I went to TJ Maxx yesterday, to shop for a fancy dress outfit. My word, one of the worst experiences of my life. Stacks and stacks of clothes pilled up on racks that go on forever like some sort of nightmare… then, out of the blue, I accidentally found something I liked at a very good price. Now, I am a TJ Maxx shopper and I have to live with that shame.

Reading around some of the news outlets, you’d think Arsenal were raiding the rails at TK Maxx. No rhyme or reason to what they’ll pick off the shelf, as long as it’s warm and has a loose connection to the Premier League.

Things to note: For a lot of the drab names we’re being linked to, just being mentioned in the same breath as Arsenal is the win.

Everton have an open job, West Ham might in a few weeks, if there’s a chance they can up their leverage and reputation, they’ll take it.

Kovac, Martinez and Marcelino are all Everton level managers, but given then chance they’d take the huge opportunity on show at Arsenal.

I just hope that doesn’t happen.

The names that I care about are Pochettino or Arteta (knowing the Brendan is off the table).

The exSpurs man would be the ideal candidate. Young, burned by Levy, and at the very top of his game. He would be incredible. I just struggle to see him being interested in our project. No money, a huge mess, and a salary a few bands below what he’d want. You can never rule it out, but I think we are going to shoot lower.

Mikael Arteta is the great unknown. A lot of people are writing about the influence he has at City. He runs most of the training sessions, he’s a true innovator, and he has the electricity that could jump start the post-Wenger rebirth. I think he could be a sensational move. A visionary hire that would be about the future. A coach that could ensure we don’t piss away the youth talent we have. Someone that could bring the sort of the football to the club that wakes you up at 3am before a game.

Like a fart in a small meeting room, anyone else is just noise. Kovac, in the fucking bin. Marcelino, not for me. Martinez, stab my eyes out with chip fork. We have to be serious about the future with the next hire.

Good football. Elite grasp of our culture. The ability to command the attention of a squad with a vision. An ego that will stomach a 3 year rebuild.

I do not want someone at the club that Raul met in a club in Barcelona in 2013. I don’t care if Edu played guitar with someone at a house party in Sau Paulo in the 80s. I want someone right for the job.

Tonight we play West Ham. Freddie really needs a win. The players need to pull something out the bag for him. It was interesting to read that he has chosen to play the senior players because he doesn’t want to crush the kids. Very noble of him, but it’s not doing him any favours. West Ham have been in a mess tonight, lose this evening, and we are in a relegation battle before the worst month in the calendar.

Fear not though, it’s bad, but once they sort the managerial mess, we’ll claw our way back up the table. It’s probably better for the next manager if we finish 8th this season. No Europa next season, more time to coach, more time to rest players.

Before I go, I thought the below video from Souness about homophobia in the game was something else. The ultimate alpha male from yesteryear where they drank toxic masculinity for each of their three meals and thought woke culture was dropping your balls on the face of a teammate to see how long it’d take for them to wake up, now talking about his views on the state of the LGBTQ scene in the Premier League. Magic.

Graeme Souness on why there are no openly gay footballers in the Premier League

🗣”I came from a generation which was extremely homophobic. I went to the Brighton pride and learn’t so much, it changed my attitude” pic.twitter.com/ysbBlZshJ7

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 8, 2019

Anyone that confronts their own ignorance and learns about a community alien to them is a top fucking bloke. Love that he went to Brighton Pride to get informed. Apparently good mates with the late Dale Winton. Big names like that speaking up is what the game needs. Who cares who you fuck, unless it’s another teammates wife.

Right, see you in the comments my qweeeens. x

P.S. Check out my new favourite Youtuber, Stat Man Dave and his thoughts on how Arteta might set the team.