Squad psychology

by .

Quite the scene in America at the moment. I walked through the protests yesterday, I’ve never felt sadness in the air like it. I hope everyone can stay safe and out of trouble this evening, it sounds like it’s going to be a very unpleasant weekend.

Onto the football.

The Premier League will be back, as will a lot of other live sports. We might not have normality in the streets, but the level of content on the TV is about to notch up a couple of levels.

The clubs themselves are doing a good job keeping the case numbers incredibly low. There have been a few cases, but in the main, the ramp-up in testing is doing the job.

Arsenal players look fit and raring to go. They all seem very excited to be back. There’s nothing quite like playing football in the sunshine. This will be the first-ever Premier League game in June. I’m so excited. A summer of football. It’s just a shame we can’t drink in bars to watch the games.

As it stands, Arsenal has 3 games in the books. We have our first game, versus Manchester City on the 17th, then we’re straight into the weekend to play Brighton. I wondered if that was a disadvantage, but likely not. Having a bit more fitness in the legs will probably work for the players.

We also have an FA Cup game against the very impressive Sheffield United on June 27th. The final will be August first this year. We’d normally be pissing around on a foreign tour at that point. Imagine not being able to attend an FA Cup final? Or winning one without a crowd?

There are 5 subs allowed this time round, but you only get 3 goes at making them. This could open up space for some of the kids to impress. From what I understand, the club is very excited about a couple of kids that aren’t widely known by the public. Matt Smith and Trae Coyle have both been seen training with the first time, not sure if that’s just a standard rotation, or it means bigger things… but as the belt buckles tighten, you’d imagine Arteta might see this final run of ten games as a great chance to let some of them shine.

It’s important to note that we will likely take these games a little differently. I mean, that’s what I’m guessing. The manager is working with new information in a new reality. The game is different, the club will have less money, certain players will not be allowed to stay on at the club even if he wants them. That’ll change the psychology of some of the players. They might feel despondent… or they might need to play for their careers because landing a contract elsewhere has also become exponentially harder.

If Luiz is going, how much game time will he land? If there’s no future for Lacazette, does Eddie get the nod for the last batch of games? How will he approach youth?

So many questions that’ll be answered in about 18 days!

Short one today, stay safe my darlings. x

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Marc

Marko

That’s my exact point – why haven’t the media applied the same “conditions” to the Sanchez deal at ManU? Fuck know’s what that tops out at.

Marko

I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t Bellerin making it look like he want’s out before he’s told you’re second choice / surplus to requirements.

Fingers crossed. I’d love to see him used in some kind of swap somewhere. No lie I’d honestly consider swapping him and Lacazette for Partey.

@CG
Yep, as I said yesterday mate. Champagne prices, babycham performances from top to bottom

Marc

Pedro

Premier League clubs have to publish what they pay to agents – our last published amount was £11.1 million – less than the Spud’s and less than a million more than Bournemouth

https://talksport.com/football/522499/liverpool-paid-agent-fees-premier-league-clubs/

If you are right then when the next round of numbers come out bearing in mind the amount of business we did last summer we’re going to see that Arsenal have paid out a fortune and considerably more than £10 or so million.

We’ll see.

Sid

Beta males feel threatened by alpha types like Dozi, Luiz, Pepe they prefer meek lambs like Xhakalson, Ozil, Mustafinovs who know their limitations and survive through kissing behind
It wash rinse repeat once again

Im telling you for free!

Marko

The reason Marko is saying its narrative is because he argued relentlessly my numbers were wrong. I mentioned it purely because you brought up wages signing on fee agent fees and the transfer fee when discussing Luiz but when discussing an alternative in Diallo you only cited his transfer fee which was wrong because he went for more than 23 million. Besides it was reported to have been Akanji and not Diallo that we were interested in signing around the same time. Again where was the outrage when Sven was signing Sokratis and Litchsteiner when other more attractive defenders were… Read more »

Marc

Pedro

Remind me how much did you say we paid agents in the Suarez loan deal?

Terraloon

Marko

Have you ever seen Cédric play ?

I am not saying he is a terrible player but he really isn’t the type of talent Arsenal should be looking at .

Focus on this since January 2019 he has played 4 games. Since August 2019 none.

This is a player that couldn’t get into Southamptons team

Marko

A lot of sites have Luiz on 125,000 a week so it depends on what you want to believe I guess

Sid

scorched-earth policy
Essentially what happens is that a community targeted for takeover does everything it can reasonably do to make itself unattractive, hopefully discouraging the potential acquirer from continuing the takeover attempt.✊

Im telling you for free!

Marko

Terraloon not a big fan of Cedric at all but a starting RB is of more concern than a back up RB and the potential to get rid of Bellerin and AMN and bring in a new first choice RB would be fantastic imo

Marc

Signings whilst Mislintat was Head of Recruitment. Auba – Success (older & Dortmund) Miki – Failure (older & Ex Dortmund) Mavorpanos – Can’t stay fit – failure but could potentially come good. Torreira – Failure (written off by all & sundry as too short / not physical enough) Leno – Success Sokratis – Failure (old and Dortmund) Guendozi – Failure (whilst some fans are willing to give him time we all know you’re not allowed to do that) Lichtsteiner – Failure (older than God and did not have the fitness to play in the PL). Meanwhile Dortmund still seem to… Read more »

CG

TY&GN

“”””@CG Yep, as I said yesterday mate. Champagne prices, babycham performances from top to bottom””””

Nothing changes.
Nothing will change.

If KSE can bring a brilliant manager like Wenger down it will eat up and chew out lesser lights like Arteta.

No one will be able to achieve success under KSE.

Because they continually condone mediocrity on the pitch and mediocrity off it.

Will they sack Raul for this Luiz farce or will they give him even more responsibility?

Marc

Pedro

“Marc, that was a fee right? £2m?”

Yeah that was the loan fee to Barca but I thought we also paid two hundred trillion to an agent?

Marko

Marko, I had him down on 200k a week, now Lawrence has confirmed it. I don’t get my info from Google like you do.

You got that Athletic article delivered via carrier pigeon I suppose or maybe seen it engraved in marble. Like I said a lot of sites have him on 125,000 a week it depends on the narrative you want to push. Not a great deal at the end of the day but considering that he replaced Koscielny and his contact is up soon it’s not as bad as other signings made for example Litchsteiner and Sokratis.

Marc

Pedro

No I said we sold Kos for £5 million and bought Luiz for £8 million so almost neutral – I’m still skeptical about the £200k in wages and let’s see the new figures for agent payments when they come out.

Marko

If KSE can bring a brilliant manager like Wenger down it will eat up and chew out lesser lights like Arteta.

Brilliant

Marko

Marc, the argument isn’t about Sven’s record, it’s about why Sven left. Deals like that David Luiz one…That’s not the same with contacts. It’s the fee, the man, the favor.

Kind of all over the place when you look at some of the signings Sven made. Prior working relationship with some presumably there’s a relationship with their agents. Can’t imagine the data analysis behind Sokratis and Litchsteiner was good but I dunno I only get my news through Google

Marc

Pedro Right in transfer fees Luiz cost us £3 million for PL proven experienced defender – £3 million at the time was a drop in the ocean as far as fees go. “but it’s super naive to think David Luiz jumped ship to Arsenal for the exact same money he was on at Chelsea (on one year deal as well)” He wanted to stay in London, has a young family and I believe also owns a restaurant in London. Fat Frank had made it clear he didn’t want him – why wouldn’t Luiz move for the same money? The one… Read more »

izzo

Anyone who has their head stuck up Trump’s ass shouldn’t be worth engaging with be it politics or otherwise. This Un naa character is a pathetic little dirty troll that constantly pollutes this blog spewing support for a racist piece of shit garbage human. FUCK YOU!!!

Marc

Pedro

You’ve previously used Wolves as an example of “agents” running clubs.

If that’s the case why do Wolves appear 4th from bottom on the last set of fees paid to agents?

Marko

wrote he was on 200k a week in December and you argued against it.

Ahead of the curve. I was never behind the signing so I doubt I was arguing such a trivial matter in December but I argue the narrative now considering that others report it lower he’s likely to be gone or kept on at lower wages for just another season meanwhile Sven signing Sokratis is going into his third and final season unless we can sell and less said about Litchsteiner the better

Valentin

You know the end of the world is near when Marko seems to be the one person making sane comments.

Marc

Pedro

A football journalist said it doesn’t quite do it for me – sorry but they are all full of shit.

Valentin

China1, I think that I read the same article. The same thing about the speed of charging police officer Vs charging a rich guy Vs charging a random poor guy. Police officers as part of their union bargaining power have extracted delay in interrogation. Delay that are not afforded to quidam. Delay in being interrogated lead to delay in being charged. So less emotion but more political interference can take place. Clearly Chauvin was charged with 3rd degree murder instead of 1st degree murder because they thought that would be enough to calm the population while keeping the police on… Read more »

Marko

I know you believe in the allure of Unai Emery’s coaching, but it’s super naive to think David Luiz jumped ship to Arsenal for the exact same money he was on at Chelsea Kind of conveniently leaving out the part where he fell out with Lampard and wouldn’t be playing any games had he stayed at Chelsea. Again it’s a shame because I don’t think the Luiz signing was good at all and it looks like I’m sticking up for it but it’s dishonest to pick apart that signing while ignoring the likes of Sokratis because you have a hard… Read more »

Marc

Valentin

They haven’t charged the police officer with 1st degree murder because it wasn’t premeditated.

Whether the officer’s behavior is right or wrong, justified or a crime it was not premeditated murder.

WengerEagle

Telling you this Marcus Thuram lad is legit, type of player we ought to look at snagging this summer before he explodes in value.

Marko

Plus it’s worth pointing out that the likes of Amy Lawrence and David Ornstein and frankly a lot of football writers deal in speculation especially when it comes finances and wages because a person never truly knows what’s in a player’s contract. There could be various clauses and this and that I mean christ everyone thought he was on a two year contract up until a week ago and now all of a sudden these people know exactly what he earns for certain?

Marc

WE

Well he’s got the pedigree!

China1

Fairly I don’t think that comment can apply to me because I don’t beat blacks then choose how they cry I have two cousins who are mixed race but look very much black. As someone who also has an Asian wife and mixed race kid as well, it would be pretty bonkers if I was racist towards any race But looting and burning down your local corner shop (especially one run by a black guy lol) is neither a useful way to get progress nor a reasonable thing to do. Racists are racists because they believe other races are inferior… Read more »

Marko

You know the end of the world is near when Marko seems to be the one person making sane comments.

The end of the world is clearly just around the corner.

WE we missed our chance last summer his value has already blown up

Terraloon

Marc Sorry but the difference between £8 million and £5 million is hardly cost neutral. As for wages Kos was said to be on £90 k a week Luiz anything from £125-£200k a week Not quite sure what the relationships was between Luiz and Lampard but Luiz hadn’t played one game under his new two year contract. It’s possible that like the one he had at Chelsea his Arsenal deal may have been a one year with an option but all the reports at the time and too agree backed by the evidence suggests that that their two window transfer… Read more »

WengerEagle

Marc

Wealth of international experience to boot, nearly one hundred and fifty caps would you believe.

WengerEagle

Marko

He could still be bought for a sane fee this summer, his overall production is only starting to hit top levels in the last couple of months, a full season of this kind of end product and forget it.

Gladbach are a selling club too, no way they turn down a decent bid for him if they miss out on CL.

Valentin

Marc,

Murder with 1st degree does not necessarily require intend to commit murder. It requires intend to commit a crime.
He deliberately put his knee on somebody neck when that person is already in handcuffs. That’s deliberate assault, a felony aggravated by the fact that it is committed by somebody with authority.

If somebody dies during the commission of a felony, then it is automatically a felony murder. In most states felony murder result in 1st degree murder charge.

Marko

Thuram was someone we should have taken a punt on last summer for sure. Still missing out on these types of signings unfortunately still a little trepiditious though hopefully we improve in that regards with the Martinelli signing as a sign of things to come.

CG

PedRo

“””I’ve heard that the deal for Luiz was a disgrace from people at the club since it happened.”””””

So you will be in full agreement with me-that he must never play for Arsenal again.

Arteta ( surely to goodness) must know it’s the perfect time to cut Luiz loose.

Surely. He will now move on from Luiz.

Marko

WE he’s on my list of possible Lacazette/Auba replacements along with that Boadu lad, Johnathan David and Oshimen.

Marc

Terraloon

A £3 million transfer fee for a PL proven player is or at least was peanuts. My opinion of the Luiz deal was always that is was forced on us because of Kos’s behavior.

We can go round and round all day on agent fees and wages – let’s see how much we paid out to agents last summer and in Jan when the numbers are released.

If Pedro’s right it’ll be astronomical and very likely in excess of £30 million.

Marc

Pedro

I don’t have a problem with saying spending an £8 million fee on a 1 year deal is bad business. I have a problem with saying Luiz cost £24 million and player “X” was available for £20 million when that’s a straight fee without wages etc etc etc.

Apply the same measures when comparing deals.

Ishola70

Arsenal had to go into the market because of the departure of Koscielny but I don’t understand the narrative that this player had to be of the same kind as Koscielny that being an older player and experienced. Another characteristic that they share is as well as being older experienced players they are both past their best, past their prime. Arsenal had a whole market to look at for a Koscielny replacement and they went for an older player past his best who has negative baggage attributed to him. That’s a poor decision and the only explanation is that it… Read more »

CG

PedRo

“””””Marc, 24m on a 33 year for one year will look atrocious regardless of the agent fee.”””””””

If that ain’t a sackable offence- nothing is.

ps, Have we paid off Emery and his 9 goons yet?
Another £7 million wasted.

I thought this Hussey was the Contracts King?
Another pillock on the payroll!

Valentin

Marc, Please remind me of the discussion that we had about Koscielny last summer. My point was that we should sell him as quickly as possible, so we can then concentrate on getting a young left footed replacement CB. You wanted to keep him to teach a lesson and let him rot in the reserve. In the end as I predicted we did sell him anyway. Except that we did not sold him on our own time table. When we agreed to let him go most of the other alternative had disappeared. We were left with a bad options pushed… Read more »

CG

Well said Ishola

Anyone defending this deal are in total denial.

The worst deal ever in English soccer- bar none.

Stinks.

Marc

” and the only explanation is that it went through because of the influence of an agent who the club are only to willing to play along with.”

No it’s not the only explanation.

Can someone please point out the players in the current squad who can show any sort of experience that can be combined with having a positive influence in the dressing room.

Marko

Again you can’t trust the numbers it was 20 million now it’s 24 million. No one’s not saying that it was ever a smart deal to begin with. But again I can’t stress enough why a deal like Sokratis (15 million transfer fee 90,000 plus a week on a 3 year contract not including agent fees) should be totally dismissed because that summer specifically there were better more obvious options that Sven missed out on. Last summer after the money we spent and the fact that we left it late yet again or put all our eggs in the Upamecano… Read more »

Ishola70

Marc

“Can someone please point out the players in the current squad who can show any sort of experience that can be combined with having a positive influence in the dressing room.”

Well numerous wrongs don’t make a right.

Arsenal decided to bring in David Luiz the man with the questionable character to a squad that most realise lack real leadership. Again a bad move.

I am not in the least surprised that I saw an article citing that Arsenal backroom staff found Luiz influence in the dressing room questionable.

Marko

That’s a poor decision and the only explanation is that it went through because of the influence of an agent who the club are only to willing to play along with.

Went through the wrong agent imo should have gone through Jorge Mendes and we might have gotten Ruben Dias for example

Marc

Valentin You’re lying again. You wanted to let Kos go on a free – I said no, sell him yes but only if we can’t get the fee we wanted if not then let him rot in the reserves to demonstrate that going on strike will not get you what you want. Our whole argument during this period was about your willingness to surrender and appear weak. Remember the “cheese eating surrender monkey” comment I made that you took a ridiculous amount of offence to when it’s a joke from the Simpsons? “Before that Jean-Clair Todibo was available on loan… Read more »

Marc

Ishola

“This might sting Arteta, he seemed to connect with the player. Luiz has been a real leader at the club during a messy time. He’s a behind the scenes banter machine, he’s been towering on the pitch at times, and he seems very bought into the vision. Key thing: He’s a legend. He’s a good learning instrument for the young players. He’s a winner.”

Guess who wrote that about Luiz a handful of days ago?

Emiratesstroller

There is a lot of pessimism expressed on Le Grove but rather like Pedro I am reasonably optimistic about the future. Everyone knows that we had a lot of deadwood at the club. Last season we offloaded 11 players and I suspect that 6-8 more will leave this summer. Frankly I am not too bothered if Luiz, Sokratis, Mkhitaryan and Lacazette leave this summer. They are replaceable and that will cut at least £35 million from our wage bill without impacting on the performance of the team. We need to move on and stop looking at the past or the… Read more »

Marc

“We had someone from Dortmund that the club scouts suggested as a replacement for Kos.”

So nothing to do with Sven then?

Marc

Emirates

Stop making reasonable and rationale statements.

Marko

You and Marko were adamant that I was wrong about those. And now there are rumours that Arsenal is interested in them for next season. So basically Raul lost one year and £24 millions on a bad deal. I’m actually very glad that you brought that up because you are again to fit a narrative conveniently reimagining a timeline to fit your argument. It’s now why didn’t Raul sign Todibo or N’dicka last summer instead of Luiz for 20 odd million and not why did Sven sign Sokratis for 15 million in the summer of 2018 and not N’dicka who… Read more »

Ishola70

Marc

Luiz has downed tools far too many times in his career to be claimed as a great leader of a team. On the contrary.

We must remember that Luiz was in early stages under Arteta.

His history suggests he would have caused problems for Arteta further down the line just like he has others.

I don’t buy him at all.

He is just like Xhaka.

When the going gets really tough he will go missing just like our Swiss midfielder.

Over an extended time his questionable character emerges.

Poor signing.

Valentin

Marc, Go and read your own comment of last year. And then see who is lying. You still want to keep that pretence that Arsenal playing tough boss and letting Koscielny rot in the reserve was going to happen. Anybody could see that was self defeating. I even used WestHam reaction to Arnautovic tantrum as a counter example. You were wrong then and still wrong today. You just have been found out and don’t like it. So you insult me. The so called it’s just banter routine of racist and cretin does not work. The only reason why you kept… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Marc

You are right!!! Just trying to reinforce some positivity expressed by Pedro.

Sadly there are only a small number of posters who manage to express something positive to say about the club. It is all doom and gloom.

Marc

Emirates

I’m feeling confident about the future – things are going to be difficult for a period but as you kept trying to point out this will apply to all clubs.

My biggest concern at the moment is Saka’s contract – get that done and I’m happy. A CL place and FA Cup win is on the way!

Ishola70

Yes Marc

Pedro was misguided in his views on Luiz at the time of that quote and I remember there were plenty of posters picking him up on that at the time he wrote those things about Luiz. Looking for positivity more than likely but barking up the wrong tree in this particular instance.

Questionable character. Always has been the case with Luiz.

Marko

The worst deal ever in English soccer- bar none.

I have Mustafi at 36 million transfer fee and wages of 18 million over 4 years being much worse. Especially considering that he’s got a year to run on his contract while Luiz could leave still. Thanks Arsene

Marc

Valentin

The reference is in no way aimed at black individuals – If I call a Northerner a “fucking northern monkey” it has nothing to do with skin colour.

You’re taking offence at something that isn’t there in that respect.

Marc

Ishola

It was 4 days ago!

Marc

Valentin

Kos wanted out on a free we got £5 million – you wanted to let him go on a free.

I was right and it’s you who can’t handle it. You have an issue with mis speaking and then refusing to admit it even when your comments are copy and pasted to show you where you said something you deny.

GunnerDNA

“I’m actually very glad that you brought that up because you are again to fit a narrative conveniently reimagining a timeline to fit your argument. It’s now why didn’t Raul sign Todibo or N’dicka last summer instead of Luiz for 20 odd million and not why did Sven sign Sokratis for 15 million in the summer of 2018 and not N’dicka who moved that summer for 5 million to Frankfurt or Todibo who moved to Barcelona 6 months later for less than a million” You hit the nail in the head Marko! Anything to make the people who hired Emery… Read more »

Ishola70

Marc
“It was 4 days ago!”

And before that.

But he knows that others as well as myself have disagreed with him on some of his previous views on Luiz.

Marko

The only reason why you kept using that so called Simpson joke is because you knew I was French and black.

I dunno about Marc but for me this is the first time I’ve seen you write anything about your ethnicity. The Simpsons thing wasn’t in any shape or form meant as a racist insult you need to get over it it’s from a cartoon for kids ffs

Marc

Marko

It was taking the piss out of the French – who in my opinion are or at least should be big enough to deal with it.

I’m sure the French have taken the piss out of the English at some point in history.

Marko

Oh no doubt Marc I’m sure they refer to you as football hooligans and illiterate louts with bad teeth and shit cuisine

Marko

Also shite beer. Aren’t you supposed to have invented the fucking thing and all you got is rubbish over there

Emiratesstroller

Sometimes in business you need to take a hit in your finances to put the house in order. In the 1980s there was a 2 years recession in the housing market and I took a substantial hit on the flat I owned to buy a house. The house is worth significantly more than what the flat would have been. The same applies to football. A lot of clubs have on their books what looks like valuable playing assets. In reality they are in the current market and impending recession worthless and costing a lot of money to maintain. The art… Read more »

Marc

Marko

The English invented everything – it’s why everyone hates us because we’re so amazing.

It can’t be easy for the French to constantly gaze across the channel and see perfection!

Marko

Sid you’re an idiot

That Dreamcast Kid

we are already on our way to trim the fat so let it be then I thought in terms of experience of youth the squad is quite balanced it’s just in terms of positional prowess that we lack balance

already adding to defense now more on midfield like some said the outgoings are bigger these days so the squad is constantly changing in personalities and chemistry within 6 months (if you’re going to be generous)

China1

Speaking of inventions I had to run a cultural event at work for an afternoon last year and decided to introduce a bit about English food, history, geography, sports, famous people, music and inventions

I searched online to check what was British and Marc you are not far wrong haha. The list of major inventions was practically endless! Was quite proud to see so many world changing things coming off that little old island

Damn, now I miss home… 🙁

Marc

China

It has it’s faults but it’s not a bad place.

Marc

Except Liverpool of course.

Marko

Of course they’re credited with inventing a lot they took over half the globe way back when. Took credit for everything except potatoes and Guinness that’s ours.

Sid

“The downtown Minneapolis Target store was built with a public subsidy of $60 million. Nearby Brooklyn Park gave $22 million in tax breaks for Target’s headquarters. In 2015, the company laid off 1,700 people. Who exactly is looting whom?”

Marc

Marko

Sorry mate you don’t get Potatoes that was Sir Walter Raleigh.

You can have the Guinness though.

Tom

Fairly Used Gunner
I was obviously being sarcastic.
I agree with you.

Sid

English physician Joseph Mortimer Granville invented an electric vibrator in 1883

Im telling you for free!

Sid

It was designed to treat pain, headaches, irritability, indigestion, and constipation—in men.

WengerEagle

Mancs I’ve been talking to are literally braindead turning their nose up at Jadon Sancho for big money in favour of Grealish or grooming Daniel James/Greenwood.

This lad is already the second best player in the Bundesliga after Lewandowski and he’s a twenty year old. He’s in a different stratosphere of talent to Grealish and only M’Bappe is comparable of those around his age.

Elite talent, English, marketable, decade plus of prime ball ahead of him. Will be worth every penny and more of a nine figure fee.

Ishola70

Weagle |”He’s in a different stratosphere of talent to Grealish and only M’Bappe is comparable of those around his age.” Only comparable? You see both players in exactly the same bracket? I’d like to see Sancho strut around in the really big matches such as World Cup finals before stating that he is on the exact same level as M’Bappe let alone that M’Bappe is anywhere near comparable to him. As for Grealish let United have him. Thick as shit that boy as we saw in the early lockdown and tries too much stuff in dangerous areas. Talent but not… Read more »

WengerEagle

Ishola

M’Bappe is elite and at a different level to Sancho even, was just using him as a comparison as they are both head and shoulders above anyone else their age.