WHERE ARE THE PLAYERS, RAUL?
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Oh, it’s only early June… I see… calm down, right?
There’s quite a lot of work to be done this summer, my main concern is that focus has been on exiting someone from the business, are we still moving things along elsewhere? In business, is it actually possible to do more than one thing at a time… I’m sure we’ll learn.
The other worry I have is Edu hasn’t been confirmed, nor has he sacked in this silly job he has going on over in Brazil.
There has been a lot of conjecture about whether Edu will be able to deliver in Europe. From what I’ve heard, Edu is a very impressive character and he’ll be no Raul shill. He’s coming in as a technical director because he’s literally very technical. He’s not just here because he knows Arsenal, he’s coming in because he has a fantastic reputation, he’s a student of the entirety of the game, and he’s clearly obsessed enough about life after football because he retired rich and jumped into the next phase immediately and moved through the ranks. I also reckon he buys elite fragrances. Probably mixes them up as well. Definitely smells expensive. I’d be dropping a Joe Biden on him if I were let loose near him.
Brazil might not be dropping World Cups on the regular, but remember, they aren’t mugs. Bullsitting your way to the technical position over there is no easy feat.
What I like about the hire is it’s an unknown. I’d much rather take a punt on someone who could be the future, versus someone who was a big deal 5 years ago. I’d rather work with someone on the ascension, than at a crossroads (Emery/Monchi). I’m also happy that the technical director understands the DNA of Arsenal, and not from a 100-year past perspective, but looking at the next 100 years we desire.
Namely, we want to play beautiful football, win trophies and maintain all the bits that make Arsenal special as a football institution.
I want class to be a byproduct of how we operate, not an excuse for why we fail.
Anyway, I’m excited about Edu, I just hope we don’t fuck things up before he arrives.
The fixtures are in and they aren’t kind. Champions League finalists in the first 4 games.
Ooof…
- Newcastle (A)
- Burnley (H)
- Liverpool (A)
- Spurs (H)
- Watford (A)
All three of those away games are problematic.
The real stinger this year is the mid-December onwards grouping of matches.
- West Ham (A) (Dec 7)
- City (A) (Dec 14)
- Everton (A) (Dec 21)
- Bournemouth (A) (Dec 26)
- Chelsea (H) (Dec 28)
- United (H) NYD
We’ve had a savage December run in the past, but the major concern this year is that we’re playing mostly teams with big squads over that period. The crunch is usually easier to deal with because the shit kicker teams can’t hack the pace because of the lack of depth, so they usually play weaker sides and take their chances on easier games.
The other challenge with the fixture list is we have a lot of our tough away games in the back half of the season… so we could very well fall into the same Emery trap we did this season… do the business at home then absolutely tank when it matters.
We’ll see though, let’s see what a reimagination of our squad does this summer. Let’s also see what a new Head of High Performance brings to the table, hopefully, it’s Shad and we don’t have to go through a complete rebuild of the backroom team and have to transition with people that don’t understand the league.
I also think Emery has to put the Europa safety blanket to one side this season and be realistic about cups. We don’t need to send our best players away to Quarabag. We don’t need to go big in the early rounds of the cups with key players, the rewards just aren’t lucrative enough to merit loading up fragile legs with pointless minutes.
I can forgive last years mistakes, but Emery will not be given the same chances this season… we have to hire in players that are fast, powerful and mentally strong. We don’t want Sevilla worker bees, we need to remember that this is the Premier League, we need exceptional talent that can grow. Not a bag of 28-year-old journeyman right out of the yellow sticker bin.
We also need to be careful with how head into the winter, because if we’re fucked like we were this year, we are in deep shit because that run of games will end our season.
Finally, Martin Ziegler has a piece in The Times that states an Academy Coach called a teenage girl reffing an under 9s game a ‘little prick’ and made her cry. He is still with the club. Is that Arsenal class? Does that behaviour make the fans proud? Fuck no. Where are you Vinai? The brutalising of kids on the sidelines is bad enough in Sunday League, but attacking a teenage referee is absolutely beyond the pale… that sort of behaviour from someone raising the next generation of kids should never be tolerated. I don’t care what anyone says, respect for referee should be absolute at all levels, so this sort of thing needs to be nipped in the bud.
Right, fun game we’re playing on Twitter.
Name Wenger’s 5 biggest mistakes:
- Not leaving after his FA Cup wins, particularly Chelsea
- Asking Zlatan for a trial
- Waiting 2 seasons for Chamakh
- Passing on Hig at £32m
- Silvestre being ‘You will like my surprise’ of summer 2008
GO GO GO
Marc
Interesting. I’m more into deep history at the moment, particularly the Wars of the Roses and the Tudor state.
America wasn’t even a twinkle in our eye then…sorry MidWest.
MidWest
Yeah. That’s what all Americans do, right? I swear if I make it to America and the town Sheriff isn’t riding a horse and holding a Winchester Repeater I’m going to be pissed.
Cesc-
Whoaaa well you might want to start your visit in Wyoming then, just sayin.
Pedro
Mate you can always wear a hat – maybe even leave it on but sort the fucking milk out.
MidWest
No!
No!
I’m starting in the centre of New York city and if there is not a Sheriff on a horse and a saloon with less than reputable women hanging over the balcony I am slamming a Union Jack into the ground and yelling that I’m ‘reclaiming this land in the name of Queen Elizabeth the Second’.
Marc, just give it a go… it’s better with coffee to be fair.
I honestly thought oat milk was a sex thing at first.
Arsenal apparently want £10.6 Million for Kozz.
And don’t you forget the .6….motherfuckers.
Neymar’s accuser is now sued by the police for defamation after she accused them of being in cahoot with Neymar in the alledged theft of a tablet containing her second encounter with Neymar.
Just saw that… who comes up with these prices?
Arsenal in for Brazil wonderkid, Reinier
Arsenal apparently going hard for Reinier Jesus Carvalho (sounds like a band guy from a Bond film) a 17 year old midfielder playing for Flamengo.
Shit, he’s about 6ft 4.
Anyone who thinks Edu is not contributing is daft. Liking this South American scouting.
That price has to be a wind up.
Really hope the South American links are true – shows a real change of direction by the club.
In their course of getting rid of unwanted players from the squad, Arsenal has chosen the strategy to maximise revenue. I am not convinced that this is going to be very successful. I cannot imagine anybody paying £11 millions for Jenkinson adding the fact that he is in the last year of his £45kpw contract. We are now haggling with Napoli over 500k for Ospina. Unless they can convince Ospina to go somewhere else, Napoli has the upper hand in those negotiation. Do they want to keep Koscielny or do they really expect to sell Koscielny for £10 millions? We… Read more »
Hey.. if it takes a dude with Jesus in his name to make our team better .. I’m all in..
Does seem like a lot of teams were trying to sign him.. RM, Pool… etc..
Highlights suggest he is a CAM who can dribble and likes long shots.
Get in the basket my freakishly large Brasilian beauty.
This is exactly the look to the summer I wanted. Young prospects of a high level and opportunistic grabs/gambles.
If we end up with Saliba, Claude Maurice, Reinier and Martinelli before even thinking of anything else we actually have some young players to be excited about. Add Guendouzi to the mix and our own young talent like Willock etc actually have some excitement in the squad and evidence of long term planning.
A few years ago Arsenal bought some Nigerian kids who were on the fringe of the national team and none of them got a work permit.
17 years South America kids may face the same issue. That’s one of the reason why some of those kids end up in Italy, Spain and Portugal that have different immigration criteria.
marc
I said that Stan’s (or any owner of an elite Club’s) obligation was a moral one. That does not equate to pumping money into the Club. On the contrary, if AFC was run properly, it is (or was) singularly well-placed to be self-sustaining.
Stan’s dereliction of duty was a failure to ensure that the Club was run properly. And that is an obligation.
To put it another way, loyalty is a two-way street. If the owner doesn’t give a damn, why should the fans?
I wonder if a loan with an obligation/option to buy might bring Umtiti to Arsenal?
I feel like we should be hitting up RM for somebody… They need to sell about 400 mill worth of players to be FFP compliant.
Not only that they have 37 players with a max roster of 25…
MidWest
Potentially a move for Llorente? I know he’s not glamorous but apparently a few EPL clubs are interested in him.
I can see them recalling Hermoso to sell on for a £20 Million profit.
Cesc-
Something has to give and some decent players are going to fall through the cracks there. Nobody is going to pony up the dough for Bale… Chelsea might be on a transfer ban… City too…
The player I would not mind getting from RM is Casimero. But I am not sure that Zidane would let him go. If he did, could we afford him?
Midwest
“I feel like we should be hitting up RM for somebody… They need to sell about 400 mill worth of players to be FFP compliant.”
Madrid have to squeeze every drop put of their outgoings to purchase the players they really need.. They wont be doing any fire sales at all.
The longer the summer goes on the more they will be willing to listen to offers I bet. Not sure what ZZ is thinking… so hard to say.. I like Isco… always have but price would be a problem. but maybe we could make installment payments.
MidWest
Yeah there will be a lot of teams circling.
Likely Ceballos moves, lots of admirers before his move and hasn’t kicked on.
From the BBC Gossip page…..
“Arsenal are closing in on a deal for German goalkeeper Markus Schubert, 21, from Dynamo Dresden. (Independent)”
Whoop de fucking do – thats going to turn us into Champions League winners!
Diss-
Yeah I get that.., but the market determines that a lot… not completely up to them and they are flooding a market with not that many super rich teams as buyers I suppose they can loan player out too.. but players don’t like to be on loans forever either.
You can say you want $100 mill for Bale all you want but if nobody wants to pay it… kind of like CP and Zaha.
And the there’s more…
“Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser, 25, has hinted he will stay at the club for another year despite interest from Arsenal. (Mirror)”
We can’t even tempt a player from Bournemouth.
Dave
Read bewteen the lines
We will give him a sign on fee when we sign on a free next summer…
Will the South American permits change if brexit happens ?
Is it an eu thing or British government
Rspc-
No idea… that’s above my paygrade. I assume somebody in the Club has done the research on it.
R.S.P.C.Arsenal – OK but the patient is dying on the table – we can’t wait a year!
🙂
We should start a new breed of Arsenal players …
Emery’s Goon laticos …
Salina … n the rest could be the dawning of a new era as the specials sang
Sorry Dave
But sounds like a line from an Eminem song….
Dave
The goon laticos will save the days…
RSPCA – funny man! But the AFC Corpse is on you (and Unai and Vinai and Stan and Josh – and of course Arsene)
Will we even be interested in Ryan Fraser in one year time?
Reiss Nelson, ESR, Bukayo Saka would have one year of added experience and that may make his arrival unnecessary.
Wengers Biggest 5 mistakes.
1. Not winning 4 League Titles.
2.Not winning 8 FA Cups
3. Not Going 2 Seasons unbeaten
4. Not Going 50 games unbeaten
5. Not Being Mediocre.
The South American work permit is a UK government decision. Brexit or no Brexit, it has no reason to change for non-EU football players. Last time I checked it was based on the cost of the player. Above £15 millions was viewed as the minimum, however that value may have been adjusted to take into account the football inflation. Below that it was based on the country FIFA ranking and the percentage of international game played within the last two years. The higher the country, the lower the percentage was. Brazilian international are obviously higher considered than International from San… Read more »
RSPC, I think that two years ago, Arsenal had a few players who were refused a work permit. The two Nigerian boys went to Belgium and Netherland. Asano went to Germany and another had his pre-contract cancelled. The situation of Kelechi Nwakali (the one Nigerian boy still on our book) is even worse this season. He joined Porto on a single entry ViSA. When he left to play an international game, he was refused entry back in Portugal. He has been stranded back in Nigeria since. https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8920374/kelechi-nwakali-arsenal-porto-nigeria-visa-passport-blunder/ In view of those past mistakes, I would not trust the administrative side… Read more »
In a recent interview Suarez says he had developed a medical condition (fluid in bones or some such) within 2 weeks of coming to arsenal and wasn’t even at 50% since. Hence he couldn’t feature in the team and make a contribution.
Apparently the DM has reported that the Emirates is in vested with vermin.
Hardly news really they’ve been there for at least a decade now with new ones arriving all the time.
Have to wait to see if the new ones are as toxic as the last ones although current owners are the biggest toxicity of all.
CG and Pierre are close runners up!
Freddie
Valentin
“Show me on this doll where the bad man touched you.”
Now that was really funny, but hope Pierre doesn’t read it as he might have to go back to therapy
“You mass have a semi on with all these top 5s Graham.’
Brilliant Bob, Graham no doubt will print and put them up on his bedroom wall.
No need for the little blue pills now and a steep loss of revenue for his local chemist.
What’s this blog coming to?
Cesc A serving queens and Mid writing love songs to cowboys.
Then all this Pedro hair bashing.
Poor guy I thought his extensions look real – colours match almost perfectly.
Have some respect!
Raptors = NBA Champs!!!
Cesc
Are you reading Conn Iggulden’s War of the Roses?
Thought that was a good series as was his Genghis Khan series.
Also like Bernard Cornwall and other of that style of writing.
My 10 year old son can’t get enough of those books and a great way for him to learn about history.
Mid
First time I’ve heard of this blues guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg9rkcUZ6Vc
something to listen to while on the blog?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R8AFv2WB1Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RM0taAoCgM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwc7ZEYfWYc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SfSQ3lQmJw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRMzVMe18cA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEmvBdRLg4k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewjw3wlVttQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nj5eeHac960
Leave you guys with this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFxOaDeJmXk
Jason Bonham on drums every bit as good as his dad – well almost
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y
Tony
Goodmorning.
My “Top 5” changes every day.
So many memories.
Cheers.
Tony
I have seen all the blues guys live.
John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, BB King ( I had a long chat in a hotel in Spain with him and DR John) Howling Wolf, ZZTop, Jimmy Hendrix, Yardbirds, Cream in the early years, and many more.
Nice to find the new breed of blues artists .
Good morning Graham.
Hope you’re joking as it would be very sad if you do.
Wenger’s not on my Xmas card list either but time comes when you just have to look forward.
The club will come good sooner or later.
Cheers Val
Strange that there is not a free movement of players ain’t it….
Players should be allowed to travel as long as there is an agenda
Comes overs played an is success
Cones over n fails but is educated in many languages and n taught a skill that will serve them outside football .
@Tony : are you a fan of Sambora, one of the most underrated guitar players/composer in history ??
I go to AFC home games and live in Highbury. Let us get the facts right. Edu will only come if Raul gives him a free hand . I will keep my fingers crossed until the appointment is made. Kroenke’s philosophy which was known even when Dein introduced him to the Board was to keep the Club as his asset, go very easy on wins and not spend much money on players. Fans bought the lie that moving from Highbury to Emirates will among other things help the Club to compete with the best. The local council was persuaded to… Read more »
Name Wenger’s 5 biggest mistakes:
– Replacing Flamini with Ashley Cole in THAT final
– Not bidding an extra £3m to land Xabi Alonso
– Bidding forty million and one english pound
– Not replacing Vieria and then have the nerve to say “Trust us”
– Not signing [Insert NAMES here]
I could go on but I have work to do
Talking about Wenger, he knew by 2004 that he achieved what he could, and helped the Club to achieve glory, thanks to the mix of Graham’s and his players. He found a soul mate in Kroenke while the plan to move the Stadium was firmly in place. We suspeted at that time that there was an unholy alliance between Wenger and Kroenke- in that Kroenke lwt whatever Wenger wanted to do in football side of things and no pressure for wins and trophies, in return for Wenger not asking for more of Kroenke’s money for players, and let the majority… Read more »
Tony
There are exceptions.
I agree, “sooner or later” things will work out but in the meantime let’s not forget that although there were many great memories under Arsene, mainly in the first half, his many mistakes tarnished his image after halftime.
Who’s your preference for next PM?
All the best.
Tony
I’m making my way through Dan Jones’ books on the Tudors and the Plantagenets. George RR Martin apparently based a lot of GoT on those periods.
Glad to hear your son is so into history. Can never get my head around kids who don’t like history. Particularly in England, place is steeped in it and often the actual historical happenings are better than any work of fiction. The Plantagenets are a great example of that.
Starkey’s big old biography on Henry VIII is next
Spanishdave
Sounds like a really cool time.
Music is my first love always will be.
Plenty of new great talent around and thanks to the Internet easy to find.
As long as Pedro’s happy I’ll keep posting tracks.
Got this playing at the moment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjiF2-B-DH8
My time on the blog is when most are asleep so I shouldn’t disrupt the mainstream chatter.
Cesc
Sounds really good.
He’s Thai/English so I initially got him started on Pittacus Lore as I did with my daughter now 22. The language was right for their English comprehension.
Now he’s hooked and reads every night before sleep.
Highbury Yes love the guy’s musicianship. I actually prefer hm to Jimmy Paige and Slash although both are brilliant and really nice guys who both have played with Jason Bonham. Met him in Orlando when he was playing golf on the ‘Fairway To heaven” charity event, which was covered by VH1 back in the 90s. Was there with a lot of artists for 3 days although I was there on different business, but I knew some people from the event, so was invited to the evening soirées. He’s got big hands for a guitarist. Saw Bon Jovi 3 times pre… Read more »
RSPC, Teaching academy kids not only football, but also things that make them grow as human being is what Per wants to do. Currently a lot of them are in a bubble and often when they leave Arsenal it is a cultural shock for them. Also a lot of them are not prepared to deal with things as footballer. Some have multiple expensive cars, but still rent a place. One of my friends is an accountant for a sport agency. He told me that in the past there used to be about 5~7% of footballers who ended up broke 10… Read more »
Tony frequently having little digs at me( perfectly acceptable) so please excuse me for lowering myself to his level. “Pierre being the fetish kind (think Ozil & Wenger) would seriously be at home in Berlin.” “Show me on this doll where the bad man touched you.”Now that was really funny, but hope Pierre doesn’t read it as he might have to go back to therapy” You appear to have a few sexual issues Tony …this comment from you was particularly concerning regarding your teenage mexican”adopted” son ( let’s hope your adopted daughter was not a witness) “I really took to… Read more »
Tony
——
Check this guy out if you don’t already know him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kh_aNP4ZvU
Sarri to Juve looks done. Lamps to Chelsea?
Snowy ‘s good check out Luther Alison
It’s nice to have good music to supplement the crap our club is going through.
It needs a major shake up and not messing around at the edges.
The current set up is not going to do it.
Another day and not a single signing made. I am tired.
@Tony : thank god he left Bon Jovi (he should have left much sooner, imo), JBJ has transformed his creation into a ridiculous pop candy band.
“New Jersey”, “SWW”, “Keep The Faith” were awesome rock albums.
Love his solo work as well, “Stanger in this town” is a blues/rock masterpiece.
“Undiscovered Soul” and “Aftermath of the lowdown” are excellents.
Saw him live once (with Orianthi), amazing show, amazing singer and musician.
For all you blues rockers here, this is probably the greatest live solo you’ll ever see!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUnb6Uy3Zw4
These noises about Torreira are becoming a hit of an annoyance. We’re approaching peak Vieira levels of flirtation though the tabloids and he’s played about 8 good games for us. If I were in his camp I’d be getting him on social with the extinguisher. Get your head down and perform for Arsenal first before giving the press any fuel for shite rumours about returns to Italy. He’s Milan’s “dream” signing, yea? Doing a lot of dreaming at Milan in recent seasons, maybe they ought to wake up and fuck off with that sort of talk. Christ we’re a soft… Read more »
CC –
Would you be against selling Torreira? Seems counter-intuitive, but everyone has a price I guess.
Bought for £23m (I think), sell for £45m after 1 season. I’d take it.
Thanks Danny certainly better than listening to Emery right now!
CC,
Relax, it was just an interview where Torreira said he’s finding it hard to adjust to English football and weather, and that life was easier in Italy.
Is Milan likely to be able to “turn” Torreira Real or Barca style?
No – they don’t have the money or status anymore.
CC,
The stuff on Torreira is annoying because it’s just paper/website talk.
And, outside the field of fitness/sports performance, that’s all we have at the moment.
Jamie,
I’d take a £20+ profit on Torreira too, but doubt whether AC Milan has the money for a £40m+ transfer.
I think Torreira got homesick halfway through the season and found the Prem a lot tougher than playing in Italy.
He’s definitely. Was pretty crap for half a season, sell him if we can get a better player, hopefully taller.
WOAB –
Yeah, true. Theoretically though, I’d take it too. Imagine doubling your investment within a year.. I’d probably let every player in the squad go for twice what we paid for them.
I dunno, but I have a feeling that if Torreira’s character is anything like his style of play, i.e., determined and tenacious, he’ll get over his homesickness, adjust, and be ok for next season.
Jamie I’m not opposed to selling any of our players for good money. I’m a big Laca fan but I’d wave him goodbye tomorrow for good cash. We’re not at the level to desperately attain players imo, all sellable to fund squad turnover as I see it. We should be confident enough that we know we can turn a sale into an opportunity. Whether we are of course is entirely another story. Woab Lol I’m relaxed, I find the media talk annoying and disrespectful. Torreira should be less candid, and folk at AC Milan should know their place and shut… Read more »
AC Milan will always have the status in my eyes.
Why?
Because they are AC Milan.
I really rate Sambora. He’s got a really good voice as well I think. And on top of that, he was married to Heather Locklear… so WE ARE NOT WORTHY. Bon Jovi were an excellent band even after Keep The Faith. Their next album, These Days was a lot darker and had some brilliant tracks – probably my favourite overall Bon Jovi album. Crush was next, in 2000 and was probably their last truly great album. Bounce and Have A Nice Day, the next two, had some great tracks, but some awful filler as well. After that there was Lost… Read more »
Jamie
That’d be “retain” players, not attain. We should be doing the latter, whilst we shouldn’t be concerned as much about the former presently.
Of course that isn’t to say we should be a selling club or stepping stone, but there’s no sense in clinging hold of a player if good money is fronted up and he’d happily jump. Get them out, get the cash in, go to work tinkering with the squad.
Sorry Pierre I can’t offer respect to trolls like you as your not the sharpest tool in the shed. That said when you contribute agenda free with insight, you give good posts. Your cultural shortsightedness is so evident in the case of me or my MC brothers respecting women. Maybe you just have pictures of Sons of Anarchy in your head. What tourists see is so different to the inner workings of the Thai and asian culture where their values are etc. I can promise you no Thai girls were harmed in the process and ritual of making my Mexican… Read more »
Sambora is a far better singer than JbJ, for sure.
CC –
I completely agree.
Re: Music chat:
Springsteen > JBJ
Little Steven (Silvio!) > Sambora
Just saying!
Tony
Although your input on things is often very informative and worth the read, there are occasions where you overdo it slightly on certain personal issues.
Just my opinion. No offence intended.
I can’t see AC Milan spending £50 millions on Torreira and commit to his salary on top of their obligation to buy Franck Kessie. They also have an urgent need for a top striker and a top defender.
They may propose Arsenal some players in exchange, but do they have any players we might be interested in?
Non taken and duly noted Graham.
No problem toning things done a bit.
Jamie
100% with you Springsteen assessment. JBJ is lightweight in comparison.
I use Live in NYC DVD and a live BluRay often when I’m training
He’s not called The Boss for nothing.
Sadly never got the chance to see him live.
worth a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB6OlJqV1rQ
@Biggles : it’s true, Sambora did an amazing job on the “These Days” album.
Let Torreira The Myth Go…..
The little lad can’t cut the mustard over here.
Those tears in Baku – clearly were not Crocodile- he is just better suited to Serie A- where his dimension and endurance issues are not such a hindrance
Sell him- put the very mobile AMN In his position and use the funds to buy Zaha.
Pace,Power Penetration….propels you up the Prem table…..
If we keep Torreira- we are basically keeping player – whose Heart will be always be forever In Italy…..
Tony –
I’ve seen him live a couple times, most recently in Hyde Park 5 years or so ago.. He’s a machine. Plays 3 hr sets until his wife literally drags him off the stage.
He’s the next level is the next level.