Where I sit…
Freddie Ljungberg pulled off the ultimate power move last night, hiding a poor performance behind an election. Can’t knock that.
… and oh my, what an election. It was like watching Arsenal take a 7-2 spanking against United back in the day. Hide behind the couch type stuff. Aaron Ramsey crying into Alex Song’s nook on the team bus home. Just like Arsenal, the board were making decisions on the future of the head coach based on Twitter sentiment and an ‘Arsene knows’ tweet from Youthquake organizer, Stormzy. Labour kept the worst manager in their history on the books for another 2 seasons, the xG numbers were atrocious but the superfans on LFTV kept brushing them off as ‘hipster bullshit.’
The squad was packed full of antisemites, experts said it’d affect performance on the pitch, but no one had the balls to drop the perpetrators. The tactics were non-commital, the election needed a Gengenpress rebuttal of Brexit, but they ended up with Mesut Ozil leading the charge and it fell apart. Corbyn tried to save the terrible performance with an in-game adjustment, adopting a ‘run it into the corner’ approach with tactical voting led Hugh ‘Eboue’ Grant. It didn’t help, he was hooked on 88 after being brought on on 81. A total shambles. Some of the supporters are blaming the fans, some are blaming the media, but when all is said and done, you can’t look further than the disgrace in the dugout.
What a mess. Bourisinho just shithoused his way to Champions League glory without breaking a sweat. Owen Jones in pieces, but at least Corbyn will give him the foreword in his book.
I tried to make that as long as possible, because Arsenal really weren’t much to write home about. To be fair to Freddie, he made a lot of changes, but the same problems persisted. We’re just not much of a force over the course of 90minutes. Standard Liege operate to a very low standard of football, all of the various combinations in our squad should be putting them to the sword, but it didn’t happen.
The defending is still a bit of a mess. Maybe unfair to pin two deflected goals on the players, but the second one was a Willock error in the box. He’s really is struggling at the moment, but it’s to be expected with kids. So let’s not be too judgemental.
The comeback is really all that I care about, namely, because it was all about Saka, one of my favourite young players at the club right now. He delivered an absolute peach of a cross that found Lacazette for an easy finish. His second was a lovely one-two exchange with Martinelli and a low shot tucked into the bottom corner. The backlift was short, but the precision was deadly.
I love the idea of Saka and Martinelli flanking Aubamayang this weekend. I have my doubts Freddie will go with that much inexperience, but really, if you want to scare City, you have to get at their defenders with power and pace, those three certainly have the pace in abundance.
The game finished 2-2. Frankfurt blew their lines. We finished top of the group.
So here’s how the next round looks.
Seeded:
Ajax, Arsenal, Basel, Benfica, Braga, Celtic, Espanyol, Gent, Internazionale, İstanbul Başakşehir, LASK, Malmö, Manchester United, Porto, Salzburg, Sevilla
Unseeded:
APOEL, AZ Alkmaar, Bayer Leverkusen, CFR Cluj, Club Brugge, Copenhagen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Getafe, Ludogorets, Olympiacos, Rangers, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sporting CP, Wolfsburg, Wolves
We’re seeded, but I’ve still highlighted the teams I’d like to avoid. Like last season, I think the biggest worries are the British sides. Inter are the hot foreign team I’d rather avoid, same with Shaktar just because they are a long plane ride, and Roma because I think Fonseca is a good coach.
Arsenal will have to work hard to win it this year, so let’s hope we hire in a great coach to guide us there.
Right, see you in the comments.
No I did not read the article.
I’m shocked I always thought that you were a fountain of knowledge
Salparadise
You can argue that his success in making top 4 regularly has got something to do with the decline of Wenger and Manchester United.
Guy who makes top 4 but doesn’t win squat. Sounds familiar and something that Arsenal fans really loved once.
Distant
There many ways to argue it and the league certainly fluctuates but is there a better manager available suited to this league?
Rambo
Who you fancy then?
*pops into Le Grove*
*Sees its an absolute shite pile of political nonsense*
Nope not yet.
*pops back out*
Salparadise
I think Marco Rose would be a great fit. His team is standing up to Bayern and Dortmund in Germany right now, in his first freaking season.
Seeing as Pep and Klopp( he just extended for another 5 years) are going to be here for a few more years, we need a young daredevil coach that’s going to stand up to them.
Just because Pochettino failed to win a trophy with Tottenham, doesn’t mean he will fail in the future. I have said before, that sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time. Pochettino was in the right place at the wrong time. The last 3 seasons ( not including this season ) the title was won with 98 points 100 points 93 points These are extraordinary high points totals to win the league and they happened when Pochettino’s Tottenham team were at their peak . To put it into perspective, Arsenal in 1998 won the league with… Read more »
Brixton, you just posted into a Poch debate, get back in here.
Judging Poch by trophies is such a base level view of how you assess someone’s body of work.
Potlesstino won’t be winning any trophies in the future as well. I could go all Binford and pull out wagers and whatnot, but that ain’t Rambo style
Pierre,
I see that you have left out Leicester title-winning season, no doubt to spare Potlesstino of any embarrassment.
Sometimes people say things and immediately regret it ….eh Rambo
“Judging Poch by trophies is such a base level view of how you assess someone’s body of work.”
The only people who use that argument are people who haven’t won anything.
Do you think Fergie ever said “the trophies are irrelevant it’s the taking part that counts”
I wonder what stopped Potlesstino from winning the FA cup or even a milk cup. For his amazing managerial acumen and the level of squad he nurtured out of his bare hands….
Tsk tsk
Pierre
“Just because Pochettino failed to win a trophy with Tottenham, doesn’t mean he will fail in the future.
I have said before, that sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time.
Pochettino was in the right place at the wrong time.”
Agree with you on that one – just when he needed money to take the next step he got stuck with a club financing a new stadium.
Poch might go on to win shit loads he might turn out to be the bridesmaid.
Ramsey
That’s my major criticism of Poch – his arrogance. Thinking the cups were beneath him and the Spud’s, a club who have now gone longer without winning a trophy than we did and were constantly reminded of.
The Arrogance part is just a front. No doubt he desperately wanted to win some trophy. Just wasn’t capable, got continuously outwitted by every half-decent manager in the cups.
Marc At this present time, trophies are irrelevant for Arsenal. Emery has left the team so devoid of confidence in their ability that our expectations as a club are zero . If Pochettino came into Arsenal and replicated his career at tottenham , I as an Arsenal supporter would be more than happy as you , as a season ticket holder, should be. Just because he had a poor last couple of months doesn’t take away his achievement of making Tottenham a relevant football club in european football , something which Arsenal are not. The pile of crap served up… Read more »
Pierre,
Lets get one thing straight here.
If Pep’s City and other title winning sides had won it with 10 points less, say around 89 points — then Potlesstino’s side would have finished with 70ish points.
Cause that’s the kind of bottler he is.
Distant Agree but jury still out for me, 1st season in a ‘bigger’ league and doing phenomenally nearly half way thru that season no question. But Bayern on the interim manager train after cutting shot of a weak Kovac, and Dortmund on 4th manager in 3 seasons, one could say both those clubs in flux. Not that that negates from Rose’s quality but it paints a better picture. What I like about Poch as Pierre has just stated plays w/ a definitive style, players reach higher levels with him at helm and he’s got clear experience in this league. All… Read more »
I’d take fvcking Arteta over Poch. Atleast this one comes with suspense, he has that chance factor of being a trophy-winning calibre coach.
I’d like to see martinelli behind auba flanked by Pepe and saka.
Or maybe smith Rowe with martinelli up front, Pepe and saka.
Danny s
Trying to talk tactics ….
Pierre Whilst I agree a new coach has to get the confidence back into the team and sort out some issues I don’t think it’s the mission impossible some make it out to be. I’m not saying it will be easy but the right coach will be able to make a difference. When Wenger joined we had a defence that had been written off for being too old, Ian Wright up front who was to old and not much of a midfield. A couple of signings, some new methods and we won the league the following season. Now the PL… Read more »
Pierre
“The pile of crap served up by Emery needs to be wiped out of our memory asap.”
You need to drink more – it works for me!
Poch has clearly shown he’s a clever, intelligent and hardworking coach. The trophies are just a matter of time. If you think not, you are thick.
We just need someone with personality who can reboot the team. We need to lose a lot of the weaker personalities and bring in some more martinelli types.
The rot set in way before emery. Emery needed to co e in and change the mentality of the team but he failed, but I think the core ingredients are there for the right manager to make something of.
‘You need to drink more – it works for me!’
Marc, are you encouraging a senior citizen to gulp down as many beer as you do?
Treason.
bris
It’s quality of life not quantity. A decent innings is enough – who wants to live till they’re 110 if the last 35 odd years are shit.
Do you think Fergie ever said “the trophies are irrelevant it’s the taking part that counts”
Exactly. So they hired David Moyes lol
‘It’s quality of life not quantity. A decent innings is enough – who wants to live till they’re 110 if the last 35 odd years are shit.’
Still you don’t think an aged tactically sophisticated man like Pierre should go hard on the bottle do you?
Besides a man who thinks Ozil is Messi might not know where to draw the curtains for the night.
Red urging posters to be racist to suit his agenda.
bris
“Besides a man who thinks Ozil is Messi ”
Maybe he’s drinking too much already!
Red
You got spanked, fucking destroyed, annihilated, humiliated, bitch slapped and it’s so so funny.
The entertainment is still going on as well as the lefty scum all turn on each other.
I liked fergie. As soon as a player became toxic he cut them out. Regardless of who they were. stam, RvN, Keane, beckham just to make a few. No sentiment, just whatever was necessary to win.
Put arsenal to shame really, in hindsight.
“I have said before, that sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time.
Pochettino was in the right place at the wrong time.The last 3 seasons ( not including this season ) the title was won with 98 points
100 points
93 points These are extraordinary high points totals to win the league and they happened when Pochettino’s Tottenham team were at their peak .To put it into perspective, Arsenal in 1998 won the league with 78 points , so wenger was in the right place at the right time.”
Pierre gets it.
TR7
He should have added the points tally of the Invincible’s to put it into perspective.
Redtruth in full blown SJW snowflake mode. And like all these people, he is blissfully ignorant of his narcissism and stratospheric hypocrisy.
Did the orange man hurt your ickle feelings? Good. Now stop being a punani and re-join the men.
Prem at such a high level now, City topping out at 100 points, Liverpool not winning title after single loss the next finishing a point behind City who had 98.
This season we’ll quite possible see the 100 point marker broken by Klopps men.
Good evening Ladies
Lesson of the day on LG
Your quality of life is positively correlated to the amount of beers you drink.
MGooner
Fucking right!
I have no quality of life then as I do not drink.
In fact my life must be miserable as I have never been drunk!
I think we should give a few cans to our midfielders and center backs 😉
What I are the Italians like…
Napoli offering 21m for Torreira ,,
Cheeky cunts
Three times that and no deal thanks.
Fuck em
Lefties always claim to be the staunchest supporters of democracy but lose an election and they are always out in droves shouting ‘Trump-not my President’, ‘Boris -not my Prime Minister’ etc. Absolutely deluded and supercilious bunch of people. Defeats after defeats in most major elections in the world and yet they repeat the same mistakes -questioning the intelligence of average voters, loosely using labels such as racist, xenophobes, Islamophobes without delving deep in to the insecurities and challenges average voters are facing and using Washington Post, The Guardian and other such left leaning media houses for false propaganda while being… Read more »
Sal
agree.
Don’t like the scousers..
But they ar3 a country mile best run club in uk if not the world.
Excellent point as always TR7. You know it’s funny outside of Red (who let’s be honest is a bit touched) I’ve not seen anyone throw racist this or right wing that around here and yet it’s leftie this and leftie that. Snowflakes am I right?
MGooner, you don’t need no beer, you obviously already love cocaine.
Marko
Then maybe you need to scroll backa bit further.
Marko
The comment was aimed at lefties in general, not particularly at those on Le Grove. Although even the ones around here don’t show much restraint in throwing labels around, so that’s that.
TR7 do you think the Express, Mail, Telegraph, Times, Sun provide measured, unbiased coverage? Could they not be considered mouthpieces of their owners views? You slag off The Guardian for putting out propaganda, isn’t that slightly inconsistent?
Where did they get this Question Time audience?
TR7, again you are hardly shy about labelling ‘lefties’. Do you not feel that your views could be considered hypocritical?
Although even the ones around here don’t show much restraint in throwing labels around, so that’s that.
I mean it’s a hypocrites argument that considering you literally just threw around labels there and terms like snowflake leftie sjw are labels you lot invented. Sorry is lot a label too? Awks
Personally I don’t think it matters if the media is biased. If you lean to the left you’ll read/watch the left leaning media and vice versa.
Where did they get this Question Time audience from?
Who cares what lefties think? Let’s face it, it’s their crazy behaviour and constant agitating that’s caused things like brexit and trump. And it makes for laugh too. The crazier they get the more we laugh.
Redtruth gets off on it. His communist idol has just been ripped a new one and he keeps coming back for more abuse.
He must be into BDSM. He likes his penis rubbed up and down a cheese grater.
Come on Don don’t make out like you know what you’re laughing at. Most of the time you’ve got a grin on your face with some spittle and dribble coming out because you’re 3/4 ret@rd. Come on lad
Marko you plonker. You’ll have to get up earlier than you do to get under my skin.
As I’ve mentioned before. You dont compare to me.
Bob, anyone with his eyes and ear open can see how the lefties operate. I don’t need to label them. You will see a lot of celebrities and media guys questioning the average voters in a few days now that their favored candidate has lost the election. It is so predictable.
. You will see a lot of celebrities and media guys questioning the average voters in a few days now that their favored candidate has lost the election. It is so predictable.
Tr7
Yes. The millionaires preaching Marxism to the plebs from ivory towers.
TR7 definitely warranted this. You’re a hypocrite
I missed the election what happened?
Why are you bothering to argue? Let the left carry on whining we will carry on winning. Their belligerence and bigotry stems from the fact they believe they are the bastions of objective truth and virtue which means if you disagree with them you have to phobic/some form of ‘ist’/tricked/dumb. You can’t simply disagree with them and have them accept you have a different view point. What is hilarious is this leads to a total lack of introspection from the left which is why they keep losing. Their mantra of ‘we didn’t lose, they’re all racist/it was propaganda etc’ ensures… Read more »
Cesc
Stopping making sense – it’s fucking stupid!
Le Politca formerly known as Le grove
It’s interesting that when the left win the right supporters worry about the shit show that’s going to follow and basically cry “we’re fucked” when the right win the left call into question the intelligence of those who voted and dispute the veracity of the vote.
Just for those who are claiming the Tories will destroy or sell off the NHS – the NHS has existed longer under Tory governments than Labour ones and it’s still here.
What is hilarious is this leads to a total lack of introspection from the left which is why they keep losing. Their mantra of ‘we didn’t lose, they’re all racist/it was propaganda etc’ ensures they keep losing.
CA
Fantastic comment.
JOB was at it for 3 hours today. They have to prop their shattered psyche up with falsehoods it seems or they will crumble. It’s a sickness of the mind I’m convinced. To willingly believe in lies like that.
Guns of Hackney December 13, 2019 14:36:36 “Le Grove is much more than Racism and bigotry. You’ve forgot the rampant homophobia and sexism. Oh and the liberal use of the word, cunt. Or variations of that word” First point you are very wrong IMO. Le Grove is run by Pedro and as far as I can tell from his musings the guy is far from racist or “rampantly homophobic”. What a complete and unfair exaggeration. I doubt Pedro would never stand for that if he thought people really viewed his blog like that. Now some of the comments may come… Read more »
Wonder if Corbyn will Make another Glastonbury appearance next year to the skinny white rich kids talking about poverty? And breaking down walls?
Un
I don’t think it’s about being too willing to believe in lies. It is a sickness of the mind but it’s purely a mixture of laziness, envy and being a tight fucker who expects someone else to pay for every thing.
Bayingmob
He was taking the piss.
Followed the UK election with interest. Whatever happened to Screaming Lord Sutch’s Monster Raving Loony Party? I know he’s brown bread but does the party live on? I recall him canvassing from a barge on the Thames in an attempt to capture the floating vote. Brilliant stuff.
GuNZ
They changed their name to Momentum.
Oh. Lol. Missed the context there. My apologies.
TheBayingMob,
I’m glad I’m not the only one who does that.
Looks like the conservatives on here are having a field day!
lol
I’m not necessarily a Tory, however they were the only party that promised to get brexit done.
Labour wanted a second referendum, Lib Dem’s were stayers.
I’m sick to death of brexit. I’m thoroughly embarrassed by all our mp’s. I just want it done so I voted Tory.
Well done Pedro for letting the blog go with politics for the day, pretty cool of you if you ask me.
What a day I’ve had of it on Facebook, fuck me.
The Corbynites really are an insufferable bunch of cry baby bastards.
“It’s quality of life not quantity. A decent innings is enough – who wants to live till they’re 110 if the last 35 odd years are shit.” A couple of things here. When you reach the “decent innings” stage of your life you may change your viewpoint. The quality of life is dependent on your perception of life. Quality of life for me improved once I left the comfortable life in Australia and has kept improving ever since. Marc, if you ever visit Viet Nam look me up, I’ll teach you a thing or two about drinking while we discuss… Read more »
Bo
I am interested in your statement that your ‘ …life improved once I left the comfortable life in Australia…”
Bob
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2019/12/13/if-britain-had-germanys-electoral-system-boris-johnson-may-have-lost-election/#click=https://t.co/AL9mMrIQEM
Here you go
Bojangles were you retired and had your family left the nest when you left Australia for S E Asia? S E Asia presents its own unique brand of challenges from cultural to political climate, such as the 2 military coups in Thailand over the last decade. It’s never dull here and I would imagine is similar in Viet Nam. One thing that amazed me when I was in Ho Chi Ming was how to cross the road when there were literally 100 plus small 50cc bikes literally filling the roads. Then my wife and I just followed the locals’ actions… Read more »
Now we cannot even offload this garbage to China
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/13/arsenal-distance-themselves-from-mesut-ozil-comments-china-uighur-people
SP wouldn’t that be a sackable offence under a False Majeure conduct contract clause?
I am glad Ozil is standing up for minority groups – he may have missed the Turks subjugation of the Kurds though!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LFFTYHa8CLs
Aussie GoonerDecember 14, 2019 02:39:39
Bo
I am interested in your statement that your ‘ …life improved once I left the comfortable life in Australia…”
So would I
who the fuck cares about these celebs opinions and whether they aligned with ours or not
in the end it’s all about clout and not about the content itself because most of the time they are know nothings with not enough knowledge/data to argue and back up their opinions
even with that propped up puppet Greta kid
also for our players:
Ozil – to cater his Muslim fanbase
Bellerin – to appease his young hipster metropolitan fanbase
and same to politicians too because most just rise up to seize the money and power for their own and not for the good of the people who are we kidding really
all populist bullshit only few leaders who want to take hold of things and lead their compatriot to a vision that they want achieve and accomplish
We had multi millionaire luvvie Hugh Grant on his soap box last week banging on about the virtues of Mr Corbyn
What a hypocritical cunt
Team to play against man city,
Leno, Maitland-niles/bellerin, Chambers, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Toreira, Guendouzi, Pepe, Ozil/lacazette, Martinelli, Auba. If bellerin is available maitland-niles shouldn’t play. Ozil also I have doubts about. If lacazette could play deeper we would thrive I think.
Think we may have to go 3-4-3 with injury issues. Xhaka is concussed, so it’s likely Guendouzi and Torreira team up as the CMs. Haven’t had much success with that pairing. Pépé is carrying a knock from being tackled by Creswell. Of course, Mike Dean didn’t even book him for the two tackles against him. Strong bias against us.
Not sure if Chambers is carrying a knock too. AMN and Kolasinac more comfortable as wingbacks
Leno
Chambers/Mustafi Luiz Sokratis
AMN Torreira Guendouzi Kolasinac
Özil/Pépé Aubameyang Martinelli
“even with that propped up puppet Greta kid”
Humanity finds new ways of reaching lows.
What next? A 10 year old screeching at adults?
There are many great people who have planted a lot of trees, helped increase awareness around the world regarding preservation of various dwindling species and done real work on the ground but the TIME magazine chooses to aggrandize a kid whose only contribution to environmental cause is an ill mannered 3 min long coarse and screeching rant. The kid instead of going back to school is touring around the world in smoke guzzling private jets preaching the world to ditch modern amenities.
TR7
Apparantely the kid is in the running for a Nobel prize as well.
TR7,
Except she is not preaching to the world, is she? Effectively, she is just preaching to Europe, whilst USA, Russia and China have indicated where she can go with this bullshit.
Worth reading about who actually stands behind her. One just could not make this up.
Makes my skin crawl seeing Greta Thunberg being used as a political pawn.
Her parents should be arrested for child abuse.
Rambo
Nobel peace prize has also lost its sheen. People with shady characters and little work are rewarded. Obama was bombing a few nations when the Nobel committee nominated him. Aang Su Ki is a great lady but the committee is miffed she dared to protect her own people from jihadi forces. It’s all messed up.
Haha Tony yeah most things are the same or similar to the west but there are some things you’ll never get used to A lot of the habits which tend to run foreigners up the wrong way have an interesting history as being actively encouraged during the cultural revolution decades back. Part of the idea was that high graces of society were elitist and it was far better to embrace a rough around the edges way of living etc lol In reality this meant a lot of burping in public, spitting on the floor, speaking really loudly etc. but actually… Read more »