I hit the big 35 today.
In footballing terms, I’m just in the squad for nostalgia reasons. I have no more than 23 games in me a season, mostly because I disrespected my body with heavy boozing sessions with Wayne Rooney in my twenties. Fans now clap patronisingly when I go for a sprint upfield. I’m called the wise head in the dressing room. I have TWO grey hairs in my beard, and I probably have 16 kids.
This year I’ll mostly be moving into punditry and doing a bad job of it because I neglected education during my career. I’m secretly very jealous that Europa Slayer, Petr Cech, has just landed a job at Chelsea as a Sporting Director… he’s the sort of guy who has savings as well. I’m going to go off the rails.
Damn… it’s depressing imagining yourself as a 35-year-old footballer.
IN THE REAL WORLD, Dalian have apparently suspended Carrasco as he angles for a move away.
I know I’d be doing the same if I were playing out there in my prime, but ultimately, the whole saga says a lot about who he is as a player in my opinion. Still, I’d rather him over Fraser every damn day…
James Olley reckons we’re reassessing our transfer moves now moves for both players have stalled. My thing here is this… just two players on our list of wingers? A whole season of watching Iwobi and we’re having a reassess targets like we’re now stumped? We should have 10 players we’re targetting. I know I’m getting angry about a guess from a journalist… but it all feels too familiar. We have an indecisive setup and we don’t have the key parts here to make it work. A disrupted preseason is looking more and more likely if we don’t shape up soon.
Bayern Munich player of the season waaaaaas… Gnabry. Another snappy bit of business. Ivan G and Wenger offering him a deal AFTER he smashed the Olympics. I also heard from a very good place that he was utterly horrified by how flummoxed Wenger was by a simple change in formation by a shite French team on the preseason tour.
One day, I’ll sit down and work out how much money we’ve wasted by losing good players for fuck all, overspending on wages, and buying players high and not being able to shift them. As a club, is there a better club in the upper echelons of football for making bad decisions? Doubtful.
Right, that’s me done. See you in the comments! xxx
Back
For
The
Trofee
BTW Happy 45th birthday Pedro
Pedro
`
‘As a club, is there a better club in the upper echelons of football for making bad decisions? Doubtful.’
No, I don’t think there is.
Happy birthday
It’s mad that he’s still so young and ready to take Ribery & Robbens mantle. Hopefully we get our new David dein that gets deals over the line in early June so players can get a good pre season and we have a hope of them bedding in.
Happy Birthday Pedro
What’s wrong with Wenger, how can you be in the game for so long, and be so completely inept?
I am sure he has been tactically flummoxed by far lesser forces than a shite French preseason team
Happy Birthday, mate!
Anything interesting happening at Arsenal latley? No? Ok as usual then.
35 as a footballer you’re looking down the end of a barrel. But as a human boy you’re just getting started
HBD PEDRO. CHEERIO!!! Marseilles apparently selling their priced assets in Thauvin, Payet, Strootman and Sanson. I’ll pick Thauvin as he scored 16goals in ligue 1 last season and also solved a problem area. Strootman I’ll pick as he slot in to fill the void left with the departure of Ramsey. Payet aged, so no. Don’t know much about Sanson and his position he plays. Guys any thoughts here? Lest I forget, Marseilles may want players as part of deal for any of the aforementioned players. Enemy seems to be playing good and didn’t realise it was him as he’s cut… Read more »
Elneny I meant this typo
As for the stalled deals stuff I think it’s made up and we’re an easy target for rumours because we’re a bit of a joke club at the moment but my theory/my hope/feeling is that it’s all quiet on our end cause I have a feeling some of our targets are away at a tournament. I have a feeling any interest in Carrassco and Fraser is secondary to that of Ziyech and maybe Neres who I heard wants to go to England and apparently Everton are trying for him. We’d look like total ding dongs if we signed Carrassco for… Read more »
Happy Birthday Pedro!!!
Absolutely belter of a post!! Keep ‘am coming!!
If we are serious about wanting to move along and build a better team we should be making clear moves now rather than later.
The spot light is definitively on Raul for now.
I agree that Arsenal are now (if they weren’t always) a great target for journalists and sports sites but maybe for different reasons than before. At one time we were linked with outlandish great players we didn’t really have any chance of. Now the media know Arsenal fans are militant online with the whole #KroenkeOut thing, they know they are pisses at the £45 Million budget and another season in Europa League…I actually think now the media strategy would be link Arsenal to shit players or have stories about them low balling or pulling out of deals and that will… Read more »
Carrassco’s agent has said that we are interested but haven’t made an offer it was another club but the Chinese club have said he’s not for sale. So anything about a stalled deal because we don’t have a pot to piss in is wide of the mark
Tierney would be a good start, if there’s any truth to it.
Many happy returns Pedro.
35 is nothing but a number 😉
I hope the Arsenal win another league title before you turn 50.
Wenger knew all there was to know about tactix, he proved that on the odd occasion when he altered the team’s style. That was what he was about, style not tactix. He played the same way, no matter what (apart from the odd occasion.) It worked pretty well, too, for a while. He inherited the best defence in PL, Bergkamp, Ian, Paul Merson, Platt, and he had new ideas on diet. And no beer swilling. Yes, tactix comes way behind personnel and man-management. And all might have ended well but for his giant ego. Hubris, that is what killed him… Read more »
Tierney would be a great start as it’s a position that has to be addressed.
Happy Birthday Pedro!!! Make Sal and Ahern buy you many rounds.. Hope you have a good one.. 35 isn’t so bad… You still have time to course correct and pretend like drinking Oat Milk will fix all that damage you did as a youth..
😀
I’m trying my best to remain patient.. but that EL loss seems to have completely destroyed any momentum we may have had going into this summer.. and destroyed the budget as well as the plan, need some positive news, not gonna lie.
Anyhow, Cheers! and thanks for keeping Le Grove rolling on. much appreciated.
35 … wow.
Gotta think bout retirement.
Hand the reins of the blog over to some young hip upstart with zeal and passion, who ll pen 2 blogs a day on pure adrenaline.
Probs should have a UEFA B license. They all do 9n twitter…
Happy birthday Pedro. 35 as a footballer sure is depressing to think about. Good thing you’re in marketing where the retirement age isn’t until 42!
Happy birthday Pedro
I was shell shocked when I learnt that Real Madrid sold Marcos Llorente for 40million euros. A player that hardly ever kicked a ball and we are here selling Ospina for a paltry sum of 3million. We could have as well exchanged him for a warm handshake or received a bottle of Budweiser in return. Dominic Solanke was sold for 19 million with hardly any first team appearance and this got me wondering about how this club is being run. We buy shitty players, we can get a good sale across the line, we can develop young players at least… Read more »
Marco – you want to sell Bellerin and buy someone else and suggested alternatives. Are they more expensive or less. If more then it will eat into our budget and if less then obviously Bellerin is better. You just want to replace the whole team- I have a feeling that you just want to show off your knowledge of players you have watched on YouTube
Marco – you want to sell Bellerin and buy someone else and suggested alternatives. Are they more expensive or less. If more then it will eat into our budget and if less then obviously Bellerin is better. You just want to replace the whole team- I have a feeling that you just want to show off your knowledge of players you have watched on YouTube . More important is the left back and Tierney is a good choice-
Opeyimi
Welcome aboard.
Don’t try to make to much sense of it (we try to as much as we can).
It’s the Arsenal way apparently…. 😒
Marco – you want to sell Bellerin and buy someone else and suggested alternatives. Are they more expensive or less. If more then it will eat into our budget and if less then obviously Bellerin is better. You just want to replace the whole team- I have a feeling that you just want to show off your knowledge of players you have watched on YouTube . More important is the left back – and Tierney is a good choice- Monreal probably go and we need a replacement
Sorry for the repeat comments
I am sure CC is Keyser- same style of arguing something in a rather obscure way
Opeyimo
spot on.And not only that we were having trouble selling Oooooooospina for 3.5 mil.That os crazy.We couldnt drum up interest for an international goalkeeper.Maybe the other clubs just know how badly we are ran and take advantage of it.Anyways this Arsenal way has to change and with Sanllehi in charge maybe there is some hope.I dont really rate Sanllehi but with the moves he had been making recently like the PR stunt to get fans on board and now the transition team maybe we can hope again.Also Edu is coming .
Didn’t Aubameyang get suspended by BvB from training before he moved to us? Perhaps Carrasco is raising a fuss because he knows the deal is close and he’s trying to force their hand.
Risky strategy though… he must want out of China badly.
I personally would have rather chased after Ziyech first but beggars can’t be choosers.
Would Özil be tempted by China or even the MLS? Didn’t Beckham say he wanted to make a “statement signing” for his new franchise?
£20m and he’s yours Mr. Beckham, no returns or refunds.
“But as a human boy you’re just getting started”
This was Marko 5 years ago but apparantely he’s now the 40 year old virgin.
As for the Bellerin rumours, it’s obvious that At. Madrid is looking for a long term replacement for Juanfran. We don’t need to sell Bellerin cheap so unless they are willing to give us what we want tell them to go away.
If Tottenham could sell Kyle Walker for £50m we should be looking for a similar amount as a bare minimum…
Bielik is playing well, another one who deserves a chance to make a step up to the first team. Obviously not good enough to be starter but he has done consistently well in his loans… Mavropanos, Holding, Chambers, Bielik, Medley… we have a few young centre backs who should be good enough to be squad players. So please please please do everyone here and sell Mustafi. What about approaching Celtic and swapping Tierney for Jenkinson and Mustafi? In a less pressured league he might even do…. ok. Two fringe players to fill a vital part of our defence without spending… Read more »
Pedro
Many happy returns of the day.
Ah yes, Monsieur Wenger and tactics.
Where could I start?
Because it’s your birthday, I’ve decided not to.
Ozil in the MLS?
Isn’t the US philosophy all about working hard for your buck?
Could also go on about Arsenal’s commercial image but a certain poster would only take great joy in arguing the case.
So much fun on here.
Have England fudged up their chances in the cricket World Cup?
Australia, NZ and India may send us home.
Oh shite! I forgot, we are home.
Meanwhile Arsenal show their muscle and understanding of the current transfer market. Tierney valued at £25 million plus by Celtic is subject to a £15 million offer from Arsenal. Pathetic it’s almost as if Arsenal playing at bringing replacements in. I get it that you always try and get a bargain but this is just taking the mick!
Finally then, it’s Johnson v Hunt.
Any views?
Have a great weekend everyone.
Cheers.
“Meanwhile Arsenal show their muscle and understanding of the current transfer market. Tierney valued at £25 million plus by Celtic is subject to a £15 million offer from Arsenal.”
Obviously this is all Wenger, the cheap, dithering French dinosaur. He’s still running things at Arsenal. Yeah.
Arsenal’s transfer business is beginning to look like a complete shambles with not a single player looking like an imminent arrival at the club. Unsurprisingly despite all the rumours the club seems to be struggling also to offload some of the unwanted players such as Jenkinson, Koscielny and Ozil. The overall impression is that Arsenal are at the moment a “rudderless” club with no clear strategy apart from a desire to cut the wage bill and reduce our transfer budget to levels now generated by clubs in the bottom half of EPL. My view is that Arsenal could finish this… Read more »
“I am sure CC is Keyser- same style of arguing something in a rather obscure way“
Nope. Curious what you see as obscure given my thoughts are quite simple when it comes to Arsenal, it’s often a case of having to unravel what someone else has claimed I’ve said on a particular subject.
ES
That tends to happen when –
(A) you give average/poor players too much money.
(B) you continue to offer derisory amounts for players that may interest you.
(C) allow the club to malfunction for over a decade without doing fudge all about it.
(D) have an owner who doesn’t give a shite.
Emirates, we have been “rudderless” for donkey’s years.
Apparently we’ve placed a price tag of £11m on Koscielny. I would be amazed if we achieve anywhere near this evaluation.
As I said on the other thread if Lyon was open to it why don’t we try to bring in Aouar plus cash and Koscielny going the other way?
Happy birthday, man.
35…. well, you are about same age as the Juve granddaddy that just left. But not to worry, you wouldn’t be asked to track back in advertising.
In fact, if you do it well like you do it here, you will soon make vice president, and you know that will only mean a more comfortable and bigger chair, a large table and a pay that accommodates a granddaddy lifestyle.
Enjoy your new age,man.
Yes, quite true. We’ve been rudderless for years. Ivan talking cock and doing fuck all while Wenger’s kingdom crashed around his ears. We’ve missed the big gains to be had over the last decade or so as player values ballooned and now we have a barely competitive squad just when man City are unassailable and Liverpool have found their balls.
‘I was shell shocked when I learnt that Real Madrid sold Marcos Llorente for 40million euros. A player that hardly ever kicked a ball and we are here selling Ospina for a paltry sum of 3million. ‘
That shouldn’t shock you actually. Players coming from a good team will have their values loaded, Madrid won CL three times in a row, so their dross players still command value.
But Arsenal? Basement shitness. Celtic will soon buy Jenks for £1m as well.
What’s wrong with these folks typing Opeyemi as Opeyimi and Opeyimo?
‘Obviously this is all Wenger, the cheap, dithering French dinosaur. He’s still running things at Arsenal. Yeah’
Yeah man, it’s all Wenger. The man who gave crazy wages to shit players, the man who paid huge amounts to buy dross players, the man who allowed super stars like Gnabry to stroll out the door for peanuts, the man who made sure we have to deal with £45m budget now because of his gross incompetence in years past.
So try another sarcastic vote of confidence for Wenger, mate.
PedRo “”””My thing here is this… just two players on our list of wingers?”””” Yes- it seems Rauls Contact Book was not a Book after all- more of a Post- It Sticker! How did Gazidas fall for this man’s patter? 18 months he has been at The Arsenal And all he can come up with for wide players are a tubby Jock from Bournemouth and a money obsessed Belgian desprate to escape from The Orient. ******* 9 Days to Official Pre Season Difficult pre season fixtures on The Horizon Emirates Cup unsellable Still No Captain . And Will Barnet actually… Read more »
Graham 62
We may have been poorly managed in recent years and Wenger may also have made some poor decisions, but at least there was some planning albeit that it was ineffective.
Someone at the club needs to explain Arsenal’s strategy for next season and beyond. At the moment the club is on a downward spiral with no light at the end of the tunnel.
Happy birthday you old bastard!
Em Str
Very fair &
Very accurate analysis.
The Old Regime ( clearly malfunctioning badly and stale) were incredibly better and more efficient than This New Regime….
At least they had (albeit) a flawed plan and a way of playing entrenched.
Its incumbent on The Kroenkes to Act.
They have not done so – they themsleves should now be Ousted.
!£€¥Boycott the Buggers €£¥!
Happy birthday Pedro!
Interesting to know our club kit is already on sale in the USA.
The new contract with Adidas doesn’t start till July 1st and so we have not announced any transfers.
The talk of a transition youth team led by Freddie means someone somewhere is thinking positively. Kinda like an Arsenal B team.
Lari
The new Adidas kit is already on sale in the US?
Are you sure it’s not knock off?
I just went onto the Sky Sport’s website and the head line piece is headed “ManU must keep Pogba and De Gea” so I click on it.
The piece is written by Danny Higginbotham who is actually described as a “Football Expert and Columnist”.
If any is needed to show you the level of click bait that is constantly aimed at football fans that pretty much does the job.
RIP Afc… sad but true. Kroenke + Wenger + Gazidis killed the club.
Happy f*cking birthday Pedro, hope you will have an Arteta dedicated photo as a present.
Highbury
He wore the last one out – I won’t describe how it will spoil your breakfast.
To the poster who said that the reason that Bayern has regressed is because they have bought players like Gnabry.
Gnabry just won the Player Of The Season award for Bayern. Seems that maybe Gnabry had not been the reason of their relative bad season. Bad season, They still won their league!
Gentlebris
What’s wrong with these folks typing Opeyemi as Opeyimi and Opeyimo?
It’s called having had one too many by that point in time and not paying attention.
Sorry Opeyemi!
Andy Boothroyd has just demonstrated to the world that the FA is still boys’ network full of incompetents. He was given a new contract before the tournament where he does his best to prove that he knows less about football tactic and man management than any idiot picked from the street. After his dismal performance, you would think that he would have the decency to resign and accept that he is out of his depth. No refuse to resign and blame the defeat on the players and their lack of quality, not on his frankly bizarre decisions. Foden, England best… Read more »
CG You are pathetic my man. “The old regime were clearly better and more efficient than this new regime” You just don’t have it in you to accept things do you? Not once over these past few months have you ever highlighted why we find ourselves in this present situation and who is to blame. Your ploy at pointing your finger at others is so predictable. Your Emery/Raul diatribe now includes SK. What a surprise! Amazingly though, you always dismiss the real culprits in all of this. You just can’t bring it upon yourself to point the finger at those… Read more »
DB10
I think anyone who follows Arsenal and has only had one too many is doing bloody well!
Wishing you on your birthday Pedro. For so many years you have been the reason to look forward to another day, another provoking post .
After 35 years of beers , wish you the next 35 of Single Malts.
The England U21 defeat to Romania was very much individual errors from players. I don’t know why managers keep getting the blame for obvious fuck ups from the individual players. You had the poor challenge in the penalty area that led to Romania penalty, you had the CB gifting the ball to the opposition in front of his own penalty area for another of their goals and you had the England GK also throwing in one for them as well. On another point we saw again in the Uruguay v Japan match what a nasty joke VAR is. The penalty… Read more »
Valentin
Spot on. To have Aidy fcuking Boothroyd coach these talented boys for two years a recipe for disaster. Believe he is a friend of former technical director Dan Ashworth. FA should admit they made a mistake and sack him now.
Graham Everyone talks about how great Klopp as done at Liverpool etc but they did have a huge piece of luck in Barca massively over paying for Coutinho. Now let’s imagine we had a bit of luck this summer and saw Ozil, Miki, Xhaka and Mustafi all leave for £30 million each. You then add in the other’s on their way Elneny etc and we’d end up with something similar to the £140 million Liverpool got for Coutinho. How would that revolutionise our summer? The point of the above is just who stocked the team with so many underperforming players… Read more »
Unfortunately controversies over VAR will overshadow next season’s EPL.
It was meant to put a stop to controversies and injustices but all it is doing is compounding officials incompetence.
To make a wrong call in a split second on the pitch with no reference was understandable. To make wrong calls with after reference is inexcusable.
Ishola
My personal opinion is that the majority of officials in this country are morons. It doesn’t matter what technology you give them they’re still a moron just a moron with a bit of help.
With all the money in the PL where we look to attract the best world talent in players and managers why don’t we do the same with officials?
Arsenal stalling on a deal?
Seriously. I am genuinely shocked.
Guns
Come on it’s a big decision – you’ve got your sausage sandwich lined up but do you go red sauce or brown?
Graham “The old regime were clearly better and more efficient than this new regime” Yes. They were. Without Question. I would give Old Regime 3 /10( on their last season) I would give New Regime 0/10( on their first season) So I stand by what I said. Had Raul picked a proper manager from Day 1 and not his Puppet Emery The New Regime would be hitting 8/10 (And Wenger would not hardly ever be mentioned.) The club is in a unique and dangerous position We are all just waiting for Emery to be dismissed…players,fans and media.. He will probably… Read more »
Marc
“My personal opinion is that the majority of officials in this country are morons. It doesn’t matter what technology you give them they’re still a moron just a moron with a bit of help.”
Exactly.
If an official is a dope he is a dope no matter what technology he supposedly has backing him up.
Really efforts should have been continued to improve performance of officials themselves rather than just bring in some TV screens with same inept officials in place.
Walt
I see you are back in your Fantasy Bubble World.
Anything, anything but face The Reality.
Even when Emery had unlimited funds – he fails to win.
PSG -1st Season.
He is A Looser.
He should be nowhere near Arsenal
I didn’t mention Emery or endorse him. In fact my position on Emery was let’s see what he does.
I don’t jump to conclusions I wait and try to make the best judgement I can based on what I see or what happens. Hence my position you are both a cunt and a troll, a measured opinion I’ve taken time to come to.
Rumours in Italy that Milan will pay £35 Million for Torreira. No point at that price, losing one of our better players in a market where it will be hard to find a replacement for a reasonable amount.
Arsenal apparently want at least £45 Million. I wouldn’t mind that if it meant swapping Torreira for Partey, for example, but would have doubts about whether he could be convinced to join Arsenal.
Obviously you’d want to be selling and replacing Xhaka, not Torreira.
Ishola, Aidy Boothroyd is responsible of the tactics and the personnel. At tournament, most teams selects at least 3 Defensive Midfielders in their squad. France has 4 players who can play there: Bamba, Ncham, Aouar, Guendouzi. The England squad had only single DM! As Choudhury has been sent off and suspended for two games (really he should be at least 6 international games ban for reckless, dangerous, out of control), the England team had no defensive midfielder! That’s on Boothroyd, not the players! If a team does not have a defensive midfielder, the opposition can go through the middle and… Read more »
Cesc
Haven’t the rumours that he’s not happy been over blown? I’ve heard everything from it was his girl friend complaining to Torreira saying his comments were taken out of context.
@Gragam : CG is not pathetic, he’s schizo.
“Tick Tock”…
35 is NOT the big 35.40 is.50 is .60 is.u get it.anyway we’re turning into NEWCASTLE omg.its exactly the way they are run.Benitez will be next in charge.Unless kronke goes,that is f** kid for the next BIG 50 years…
Valentin The goals conceded against Romania were clearly individual errors player mistakes. I don’t care for either or have time for this England guy in charge but it just irritates that players themselves time and again get away with criticism and it is all heaped on the manager when clearly we saw against Romania that these were individual errors. Errors that schoolboys shouldn’t make. And if we get the take that these players are making these obvious individual errors as a consequence of whatever manager they are playing for then they have no pride in themselves or the shirt they… Read more »
CG
You know when a defender plays a shite pass to a colleague and as a consequence the oppostion scores, whose fault is it?
Is it-
A. The GK for not being alert to the situation?
B. The colleague who should have been anticipating the shite pass?
C. The defender who played the initial shite pass?
Difficult one isn’t it?
Based on your logic you’d blame it on A first, B second and absolve C from all responsibility.
Marc I’m not sure if he’s unhappy. I mean hopefully he comes out and says I’m totally focused on improving here. If he does go back to Italy or rather if he is kicking to go back probably best because he’s not the tenacious player we thought. Bit of a pussy move from a player who looks taken aback by the physicality and intensity of the EPL. Have to see though. I’d like to see us land Tierney quickly, Celtic want £25 Million, a lot of rumours that his worth is actually seen more around the £20 Million mark and… Read more »
“I would give the old regime 3/10 on their last season”
3/10? I would give them -10/10. That’s it minus!!
What are you on?
As I said “pathetic”
Afternoon,
Graham, in answer to your question.
The defender is mustafi, the midfielder is Xhaka and the keeper is ospina.
Whose to blame?
He who shalt not be mentioned!
Ishola,
Like I said before, sometimes individual mistakes are due to the tactics employed by the coach. In all those defeats that Wenger suffered against big teams, most goals were individual mistakes, but those were due to stupid tactics. Or should I said the absence of tactic.
Conceding a goal is always because somebody made an mistake!
So according to you, if a team win, it is because a manager has made the right decision, however when a team lose, it is because of the players made individual mistakes.
Up4
Mustafi then?
Oh I get it, you mean……………………..
Afghanistan giving a good account of themselves against India.
India 138-4 after 32 overs.
If anyone’s interested.
Valentin Again there are no tactics for a defender to rush stupidly into a challenge in his own penalty area. There are no tactics for a CB to give away the ball so meekly to the opposition in front of his own penalty area. There are no tactics for a GK throwing the ball into his own net. If you are saying these individual basic errors are being committed because of being uncomfortable with tactics overall and the manager they are playing for then will say again these players would have no professional pride in themselves to commit such bad… Read more »
Apparently individuals don’t make individual mistakes it’s the fault of a separate individual. Also Bamba is an attacker not a DM.
Marko
Unless they’re called Emery or Sanllehi of course.
CC – I did not mean anything critical- just the styles seemed similar-
Aidy did fuck up though by not starting Tammy Abraham though. Other than that they were just beaten by a faster more committed team