courtesy @allthatchas
Landed this comment yesterday, cut through my damn soul man.
Truth be this: I’m going to be padding blogs this summer harder than Mesut pads his stats, or his dictator guilt with charity offerings. The summer is tough for writing, I’m out here slogging it with the click baiters… so until something happens, it’s tough to get passionate about a goodbye Instagram post from a kid I’ve never heard of (you read that, don’t lie).
So let’s get straight into real talk.
I was thinking about advertising for hair-loss treatments yesterday. It must be the easiest game out there. If you have hair, all you think about is losing it. If you are losing it, all you think about is losing it.
Additionally, the whole of western civilisation is built around making men in their, cough, late twenties, paranoid about losing their hair. Why does there need to be a mirror on the elevator ceiling? Why are there LED POWER LIGHTS in bathrooms that shoot through your hair? Why will no female EVER say, ‘yes, you are a bald cu*t’… it’s a nightmare.
My advert for hair loss:
‘Hair loss pill. Buy.
*not scientifically proven, probs makes you grow breasts and die real quick’
GIVE ME 10 PACKETS.
Oh… I get it… football.
There are rumours that we’re in for Kieran Tierney. They aren’t very strong, regardless, they give me a sexy feeling I’d rather not have on the train. He’s 22 years old, played 170 games for Celtic and his numbers are pretty good. The pace on the lad is absolutely outrageous (again, tough to gauge how that translates), and hopefully his defending can translate to the Premier League like it did for VVD.
Barca are apparently being told €22m for Kola, who I didn’t realise is only 25 years old… so all in all, we’d be looking at a pretty good deal.
I think the challenge Arsenal fans are having at the moment is there’s literally no clue as to what the plan is this summer.
Meunier was heavily linked, now that’s gone quiet. It’s an odd place to start a rebuild… like blowing all your house budget on 2 couches when there’s no cooker for the kitchen.
… however, it’ll be hard to judge anything based on one signing. If there’s a perfect plan mapped out and he’s just part of a wider blitz of the squad, I’m happy. Two great right backs works if we take care of central defence, midfield, and the two wide positions up top. My concern is that we had glaring issues this January and we spent our loan fee on a player that was outrageously unsuited to the league and the objectives of the club because he was a friendly face.
My view on right back is that if you have Hector Bellerin who is 24 years old and an excellent player, why would you put Meunier behind him? Wouldn’t your money be better spent on someone that’s the Kieran Tierney of the right bacary world (see what I did there?)?
Anyway, I won’t say no to great players. Or any players. Or elite hair loss treatment.
I’m interested to see what ‘contacts’ football looks like. Are we going full on bargain basement from the big clubs? Find players that have something to prove, give them a new lease of life, hope they feel slighted by football and want to make something happen… a little Inter Milan under Jose.
… Wesley that season, outrageous.
Or do we hunt out elite youth talent like Saliba?
Have the feeling it’ll look more Inter Milan (if we’re lucky) based on the personnel we have at the club, but let’s see.
Carrasco rumours are hotting up a treat. The Belgian star is GAGGING for a return to Europe and the Italian clubs are dropping like flies… this is a risky move, but as many have pointed out, I’d take him over anything rolling in from Bournemouth or Palace. We’ll see… but this one seems to have legs aplenty.
Neymar seems to be loading up on problems, this model story is running hard in Brazil.
‘He beat me and he raped me, he was drunk and drugged, he says it himself in the messages, he’s a drug addict, violent, he’d need to be a prisoner or a boarding school, he has no conditions to be in society, he’s a threat to himself,’
Oof…
I only raise this story because I do find it interesting how so few players land themselves in trouble for drugs. London is littered with stories of Premier League footballers doing naughty things. Mad that only one major player has been caught and that was because Jose wanted to take him down (Mutu).
Mildly amusing watching all the Tory candidates getting pummelled for their drug stories… we constantly bemoan weirdo politicians, then insist that the people we put into power have zero life blemishes. Give me someone that’s majorly fucked up over a melt whose worst crime was to once thing about shoplifting a free newspaper.
Also pretty terrible that another footballer, at the absolute peak of their powers, is being accused of sexual misconduct and violence. Not a good look if it’s true.
Right, that’s all I have today… see you in the comments x
Fenway group have been extremely successful, not even up for debate. Turned the perennial runner ups to mid range Red Sox into a winning machine adding 4x WS since taking over, the club had not won it since the Great War was raging.
What they’ve done with Liverpool has been very solid, a title is surely on the horizon. The sacking of Rodgers was not something this club would entertain with results he’d achieved at that stage.
Kroenke’s seem more like willing companions lacking the ruthless winner mentality Henry and co possess.
Stan’s KSE is, weirdly, quite unAmerican, almost European in the way it operates. Overly cautious for long periods of time, before panicking and making rash and expensive decisions when backed into a corner. American corporates are usually quite aggressive, prone to excessive risk taking and can therefore make expensive mistakes. But to be fair to them, they tend to recognise those mistakes quite early, and move quickly to write them off and move on. FSG made plenty of mistakes along the way, but they have managed to revitalise Liverpool FC and make it relevant again. Nothing in the way KSE… Read more »
“Stan’s KSE is, weirdly, quite unAmerican, almost European in the way it operates. Overly cautious for long periods of time, before panicking and making rash and expensive decisions when backed into a corner.”
Example?
Sal
The Fenway group had a proven methodology with their money ball approach.
The Kroenke’s have no clue what they are doing which is shy they were happy to hide behind Wenger and “Arsenal values”.
What I don’t understand is why the club has leave so much money in the bank. The last time I checked we were not bankrupted club in receivership.
I really think it’s impossible for newly hired underling to define a club that the owner has NO clue about what to do with.
WOAB, Why blame Kroenke for that? Raul and Vinay are in charge. They are the ones who made that decision. If investing £5 millions is what it would have cost to reach top 4, it would have made more sense to spend it rather than gambling on Emery winning the EPL. Those 5 millions would have repaid themselves instantly multiple times over. Even if that had failed, that would have just eaten 5 millions from our summer transfer window. The problem is that the Chuckle brothers (Raul and Vinay) are afraid to make any decision that could be lay at… Read more »
Playing Kosielny( as stroller alluded to previously) in the 2nd half of the season when he was obviously struggling to regain his fitness cost us champions league football , without a doubt. He could /should have been used as cover. Why the club were only after a wide player in January was a very strange decision, signing Suarez was an obvious error of judgement that some on Le Grove predicted….one wouldn’t have to be particularly clever to make this prediction, though I will say that one has to be a little dim to continually defend this poor error of judgement..… Read more »
Words The problem is that the Kroenke’s aren’t running Arsenal like they run the rest of the US franchises. They unwisely decided to leave it in the hands of underlings. Most of the transfer errors they let Wenger and Gazidis make were bloody obvious. The should have overruled Wenger when he botched Alexis transfer to city in the summer of 2017. They should have fired Gazidis when he was flirting with AC Milan while doing a very difficult transition last summer. That is he going-or not situation was sloppy management. I think the Kroenke’s are happy to have Arsenal be… Read more »
AlexCutter,
Examples
– failure to buy any outfield player in the Leicester season (dictated by the one year self-sustaining rule)
-allowing, a couple of years ago, masses of cash to build up on the balance sheet (equal to the sum of all the other 19 clubs combined) while transfer prices were rapidly appreciating
– the preamble to, and subsequent Ozil contract extension
– the Extended reliance on Wenger/Wenger contract extensions (doing just enough) and subsequent payout
“The problem is that the Chuckle brothers (Raul and Vinay) are afraid to make any decision that could be lay at their doorstep. Kicking the problem to their employee. Edu is just a stooge which will carry carry the can for their own failure.” Another chuckle moment from the blog’s chief entertainer and know-all. No one will ask you to produce evidence from the daily star to prove your claims. There’s no reason a 38 y/o man who was just appointed to run a 400 million p.a revenue entity should be mocked in such manner without giving him a chance… Read more »
Dissenter,
The owners have shown a definite willingness, don’t really think they’ve got the right aesthetics of whom should be running the club down though.
Gazidis was dire, early days with Raul but the signals aren’t looking good, with Vinnai clearly being a yes man. Sven shipped with no secure plan in place ready to execute. Which could be the metaphor for past decade. Imagine these guys fighting a war, Italy springs to mind.
Will also add that the holding/mustafi partnership in a back 4 ( early season)also worked very well.
Alex H The old busted flush argument. Quality is Quality Crap is Crap. Age is an irrelevance When Brian Clough left Derby Then failed at Leeds and Brighton He was supposedly a Busted Flush. He stayed at Forest 18 years. Mourinho would be such a wonderful appointment for AFC in so many ways. His spiky characteristics could actually work in our favour. He would be confrontational, demanding He would expose the Yes Men around the club.. (Vinai would run a mile from him.) We would be Box Office again How much we could chat about….on Le Grove ( it would… Read more »
Dissenter,
Absolutely agree with you on the disparity between KSE’s US franchises and Arsenal.
At one point I was hoping that, now that Stan and Josh own Arsenal outright, things might change, but it doesn’t look good.
I have a feeling we’re not on the same page, not trying to be argumentative.
“before panicking and making rash and expensive decisions when backed into a corner.”
• failure to buy any outfield player in the Leicester season (dictated by the one year self-sustaining rule)
So, what was the panicked, rash and expensive decision in this case? Or your other examples for that matter?
Dissenter, Reread my post, I am not disparaging Edu, I am disparaging Vinay and Raul. As Brazilian team manager, Edu’s focus was the Brazilian market. In his previous one it was the South American market. He has no experience of running a club like Arsenal. He has no experience of the European market either. He may turn out to be a great appointment, but he has not been selected on his credentials alone. The main reason he has been selected is because of his Arsenal connection. He is being used as an appeasement and shield to the fans. They did… Read more »
Valentin,
Yes, but the Chuckle Brothers’ Key Performance Indicators are set by Stan and Josh. As is the judgement as to whether they have met the requisite KPIs, and if they haven’t, whether they, or Edu/Emery are responsible.
If next season we fail to make Top 4, Emery be blamed, and will go.
If the following season, we still fail to make Top4, Edu is likely to be blamed, and go.
We can blame The Chuckle Brothers all we like, but they are only operating in an environment Stan.
*….in an environment set by Stan
WOAB, I hope that by that time Josh had realised that they are the real problem. If you keep hiring people who can’t deliver your targets then either you have unrealistic targets or you are hiring the wrong people. Either way you are the one responsible. The Kroenke will then have a decision to make. The fact that Sven left without an offer of any job should have raised Josh Kroenke. The fact that every candidates decline Arsenal job offer when the job should be considered a prime job should have alarmed him even more. What is wrong, the structure,… Read more »
“Another chuckle moment from the blog’s chief entertainer and know-all…….I’m willing to bet my house on the fact that Vinai is a lot smarter than you will ever be”
Amazing how rattled you get by a total stranger, this is playground 101 type stuff.
You’re losing points as a poster if you ask me, and you’re much better than that – even if a bit snarky at times when you go full contrarian. Not that my view carries any weight at all, just 2 cents thrown in the mix.
Blog of lube and that.
Had a good laugh at that Youtube clip! Thanks Globalgunner
Pierre how wise is it to keep using that unbeaten run as some sort of undisputed barometer regarding the team? It’s been pointed out more than enough times that in the unbeaten run Arsenal didn’t face one team away from home that ended up in the top ten by the end of the season. Also in there very average Europa League teams. There are leagues all over the place where a team can have a very good/good home record but not be a top team. Even a midtable team. To keep over-rating that unbeaten run may seem to some as… Read more »
Dissenter
Is it my imagination or does a certain poster on here have it in for you?
What did you do to offend him?
Question him?
Loves a good old argument.
CC
What’s the rational for the condescension towards Vinai when he’s not been around for long enough to assess him.
I stand by what I wrote.
And the only weakness defensively is the FB positions eh? If only that were the case. We see a player that is shown regularly getting beaten by players centrally, being too many times out of position centrally, leading the charts in regards errors leading to goals centrally and picking up numerous yellow cards centrally. But the only weakness defensively is the FBs. Someone said on here earlier that our boy Granit came to Arsenal with a hard man reputation and that this has turned out a bluff which is correct. Some stattos who don’t watch matches looked at the number… Read more »
Another chuckle moment from the blog’s chief entertainer and know-all. No one will ask you to produce evidence from the daily star to prove your claims. I have to agree with you, Dissenter. There’s no evidence at the moment to support anything that Valentin has said about Raul and Vinay. Give them a chance to mess up, then you can come out all guns blazing. Raul’s CV does not smack of mediocrity, Arsenal will be his biggest challenge though. Going by last summer, our business was done purposefully and efficiently. Our constraints remain the same- not enough money and no… Read more »
Ishola “It’s been pointed out more than enough times that in the unbeaten run Arsenal didn’t face one team away from home that ended up in the top ten by the end of the season” Not sure what that has to do with over playing Kosielny coming back from injury due to needing 3 centre backs in a wing back system, though I’m sure you have your reasons I will add though that we lost to Palace , Wolves Watford , Everton , Leicester and drew at home to relegated Brighton towards the end of the season ….teams that figures… Read more »
Not Watford
Ishola 70
Yeh but it’s Emery’s fault really.
Graham62
“Yeh but it’s Emery’s fault really.”
Well even if Emery didn’t sign the player if he keeps on with him going into his second season he will become complicit in the crime as well.
Graham
Emery changed the system , Emery continued to play a struggling kosielny or isn’t he now responsible for tactics and team selections.
Just out of interest, do you think it was a wise decision to continue playing Kosielny?..be honest.
Graham62,
I would say that’s the other way around.
I have never insulted him or disparaging him. The same cannot be said in reverse.
Tobs, The assertion that Arsenal can be improved only by spending millions is something I strongly disagree. Arsenal does not have the funds to leap from also ran to challenging for the title. We need incremental improvements. That means having a clear structure, a well defined plan and the personnel in place. We finished 5th after a complete collapse toward the end, so we need small surgery not a triple bypass surgery on the squad. Sort out the defense (CB+LB), get 1 dynamic tall central midfielder, get 1 left winger. Promote internally. Reach the CL via top 4 finish or… Read more »
Valentin
I realise it’s too much for some but that’s the way it is I’m afraid.
Pierre
No, I don’t think it was a wise decision. Then again,based on the squad at his disposal and injuries to other players, he really didn’t have too many other options.
Ishola 70
So you admit Wenger committed a criminal offence.
I would say that’s fair.
Genuine question Graham, do you speak in the same way as you write? For example, do you say fudge instead of fu*k?
I can’t tell if you’re being serious or trying to be humorous. Is your posting on here as extreme as you get?
Graham
“No, I don’t think it was a wise decision. Then again,based on the squad at his disposal and injuries to other players, he really didn’t have too many other options.”
as I said earlier , his options were to play only 2 centre backs in the 4-2-3-1 ( a system I prefer) or 3 centre backs ( hence the overplaying of Kosielny) in the wing back system.
So yes, he did have options …could also play 4-3-3….
He created his own problems by moving to the wing back system.
Lots of things have gone wrong at Arsenal and many people are to blame, past and present employees. It’s going to take longer than one season to sort it out. The trouble is I am not convinced by the clubs strategy. It is not easy to have total faith in what we have seen so far. It just doesn’t feel like we have got going yet in a brave new era, almost like we have stalled the car. That we don’t have the proper background team in place yet seems amateurish. I approach the new season with trepidation (unless summer… Read more »
Who exactly plays where in this theoretical 4-3-3?
Someone should ask Pierre how you set up a 4-3-3 with precisely zero wingers in the squad.
He created his own problems by moving to the wing back system
That wasn’t a problem of his making. He did not have the personnel to play a back 4 , he quickly learned this plus Mustafi is a disaster in any formation but more so when part of a back 2.
Bob N16
I’ve always said Fudge/Frigging etc.
Even when I’m driving!
Fudging inconsiderate cyclists!!!
Cheers.
Luteo Guenreira
Mate you’re asking Pierre a question about who should play where in a formation – you should really already know the answer.
GK – Ozil
LB – Ozil
CB x 2 – Ozil and Ozil
RB – Ozil
CM – Ozil
CM – Ozil
CM – Ozil
LW – Ozil
RW – Ozil
Striker – Ozil
Of course you also want Ozil on the bench if you need to change things up a bit.
On a serious note Pierre is saying Emery fucked up by going to 5 at the back and is suggesting playing AMN at RB, Kolas at LB and including Mustafi at CB.
So you’d have a wing back at LB who’s defending is questionable, at RB someone inexperienced and out of position and a walking fucking disaster at CB.
Do you actually think before you comment Pierre – at least something other than mmmm Ozil (cums in his pants).
Pierre My answer was a surprise to you wasn’t it? As far as your system analogies are concerned, were you this paranoid when Arsene was constantly setting us up to self destruct? Look! Let’s cut to the chase. Emery cocked up at seasons end. I was annoyed by many things over the past few months. However, there were other things that I saw throughout the season that perked me up. The games against Spuds/ MU/ Chelski/ Liverpool showed that Emery had tactical prowess. Also the matches against Napoli and Valencia also showed that we were capable of playing to a… Read more »
To be “That wasn’t a problem of his making. He did not have the personnel to play a back 4 , he quickly learned this plus Mustafi is a disaster in any formation but more so when part of a back 2.” will repeat , Mustafi was an ever present in the league during our unbeaten run in a 4-2-3-1 system .. His partnerships with Sokratis and then Holding were decent ..it was Emery’s poor tactical decision of asking both full backs to play too advanced which resulted in the defence being weak through the channels ..he was basically asking… Read more »
Pierre
You never talked of tactics when Wenger was manager.
You’re just tactic bashing
Marc “On a serious note Pierre is saying Emery fucked up by going to 5 at the back and is suggesting playing AMN at RB, Kolas at LB and including Mustafi at CB.” our defence in our early season unbeaten run consisted of bellerin ….sokratis or holding……..Mustafi …..kolasinac/monreal… I do get that it’s difficult for you to say anything that will question Emery’s decision making , but ultimately you will only make yourself look stupid if you continue to do so. You obviously think the same as Emery in that an unfit Kosielny was a better choice than a fit… Read more »
“he was basically asking the full backs to play as wing backs in a 4-2-3-1 system which I questioned from day one.”
How else where we supposed to create chances for our strikers when we have no wingers and 2 semi retired CAMs?
Ffs give it a break Pierre, there’s no one on here that doesn’t see right through you.
Doubt we’re going into the new season with as many weaknesses as last season, although everything probably won’t be fixed, that’s the scale of our problems.
Pierre, there is no possible way to view Mustafi as either a player fans want to see or (I’m assuming here) other defenders want to play with. His impetuosity, lack of judgement and propensity to make horrendous mistakes make him a poor defender. If you say otherwise, I think your judgement on players’ abilities has to be seriously doubted. Either that or you are so agenda driven to make your statements warped.
Red
He’s picking at any small thing he can criticise Emery for. As you say I don’t remember any criticism of Wenger for all sorts of issues.
Bob
Both.
Pierre I don’t have an issue with criticism of Emery when it’s based on improving the club – all you want to do is see Ozil play and Wenger back in charge. It’s utterly ridiculous that you don’t tie in the change of formation with both Bellerin and Holding getting season ending injuries. As for Kos over Mustafi – fuck me yes. If I had a choice of not signing a CB and keeping Mustafi or not signing a CB and selling Mustafi I’d still offer to drive him to the airport. I wish Mustafi well where ever he ends… Read more »
Ruth
“You never talked of tactics when Wenger was manager”
I did , I continually questioned the decision to play Ramsey in a 2 man midfield, allowing him to play without discipline to the detriment of the team…
Emery ,I’m sorry to say , is actually a poor tactician…for Arsenal to actually look worse defensively takes a lot of doing .
I reckon even someone like Marc with his limited tactical knowledge would have set the team up better defensively.
Pierre
Tactical formations are all well and good but when you have a large core of players that have never been properly drilled on this aspect of the game, or, as has been proven, have little or no inclination to change their ways, it can easily go pear shape.
I’m sure Emery has been surprised by what he encountered this season.
Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.
I have.
He should have played Jenkinson more at RB. AMN is a terrible RB, Jenks at least tries his heart out even though he is gash, he is a professional RB, not a lazy reluctant nonplussed waster like AMN
‘I reckon even someone like Marc with his limited tactical knowledge would have set the team up better defensively.’
Zinger Tower meal for 4
Pierre
Have you ever played a team sport?
I’m not talking a foursomes on a Sunday morning at Wentworth.
There are 92 professional league clubs in the UK. After a Rambo/Ozil/Xhaka inspired performance beating Man Utd we were 3rd. 3/92…..means YOU AINT GOT BAD PLAYERS…… Only 7 games to play The following week we beat Newcastle. Rambo inspired again. 6 Games to play. The simple reason Arsenal are not in the CL this year- is because Unai Emery wanted personal glory in the form of a 4th Loosers Cup- over what is best for the clubs interests. His selections of Elneny at Goodison And Jenks and Elneny against Palace are undeniable facts. The players are good enough…( off course… Read more »
Marc I’m not advocating keeping Mustafi as I don’t rate him but for Emery to continue playing Kosielny when he clearly wasn’t fit was a poor error of judgement…..any idiot could see he was struggling but you just carry on defending Emery’s poor decisions….
Pierre
Attempting to mock me is not a good idea – you are nowhere near bright enough.
Or have you forgot making a similar claim back in Jan about my lack of tactical knowledge when I suggested we give Torreira a week off over the FA Cup 3rd round weekend due to his World Cup exertions and the fact he was used to a winter break.
Remind me how did Torreira’s performances go in the second half of the season?
Pierre
I’m not defending the decision in the way you claim, I’m saying he didn’t have many alternatives.
If you want to criticise Emery let’s talk about not securing top 4 in the PL before going all in on the EL.
The fact is all of your comments route from a pro Wenger and an Ozil can do no wrong agenda. You are slowly losing all of Wenger’s darlings so you cling to the idea that the few left are the best players we have no matter how calamitous they are.
Marc
Do you mean when I questioned Emery’s decision to play Torreira as a box to box midfielder, leading to fatigue because the role was totally unsuitable for the player.
Especially after he started the season so well as a holding midfielder.
Your answer was to send him away on holiday instead of criticising the manager’s poor decision making.
Pierre
My idea was get a bit of sunshine and take a rest – you didn’t mention what role Torreira was playing at the time – you just tried to look smart by having a pop at me. You are now deflecting the comments you made by bring up tactics again.
You also seem to constantly ignore the season ending injuries to Bellerin and Holding as if they had no effect on the team / squad.
Pedro
Don’t spend loads of dosh on hair loss remedies
When it all starts going South
Man up and ying it all off
Marc
I questioned his change of role from day one and as far as I’m concerned ,Torreira’s performances suffered due to his change of role and he never really produced the high quality of performances again during the season
Graham must have been bullied by some local caddies or something as a child.
Marc
“You also seem to constantly ignore the season ending injuries to Bellerin and Holding as if they had no effect on the team / squad.”
Teams get injuries , Holding was never regarded as irreplaceable when the season started , he was playing decent but if Emery really believed that the team was suffering through the 2 long term injuries then he had an option to strengthen the team but made a wenger type error in not strengthening the area that needed strengthening during the transfer window and the team suffered for it …..
Sure Pierre. Let’s say you’re right about everything.
So the formation was the main problem? 4-3-3 and we get top 4? That simple is it?
Forget player personnel or a mostly competent manager that fell flat at the end. Definitely forget injuries.
Just play the damn 4-3-3 without any other consideration and we’ll get better. Next level stuff, really.
Is this Belgium winger any good .?
Pierre, be honest. Emery publicly asked for defensive reinforcements in January alongside a winger and AM.
Hate him or love him for all i care. But the truth will always be the truth.
The January situation is blatantly on Raul.
Raul not spending in Jan…..he may be trying to ingratiate himself with Stan for a nice long stay at the club, like others before him
vintage gun
Did he , I don’t remember us being linked with defenders…..I remember being linked with wide men ..perisic/pulisic , carrasco,Suarez…… plus I can’t recall Emery publicly asking for defensive reinforcements…
apologies..Just checked
“this means the Gunners could dip into the market in January, and Emery made his preference clear.
“I think if we can take one player to help us at centre-back, I think it’s a good option,” he said.
Well they didn’t do a very good job whoever is to blame …how can it go from wanting a defender to signing suarez.
I’d really like to know the lineup Pierre would select for a 4-3-3.
AMN as RB? Good one.
Kola as LB? Right..
Mustafi alongside Papa? Mustafi doesn’t belong near the starting 11 no matter the tactical formation.
Midfield duo of Xhaka with any other midfielder? Clearly doesn’t work.
Ozil or Mkhi on the right? Nice width and dribbling ability either one provides.
Auba is not a left winger, neither is Laca. That leaves Iwobi, with one of the £50m strikers on the bench.
Doesn’t matter. Just shut up and play the formation.
“Teams get injuries ”
Of course they do. Can someone tell me how many of the other 19 PL teams lost 3 players to season ending injuries by mid Jan?
It really beggars belief.
If Emery wanted a centre back how did we end up with Suarez? Did Raul told Emery, you can’t have a CB, but I had a great deal on one of your former players? That suspiciously looks like Raul doing a favour to Barcelona rather than helping Arsenal and Emery. I don’t get Raul’s refusal to reinforce the defense. The down risk were small, but the benefit were huge. The cost of not reinforcing the defense cost us a top 4 position. Not getting the CL is worth more than any loan fee. Did he genuinely thought that we were… Read more »
The Fulham Player of the Year- might have been a useful addition to our defensive ranks- after all he is an AFC player.
But Raul loaned him out.
(Never game him a chance..)
And bought a 34 year old to replace him.
Deals, Deals ,Deals that’s Raul!
Whats continuity and plan of Action in Rauls World?
Raul -Remenber who gave us Emery and will now bring us Edu…and then pulled the plug on Ramsey.
Deals,Deals Deals.
More Deals than Del Boy!
Valentin
The Suarez was a bad loan signing. No one has said anything different and the fact that he went back to Barca before the season ended means even the club realised this.
Asking why we didn’t sign other players still comes down to lack of money and lack of availability of suitable players. January rarely sees good signings.
Missing out on top 4 was more down to Emery fucking up and not prioritising the league games.
22M for Kola?????? Were getting screwed again! The transfer market is inflated as hell…. 22M cant even get you a young prospect. 40M for Kola should be the price….. Barcas got the money! Play hard ball!!
Marc, I am not disputing the fact that Emery did mess things up. I am still at a loss of why Raul spent so much time on that deal when he could have had so many other deals. Not long term, not world class player, just decent committed pro for six months. If he absolutely wanted to make a deal with Barcelona, he could have made a good one for Arsenal. Barcelona had bought a French CB in January. They were not setup for him as he was expected to arrive six months later. Why not offer to take HIM… Read more »
Didn’t mean to criticise you Pedro. It’s just that I’m a huge fan of your blog. I may not comment much but I do read le-grove every day. I kinda forgot the fact that the main reason I read this blog is because you don’t write bullshit. My bad. Apologies.
Kola is a 25-30m player
Sell before they change their mind.
Kola 25
Xhara. 55
Laca 75m
155 in da bank
Robert Danis
“22M for Kola?????? Were getting screwed again”
Well if he is purchased by them it will be as a squad player so they don’t want to shell out much more on him.
The prices quoted tell us what sort of level player he is no?
Think it’s all bullshit anyway this talk of Kola to Barca and Xhaka to Inter.
They are linked to these clubs so Arsenal fans will think they are pretty good players really.
Likelihood is they will both be rolling out again next season for Arsenal.
To put Kola’s price tag into perspective just look at the figures surrounding the LB at Betis Junior Firpo.
Betis are asking for 50m for him. It was reported that Barca were willing to pay half that 25m plus add onto that two Barca players as well to sweeten the deal.
£25 millions OUT Kolasinac
£20 millions IN Kieran Tierney
I’ll take such deals. £5 millions profit on the Left back position. Better positionally, Younger, Cheaper (lower salary). In fact Arsenal should take it even if the prices is £5 millions against.
In year time, that money would have repaid itself.
Rambo, I deserved it… and you deserved a response so you know why the writing is lacking at the minute!
Blogging every day is hard. Creating content every day is hard. Doing it for years, catering to a mostly ungrateful crowd, while maintaining the same level expectation for yourself is hard.
Clearly why Pedro has let the ball drop on all those fronts ;D
Ishola I am sure that doesn’t surprise you. In fact who is surprised (bar the Ex-AKB’s who’ve suddenly found their voice; not a bad thing but only 6-7 years too late)? This will be our next crusade. And I am starting it now. Kroenke needs to leave. Why? … To have an owner who has no ambition whatsoever bar finishing in the top 4 as it will keep his investment increasing is not a good owner. He is not pushing the club to do better. He is just sat back there hoping that AW’s magical top 4 formula will continue.… Read more »
LBD10
How about ditching Kroenke and self-sustainability?
After Kroenke sodding off the club could well get an owner who goes to every match and waves his scarf but the club are still in the bargain buckets for players.
Petr Cech was on about pressure to succeed and the lack of it at Arsenal. He is comparing this atmosphere no doubt to his time at Chelsea were there was very much pressure to succeed due to the money investment made into the teams there.
Self-sustainability is too comfortable.
Pedro
Like in life
Your blogs are varied … but at least it’s consistent
Uncanny only blog about the club an if not much happening … well…
Keep going thanks
Radio still the best form of music listening for discovering new stuff despite all these developments in this form.
Great little website page with all the radio stations that are well worth the listen. Adds to list as well when refreshed. All the music you could want on one website.
http://www.undergroundradiodirectory.com/
Good stuff on Trickstar atm
Sweet Ishola, thanks for posting.
Is that on Alexa ishola
Ishola I know. And this is where the rude awakening will come from. There is 0 accountability at the club in terms of being successful. The BoD just surfed on AW top 4 formula and you can expect them to attempt the same with UE. You could tell by the drivel served up on us in that home made interview with Raul and Vinai: they are just hoping that UE makes top 4 regularly/winning the EL so that they can carry on the current circus. Like all circuses at some point: they have to fold their tent. I am just… Read more »
R.S.P.C.Arsenal
“Is that on Alexa ishola”
Older Bose. Good enough. Pumping through.
Stuff on Trickstar atm is lively, funky but with that cool vibe thrown in. We like that. Bit dub stepish.
Having a rich sugar daddy is fun as long as the money continues to flow . The moment the sugar daddy has financial problems, dies unexpectedly or lose interest, the club could be in danger. We are talking not just about relegation, but also bankruptcy, liquidation. The only owners who can afford to discard all financial reality are countries and that bring its own problems: outrageous dominance. QSI (PSG owner) are looking at buying another club (maybe Leeds) in a different league, because they are so dominant in Ligue 1, people resent them. That defeat the purpose of Qatar buying… Read more »
Great to see The G in full Eric Bristow mode today.
Hitting the Bullesye consistently with precision and accuracy- with his posts..
I have a hunch in the next 12 months the Kroenkes will decide to sell up.
Does Raul know something…..that none of have suspected…. that KSE are up for bailing out…..
Because – what he is ( Raul) doing from a footballing perspective at least- makes no sense whatsoever..
Something is amiss – and I cant put my finger on it……..
Maybe High Leg can help….
Where have you been hiding…..?
Valentin I don’t disagree. The problem was that the self-sustainable model got fucked by letting AW stay for too long. You talk of bad management and you are so goddamn right. It started off with the BoD happy to have AW make top 41 as the only goal and he obliged with all his weaknesses. The second act of bad management was just letting AW call all the shots because they wanted to believe in him so badly (And do fuck all and just cash in their paycheck) that they forgot (well not really, they never knew how to run… Read more »
Leg db10
“”Vinai and Raul were so confident that UE was going to win the EL that they repeatedly gave their support “”
Weren’t they just!
Just a tad…crikey……
Consumed with their own self importance and arrogance.
They deserved their comeuppance for that alone….
And to give that interview BEFORE the bloody final.
Its always the little things in life – that tell you the most…..here is a perfect illustration.