subconscious thing, comparing Emery to Pocchetino, Klopp, Guardiola, Sarri and OGS.
Perusing the list, in late March, you’d say Emery has outperformed Sarri for sure, and OGS rode in on a white pony, so it’s too soon to say. (But he has the star-power thing down pat.)
We beat Tottenham once, easily, and really should have beaten them again. The draw felt like a loss, as we all know, because Auba missed that penalty.
But what happened in the next game?
Lacazette wins another penalty, and he gives the ball to his buddy.
I sat here on my couch, with my 11 year old, watching it two hours late on the DVR, and we both screamed “NOOOOOOOOOO.”
Take it yourself, Laca!
We need the win!
Are you insane!
Obviously, in hindsight, we were wrong. (Is it a coincidence that Laca is both of our favorite Arsenal player at the moment?)
That kind of scene, one teammate believing in another, is what sports is all about. It gives you chills.
And it’s real. You can’t pay for it.
Arsenal have that, and they also now have a manager willing to play all his best players at once in the same game. (Imagine that?)
The squad is in the perfect place for this time of year, and one way or another, we’ll soon know if they finish strong, finish brilliantly, limp to the line, or choke like the Atlanta Falcons in the 2018 Super Bowl.
Within a short span of time, we won’t be able to say “wait and see” any longer.
And let’s play what if, for a moment.
If Emery gets the team into the Champions League, he’ll definitely get more money to spend. Maybe a lot more.
He’ll have proven he can do the job, and that proof will have delivered more cash. Given our model of spend what you’ve made, that means more on transfers.
Some new names are intriguing, like Thomas, from Atletico. More money, better signings.
It’s clear that the manager is staring at a very binary outcome: he makes it in, or he doesn’t.
If Arsenal win the Europa League and get in the Top 4, or somehow miraculously overtake Spurs and hang on 3rd, then I think this guy will have money, clout, and a new aura.
The story will be that his tactical acumen is his special power. It won’t be that he doesn’t stick to a style, but rather that he’s so amazing at the details that he breaks the game down into phases, which explains all the halftime subs, and each game plan is unique because HE CAN.
HIS BRAIN IS THAT BIG. HE BREATHES AND EATS FOOTBALL.
Now, if Arsenal choke on both fronts, and end up in 5th or 6th, knocked out by Napoli in the Europa League, it will be very, very different.
He didn’t improve on Wenger’s performance, only the point total.
Yes, some advance was made in the Big 6 Mini-league, but the results weren’t enough. We’ll give him a modest budget, and a decent leash into next year, but there better be some major improvement, or we might be coach shopping this time next year.
Like I said, it’s binary.
And we’ll know soon enough.
From this odd vantage, winter and spring all at once, on the mountain top in morning and in the valley in the afternoon, I’ll say one thing:
I’m really glad the team is perched where it is, and that we’ve managed to put a whooping on some hated rivals: Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United.
How great would it be if in the multi-verse, we end up with one of the happy timelines?
I wonder what I’ll be writing this time in April?
Remember, follow @Jblauphotoxxx
P.S. Take a bow son.
Granit Xhaka scoring a banger for Switzerland with his weak foot. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gTdnj1tAaw
— Arsenal FC News (@ArsenalFC_fl) March 26, 2019
Mornin’
2
Hello
Tr4phy
Outcomes determine narratives.
True, dat.
Let’s see if we end up calling Emery a (mini) tactical genius or a Confused Spanish Dracula with bad teeth who doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Like the writer of the blog post I’m happy that at least I have the choice to go either way.
Pedro
Lacazette is my favourite Arsenal player of recent years.
Wears his heart on his sleeve and genuinely cares.
That’s what fans want to see.
gonsterous( from previous post)
You are correct.
I have enjoyed the international break.
Feel positive about Monday night.
Morning all, How long is this interlull ?! Whilst waiting for it to end, I caught up with Harry Redknapp’s Full English programme this week. Well worth a look as he trains a load of ex England players to take on exGerman International counterparts A fun dose of nostalgia featuring The Romford Pele, Safe Hands (?) Seaman and Paul Merson amongst the likes of Mark Wright, John Barnes, Chris Waddle etc. Some really interesting insights into what they feel when they have to give up the game, discussions on mental health and weight issues, and for Merson in particular it… Read more »
Greizmann is looking likely to leave Atletico for Barcelona this summer.
Could this be the season that Laca leaves to join Simeone for 95 million?
I know this will turn the Lakalocos mad as hattters.
A friend of mine who is an accountant specialised in sport company told me there used to be about 10% of former footballers who ended up broke ten years after the end of their careers. Paul Merson is just one human tragedy hidden in those statistics. He reckons that despite the huge increase in money in the game, that same percentage will remain true. That percentage will be the sum of 1) addicts (drugs, gambling), 2) idiots who splurges on things they don’t need (Djemba Djemba forgot that he owned a Range Rover and left it at a Garage for… Read more »
Auba,
Really don’t care for soya milk, but quite amused by the jibes.
I’m just worried that you’ll upset Pedro, and end up getting binned.
His biggest advertising account is with the USA’s No. 1 soya milk producer.
“or somehow miraculously overtake Spurs ”
I fully expect to be above the Spud’s come Tuesday morning, hanging onto that is the interesting question.
I find it funny that people continue to doubt Solksjaer simply because he hasn’t managed a big club prior to United. He is clearly an excellent manager, and this has been evident from the moment he arrived at United.
“He is clearly an excellent manager, and this has been evident from the moment he arrived at United.”
Good manager Yes
Excellent? a bit too early for that. He relegated Cardiff and as it stands has United outside the champions league players after looking primed to be in 3rd place by now.
Receding
The only reason they aren’t higher in the table is injuries. When he first arrived, no one even gave them a chance of finishing top four. I agree that it’s early days, but based on what I have seen from him so far, I think he is excellent. Time will tell, I guess.
Valentin, please need this understanding about Èboue. What do u mean by suffering from AIDS
Happy OGS got the job full time.
Can he prove critics and sceptics wrong?
Thomas Partey for £43m due to release clause is a steal for any club who gets him. Hope we will be his next destination.
“The only reason they aren’t higher in the table is injuries”
You never accepted this excuse when the subject was Wenger
“Valentin, please need this understanding about Èboue. What do u mean by suffering from AIDS”
Eboue has since denied he does not have HIV, HIV and AIDS aren’t exactly one and the same. He was alleged to be HIV positive (not AIDS) and he has debunked this.
Of course Valentin will cite a newspaper article saying he has HIV so as to appear factual as usual. HIV and AIDS aren’t the same Valentin.
Agree with Marc that there is a decent chance we are third and above Spurs on Tuesday. However, Newcastle have looked better of late, so Monday’s match might be more a difficult one than you’d otherwise expect.
Receding
Right, because Wenger wasn’t a good manager. He didn’t organize his teams properly, he didn’t instruct them properly, he didn’t drill them properly.
The same is not true of Solksjaer, and this has been evident from United’s play from the moment he arrived.
So the two are totally different, and again, no one even thought top four was possible when Solksjaer first arrived.
There’s a distinct mpossibility that United may be playing Europa league footie next season.
There’s no guarantee that they finish top-4 this season and we all know Messi will knock them out of the CL.
I am pretty sure Emery will turn out to be a very decent manager, I suspect in a couple years time, our concerns with him will be over keeping him
Thanks Receding.
Bayern seem to dominate their league even in transfers. They’ve got two of the world’s bright young defenders in Pavard and now Hernandez.
Guess either Boateng or Hummels will be let go. That’s the sort of pro activeness some of us wish the club will be. Get the deal done earlier before the vultures circle.
“I am pretty sure Emery will turn out to be a very decent manager, I suspect in a couple years time, our concerns with him will be over keeping him”
So what is he right now?
Very strange comment, really bewildering.
Dissenter
And?
They’ll still have a big summer in terms of signings. They’ll have an excellent squad next season. And they have a manager who definitely knows what he’s doing.
And again, no one even thought top four was possible when he took over. Check the record.
I was under the impression from the initial reports that he had full AIDS, rather than being HIV positive.
I must admit that I have not fully followed the story about Eboué. I did not know that he had since debunked the HIV allegations.
Ebuoe’s problem was entrusting all his money to his wife.
She took him out. He didn’t even know where the money was buried.
They should make these players take financial literacy courses once they sign their first major contract.
Bamford
“And again, no one even thought top four was possible when he took over. Check the record.”
I’m not so sure this is true.
Everyone knew the United team was being badly mismanaged by Mourhino and that players had stopped playing for him.
Mourhino was sacked early enough for the new manager to recover lost ground.
I just think they may have peaked too early and things could go back to the baseline now.
He’s won’t look so golden if they are playing on Thursday nights next season, certainly not
And by big summer, I mean that reports are they will go for Jadon Sancho, Declan Rice and Wan Bissaka.
@KAY,
Both Pavard and Hernandez are fullback, while Hummels and Boatang are CBs. Bayern is more likely to keep them both or buy another CB.
With Barcelona potentially selling Umtiti (Lenglet has been doing a great job replacing him during his injuries layout), we may have a great merry go around of CBs this summer.
Bamford10, are u saying OGS is a better manager than Wenger?
He may have lost his mojo years back, but OGS isn’t the manager Wenger is/was. Maybe time can debunk this but not now.
As tactics evolve managers will come and go. For good or bad, they’re still remembered.
“Right, because Wenger wasn’t a good manager. ”
With all due respect this is nonsense
You can’t call Ole an excellent manager and follow it up by saying Wenger was not a good manager. Your hatred for the man is annoying
Dissenter
One, if they’re playing well and they are 1, 2 or 3 in the PL, no one will care they’re playing on Thursdays, because that will be down to Mourinho’s mismanagement, not Solksjaer.
Two, review the record, United were way back when I said — after his first match — that they could get to fourth; everyone told me I was wrong, no one here thought this was possible.
I can see we are going to have a serious Ole problem with Bamford
Besotted isn’t a strong enough word to cover what he is going through
Bamford
“And they have a manager who definitely knows what he’s doing”
You mean losing three players in the first half against Liverpool shows that he “definitely knows what he’s doing”
He had play Rashford for 90 minutes even though the lad was injured.
He’s a fallible as anyone else…just slow down on all the superlative praise.
He doesn’t definltely know what he’s doing.
OGS just managed United on the basic level.
That’s all that was required after the debacle that Mourhino had became. He was like a salve to a festering wound.
Bamford,
Solskjær’s managerial career to date has been way to short to determine whether he’s a good or an excellent manager, and at this point comparing his brief tenure at United with Wenger’s nearly two decades at Arsenal is a little silly. Dissenter may well be right that he has peaked too early.
What we can all agree on is that he has significantly exceeded expectations, and that he is a much, much better fit at United than Mourinho
It’s way too early to start describing OGS as an excellent manager. ManU let Mourinho fuck up the Liverpool match which then gave OGS a relatively easy run of fixtures. Even then they’ve been lucky in more than a couple, they were 2 nil down against Burnley at home with 10 minutes left, the Spud’s battered them second half and managed to shoot directly at De Gea about 20 times, PSG destroyed them in the first leg and if it weren’t for the fact that someone let Fergie run the VAR would already be out of the CL. He’s taken… Read more »
They are also some who think a lot of the “brains” behind what OGS is doing is actually down to Mike Phelan.
Receding Actually, I can say that, because he wasn’t a good manager in his second ten years at the club. He did not organize his teams properly, he did not instruct them properly, he did not drill them properly. Everyone who watched those teams closely knows this, and Le Grove throughout those years is a record of this basic fact. I do not say this out of “hatred” — I feel no such thing for Arsene Wenger, though I do have a very negative view of the man — and many, many, people here agree with me re Wenger. My… Read more »
But something about the guy makes him seem less cool, less smart, less attractive, or less innovative than his fellow Top 6 coaches.
Cool is irrelevant. He’s clearly smart. I’ll give you less attractive. And we’ve gone through tactical changes mid match before so certainly innovative.
Marc,
Re Phelan, yeah one thing Solskjær was quite intelligent about was reinstating Phelan as “Tactics Director” while giving the fans and the players all the beautiful platitudes about the “United Way”
@Dissenter, I never understood why clubs do not impose such rule. Or better the FA should force for every players to put X% of the salary in a mandatory pension or disability fund. The NFL authorises only licensed financial advisers to advise and manage players finance. Why not impose the same here. Like mortgage, make an annual status report of their finance to be published and shown to them to be mandatory. With 5 scenarios: 1) permanent injury and immediate mandatory retirement on medical advice 2) selected retirement 3) projected retirement at the age of 35 on same salary 4)… Read more »
Kay
In the current moment, yes, I think Solksjaer is a better manager than (late) Arsene Wenger was. It goes without saying that Wenger was a good manager in his first ten years, i.e., in a previous era, however the game changed. I have said this above, but again, while Wenger had certain good ideas and practices, there were certain things he did not do. He did not organize well, he did not instruct well, he did not drill well. Modern managers MUST do these things to succeed. Solksjaer does these things.
United made a bet that announcing the Solskjaer deal this early will give the players an extra impetus to secure CL football.
They have to get CL football to keep their best players happy.
If this doesn’t occur then we could have the same situation Chelsea faced with Roberto De Matteo. A good run of form that leads to a CL trophy doesn’t necessarily translate to longer term success.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/28/arsenal-preparing-sign-eibar-midfielder-joan-jordan-aaron-ramseys-replacement-9040646/
What you think Marko..watched him?
All
Yes, I am admittedly getting ahead of the data in saying that I think Solksjaer is excellent. This is what I see. Take it as you like. If time shows me to be wrong, I’ll be the first to acknowledge it.
But based on what I’ve seen so far, based on the way he has United playing — the clarity and simplicity of his approach, his organization, his instructions — based on the way his players talk about him, I think he will show himself to be an excellent manager.
Time will tell.
Bamford your Ole better than Wenger argument is nonsense sorry and i will not be wasting any more time on that particular subject
Come back when Ole has won something with United. That last ten years you dismissively talk of featured 8 top four finishes and three FA cups.
Receding
Fair enough. I think my argument is actually quite a good one, but you’re right that Solksjaer will have to win things to prove himself.
In moderation?
Receding
I’m not all that impressed with Joan Jordan, but it’s hard to draw conclusions from highlight videos obviously. He looks OK, serviceable, possibly solid, IMO.
I’m not sure there’s any legal precedent in the UK (or the EU for that matter) which allows employers to dictate the terms of how their employees can spend their wages as adults (18+). Employers already pay into an employee pension pot. As for telling an adult that they need to park 50% of their wages into some ‘mandatory investment fund’ for the duration of their contract because they earn too much, no chance. Who decides what investments are made on behalf of the players? The FA?! What if the investments tank, can the players sue for loss of earnings?… Read more »
“I’m not all that impressed with Joan Jordan, but it’s hard to draw conclusions from highlight videos obviously. He looks OK, serviceable, possibly solid, IMO.”
I do not know a thing about him.
But if he is indeed Eibar’s standout performer this season and they are having a good season, 24 with a release clause of 15m Euros i say why not.
Aren’t those the type if deals we say the club should be making??
And again, no one even thought top four was possible when he took over. Check the record.
They spent 166, 178 and 74 million the previous 3 seasons and they’re weren’t expected to be in the race for top 4? I think far too much credit is placed on OGS
Receding
Yeah, I basically agree. He might in fact be a smart signing. I’m just saying I wasn’t all that impressed with him from the videos I watched. He looks pretty good — strong, assertive, a decent dribbler, good vision — so it could work out. I’m just saying I wasn’t blown away by what I saw.
Marko
We’re not talking about what people thought in August; we’re talking about what people thought when he took over in late December, when United were 11 points back from fourth place. See article below for reference.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/manchesterunited/how-the-premier-league-table-looked-when-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-took-over-at-man-utd-a4102871.html
It goes without saying that Wenger was a good manager in his first ten years
Good but OGS inside 3 months is excellent. As an Arsenal fan I’d actually be delighted if they gave him the position full time. That should tell you alot about what I think of him
I’m not all that impressed with Joan Jordan, but it’s hard to draw conclusions from highlight videos obviously.
Not if it’s Krstian Bielik obviously
One potentially huge problem that OGS could face is finding a new keeper that’s of similar ability to De Gea.
His contract runs out next summer and it’s really looking as if Madrid aren’t happy with Courtois.
Without De Gea over the last few years ManU would’ve had seasons where they finished mid table.
” I’m just saying I wasn’t blown away by what I saw.”
Considering the fact it does not take much to blow you away that is saying something
Marko
“Not if it’s Krstian Bielik obviously.”
Except that in my comments re Bielik, I noted the limitations of assessments drawn from short videos. So, umm, no.
Bamford you want to give him credit for actually getting the basics out of a squad fair enough but excellent? Nah not for me he’s done well but I think long term wise he’ll show that he isn’t anything special or more than likable. Speaking of points brought back we’ve been behind Spurs by more than 11 points I believe and look at us now
Bamford
Do you not think that ManU had such an internal moral issue under Mourinho that any change would’ve upped the levels of the players?
OGS has done well but I really think you’re getting way ahead of even making a hasty opinion.
Except that in my comments re Bielik, I noted the limitations of assessments drawn from short videos. So, umm, no.
You also very much wax lyrical about a player from a 6 minute YouTube video of the one game. For a day there we were hearing about how Bielik should be part of the squad next season and how he could be our Declan Rice
Speaking of points brought back we’ve been behind Spurs by more than 11 points I believe and look at us now.
Absolutely!
You’d think we weren’t allowed to speak fervently of our own side but just other sides on LG the way some put us down but go on about other teams.
Marko,
I’ve seen the highlight videos and I’m convinced that Bielik is the solution to all our defensive problems!
Err, ok, maybe not……but I’d still have him as back up…
But if he is indeed Eibar’s standout performer this season and they are having a good season, 24 with a release clause of 15m Euros i say why not.
Just trust in the process that’s what I say. After Wenger we’ve got people who are actually interested in working and benefiting from the transfer market and just trust in that process. The good thing for me is that they’re getting things lined up for the summer and thankfully not just waiting for a technical director to be appointed
@Jamie, You could alter the contract, so that part of the salary become a contribution to a pension/disability fund. By making mandatory that clubs have to contribute 35% of pre taxed salary to that fund, you would have the same effect without the legal issues you raised. Or impose a sliding ladder percentage of contribution based on salary. Clubs already have sport specific rules. For example there is a rule so clubs that have initially trained a player received a windfall whenever he is transferred later on. Players and agents would quickly adjust to the new way of thinking. I… Read more »
“You’d think we weren’t allowed to speak fervently of our own side but just other sides on LG the way some put us down but go on about other teams.”
They call it being Objective and Non-Tribal.
A certain poster only shows up to predict a loss or demand improvements and disappears once said improvements are made.
A certain poster only shows up to predict a loss or demand improvements and disappears once said improvements are made.
I can think of at least two like that on here One of them is a closet Liverpool fan and the other is a “comedian” that has never made me laugh before.
A certain poster only shows up to predict a loss or demand improvements and disappears once said improvements are made.
That could be any number of people around here
“In the current moment, yes, I think Solksjaer is a better manager than (late) Arsene Wenger was. ”
You really have got no shame, you dis Bamford
“That could be any number of people around here”
True
But this particular one is conspicuous by his absence once results are good.
He was on recently to tell us Spurs and United were gonna trash us, i expect him back if we have a wobble against Newcastle
“You really have got no shame, you dis Bamford”
I really wish this could be recorded in a Nigerian market woman’s voice and played back to Bamford for full effect, but in the below manner
You really no get shame, you dis Bamford
Joan Jordan’s signing at 13-15m
Means we’ll have approx 40-50m for transfers (based on idea of 50-60m transfer budget)
Don’t see us signing more than 3-4
players. So CB,LB,CM,WF
And one pops up straight away. All you have to do is mention Wenger. Vic Bamford may be a lot of things and he may say silly things but he never wished for Huddersfield Town to beat Arsenal. That’s shameful
You really no get shame, you dis Bamford”
Lol, you really must be from South south Naija
Na only we dey scatter pidgin like this..hahaha
Valentin nose best… and it’s f*cking exhausting to read.
LB, RB, CB, Attacker, CM and a back up keeper will be the very least to expect this summer. It seems like a lot and very un-arsenal like (even though we signed 5 last summer) but then you think about the amount of players already leaving in the summer and potentially leaving and 5-6 is plausible. As to the quality of the 5-6 that remains to be seen. I’m liking some of the links though Grimaldo and Tagliafico for LB Konate for CB Wan Bissaka and I think Dumfries popped up a couple months back for RB. Continue to be… Read more »
Ole appointed
Marko
Swing and miss
BTW Haven’t you got letters to post today? I mean it’s almost like you’re jobless judging by the amount of time you spend on here..
You hardly follow what gets written on here so I won’t even waste a second on you about the Huddersfield nonsense you’re perpetuating
Go have a life already you plank.
“So CB,LB,CM,WF”
Well as long as it is a WF and not a WTF I don’t mind.
Swing and miss
No it’s actually true. It’s so embarrassing and shameful that I wouldn’t expect you to own up to it and I expected you to worm your way out of ever saying it but you did. Never would have done it under old Arsene.
Valentin – I understand that there are industry-specific rules, particularly in sports (salary caps, for example), but that doesn’t alter the fact that UK employers, as far as I’m aware, cannot dictate what percentage of their employees wages is available to them as cash, unless there’s a share option written into the contract. The example you used relating to training compensation is a different kettle, and has nothing to do with mandatory salary saving schemes for players. It was established to protect smaller clubs from having all their youth scooped up on free transfers (1st professional contract) to bigger clubs,… Read more »
I can’t remember exactly who, but someone on here a while back was trying to convince me that Mauricio Pochettino was a world class manager and had teams like Madrid and United all looking to sign him up… Well both of those teams have gone through recent managerial changes and Pochettino once again stays at Spurs.
Jamie
I think you’re overthinking the issue.
“Teach players how to manage their money, an hour or two a week in the classroom for the duration of their contracts”
You really think the likes of Rooney and Harry Kane would even manage to find the classroom let alone benefit from what’s taught?
Valentin talking stuff that’s been going on for years, aint nothing new under the sun.
GK Martinez fits the homegrown criteria
RB Valencia more likely than Dumfries/Wan-Bissaka (Price)
CB Chance of Konaté here
LB CL contenders in for Grimaldo. More likely that Monreal stays.
CM Jordan as Ramsey replacement
(Chambers replaces Elneny to boost HG quota)
WF Sarr the likely candidate to replace one of Mkhitaryan/Welbeck (can see Danny getting new deal. Third striker/HG quota/popular squad guy)
Martinelli from Brazilian side as a left field signing. Young youth forward.
Here you go Jonathan. Fahrenheit minus 32 times 5 divide by 9 = Celsius
In your case (67-32)*5/9=19.44
Jim
I was convinced for quite a while that the Poch would be on the move most likely to Madrid. I’ve never said he’s world class and that he needs to win something to even begin being talked about in that bracket.
I must admit the Zidane reappointment was a complete shock. The big thing was who would the Spud’s get to replace him if he did leave, I do think he’s a good manager.
@Marc –
It wasn’t you I believe I was speaking to!
Spurs are odd.. No one ever comes looking for their players or their manager, yet we are told continuously how much better of a club they have become over us.
RB Valencia more likely than Dumfries/Wan-Bissaka (Price)
No way we sign Valencia no way. You don’t make a blunder like sign up 34 year old Lichtsteiner and then address said blunder with signing Antonio Valencia who’s 34 in August. Also Martinez won’t be risked as our number two. You’re a real doomer under the new manager dream
Just as well for Pochettino the thought of potentially managing a team expected to win things was probably secretly too much for him. United and Real appointing Ole and Zidane means he saves face. Weird how Arteta hasn’t been mentioned once with any of these appointments. Even Hoffenheim went and nabbed the Ajax assistant manager for their vacancy
What do people see in Thomas Partey ?
Marko I’m not an Emery fan, but my realistic/pessimistic view is largely to do with our structure/budget. We’re all over the shop with Sanllehi kicking Mislintat out and doing whatever he pleases. Second, don’t expect our budget to be vastly different regardless of a 3rd or 6th place finish. Emery likely aware of spending restrictions when he signed up. The interview for the job probably went something like this: “Squad underperformed last year finishing with 63pts. This is a 73-77pts team. Here’s five players to upgrade the squad. You’ll have a similar budget the following season. At worst, two cracks… Read more »
Jim
All the Spud journo’s are doing pieces on how the new stadium is a game changer and that it will push them above Arsenal. Not a single comment about how the overspend is almost as much as the cost of the Emirates and how the cost put us through a period of austerity.
Wankers.
We’re all over the shop with Sanllehi kicking Mislintat out and doing whatever he pleases
Sure. What exactly that means is anyone’s guess. By right all the signings made bar Suarez were Sven’s. But anyway I see where you’re going but we’re not signing Valencia and we are looking at LB’s so the realistic approach to Arsenal needs work
Dream10
Sorry but you’re wrong on there being no difference to our budget whether we finish 6th or 3rd. CL qualification will gives us another £30 odd million to play with, all the predictions on our budget also seem to be ignoring we’ve just signed a new massive shirt deal – do you think Adidas are going to give us £60 million a year and not see any new shiny players wearing it?
Absolutely going to be a difference to our budget if we make Champions League
Marc
The numbers make sense.
When you say new shiny players, are you expecting difference makers (Pépé, Ousmane Dembélé, Bale or Sancho) or solid acquisitions like Sokratis/Torreira/Guendouzi?
When have we ever signed difference makers? The only true marquee signings we’ve made over the years have probably been Ozil and Sanchez and they don’t hold up compared to others.