ARTETA LINKED TO DISASTERLONA

by .

There’s some odd news doing the rounds that suggests Barcelona are interested in taking Arteta to the Camp Nou as part of Joan Laporta’s promise to ‘bring joy’ back the fans of the Catalan giant. Henk Ten Cate said the interest is real.

Barcelona is without doubt one of the worst run clubs in the world. They are the archetypal rich kid in the playground. Arteta is certainly the best coach on their list. Other names being pushed around include Xavi and Jordi Cruyff who is managing in China.

Arteta is a La Masia kid, I’ve no doubt that the option would be deeply appealing, but my word would it be a gamble for anyone to take that role. Coaches like Pep, Enrique and Valverde always had a peak Messi to cover up any lapses they had in their game. The next coach in there is going to have to bring through whatever the next generation is… and so far, it doesn’t look like they’re bubbling on that front.

I’m also not sure you want to leave your first job because you’re mates with Laporta and Pep G. Not that many Arsenal fans would shed a tear at the minute.  The current Barcelona job has a 95% chance of eating most managers alive, the best move would be to give yourself record of achievement before you take a crazy leap like that.

There were a few rumblings Edu and Arteta might be under threat this summer. This one is certainly way off the mark when it comes to Arteta, and unless the ESPN Brazil story moved KSE, I highly doubt they are willing wreck the summer plans he’s co-sponsored. If you’re going to move on either of them, you do it with enough time to bring in someone new so they can assess the squad and the market. The only way we’re firing anyone is if something Don Raul-ish popped up over the weekend.

Dani Ceballos bid fair well to Arsenal. Not sure where he’s off to next, rumours are that it might be Sevilla for a season. Always looked like he could be a good player, but far too one-paced, and extremely inconsistent. We certainly have to improve on him next season. We aren’t one new midfielder away from being comfortable next season, we’re a few.

Martin Odegaard is going to be the priority for Arsenal this summer from an Arsenal perspective. He’s well-liked at the club, he’s bought into the Arteta vision, and I think the ‘he’s the future’ is just bluster from a Madrid that want us to pay a lot for him. Hopefully, we can make a deal with them, preferably permanent. He’s a star in the making, I really rate him.

Mat Ryan also said goodbye. I don’t know if we’ll make a deal for him. He certainly didn’t do himself any hard when he joined the club. As free transfers go, he’d be a sound deal in my opinion. I’m also quite interested to see how Arthur Okonkwo develops, he’s been training with the first team. He certainly has the height, boasting an Emi Martinez frame.

Short one today, check out the latest podcast I did with Johnny. We talk about my propaganda, the Hale-Enders, and hopes for next season. A good one to jump on. Enjoy, rate it 5*, and tell me you like the colour of my eyes even though you can’t see them.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play | ACAST

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TR7

We should bother more about replacements for Leno, Bellerin, Ceballos, Xhaka and Willian.

Bob N16

For what it’s worth Mail are reporting that our new ‘Director of Footballing Operations’ Dick Garlick (I accept puerile shortening of his first name) is negotiating with Norwich for Buendía.

Danny S

TR7

I think the only person standing between Xhaka and a new 4 year deal is his wife. If tets has the chance he’s locking him down, you know that.

NORG

Could Saliba be the new Tony Adams – debut at 18 (I was there) and he wasn’t as good as Keown (another youngster) but he soon grew into the job.

bacaryisgod

Bob N16

That sounds great except for the part ‘Mail are reporting’

Marc

Danny

The Xhaka rumours about leaving are bullshit – he’s down to 2 years on his contract so it’s resign or sell time. He wouldn’t get close to the £100k he’s on per week in Germany these rumours are just a negotiating tactic to get a raise and extended contract.

Danny S

Norg

Pedro says it was a different time back then. 19yo CB’s don’t make it now at big clubs.

Dissenter

Acting on the advice of a friend, I replayed the opening game against Fulham, all 93 minutes of it.

Gabriel was imperious, fresh off the transfer train. He was dominant in the air and decisive

Contrast that the reverse fixture against Fulham on April 18th, after one season of exposure to generational coaching, he was a pondering mess.

By the end of the season, he had become toothless [pun intended]

andy1886

NORG – Remember that well. Was disappointed when we let Keown go first time around and it costs us big time. At least George could admit his mistake though, unlike some others it seems.

Danny S

Marc

I’m just waiting for the announcement. A smug looking Arteta stood next to Xhaka putting pen to paper on a new 4 year deal worth 150k.
I hope I’m wrong I really do.

Marc

Dissenter

I’ve already said it only 3 players haven’t regressed this season. Saka – real talent and still developing (how much further would he be under a real coach?), ESR hasn’t had a chance for Arteta to kill him yet and Xhaka – couldn’t possibly get any worse.

Marc

Danny

You are wrong – it’s going to be 5 years on £180k.

Not sure that was the comfort you were looking for though.

TR7

Danny

Yeah, seems like ages since we have wanted him out but he somehow manages to stick around.

NORG

Willian was sold a pup. No European football = wage decrease. Miami calls.

andy1886

Danny, Pedro’s so out of touch he doesn’t realise that Saliba turned 20 two months back, but then again if you’re in marketing and and framing him as a teenager sounds better then why worry about that?

Incidentally I’m confused why Gabriel who we’re told has been poor all season won three consecutive player of the month awards.

bacaryisgod

Arteta’s contract runs out in 2023. Next season will be critical no matter what way it goes.

I honestly hope Arteta crushes it next season and we end up back in the Champions League. However, this will cause an existential crisis for many fans because the board will have to offer him an extension with just a year left on his deal.

This is going to be a fascintating next 7 mon

Danny S

He hasn’t played players to their best advantages. He’s just shoe horned them into his system one way or another which he has tried to adjust over the season.

Everyone remember when we spent half a season pumping crosses up to Nobody?

Jokes.

Sean M

Why is everyone so scared of throwing Saliba in? We have no european football one game a week. Imo we don’t really need another RCB. Holding & Saliba can do the job next season. Chambers as well.

Don’t rule out big Danny Ballard as well.

Danny S

Sean

CB is way down on the list for me. We have 4 serviceable CB’s at the club that will serve us next season.

Especially if they have a better RB next to them and CM in front actually making forward passes and not putting them under pressure.

NORG

Ballard now needs a season of Championship level football.

Pierre

Rich
“We renewed Luiz after he set a record for penalties conceded, and was clearly past his sell by date, yet he was still better than the rest of our centre half’s”

Was he ?..

TR7

Fabrizio : Emiliano Buendia is one of the options that Arsenal are seriously considering as potential new signing. He’s appreciated and #AFC board have re-started contacts with his agents after opening talks in December. ⚪️🔴

Buendia would accept a move to Arsenal and he’s now waiting. 🇦🇷

TR7

Buendia is in the mold of Santi Cazorla, let’s hope we get him.

bacaryisgod

Although its importance is a little overstated, we now have a shocking 18 players entering the last two years of their contracts and another 4 players (3 on loan) who are out of contract. A quick look at these 18:players. Expiring in June 2022: Laca, Mo, Iliev, Chambers, Nketiah, Guendouzi, Kolasinac Expiring in June 2023: Willian, Auba, Leno, Xhaka, Bellerin, Nelson, ESR, Torreira, AMN, Willock, Kolasinac, Mavrapanos How many of these should we be extending? Don’t forget that in many cases extending can be a smart business decision and not just a footballing one, although one that carries some risk.… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

The bindippers chucked two kids in for their last ten games and picked up 27 out of 30 points. They kept our attack pretty quiet as well. I can’t believe Saliba can be any worse than some of the shit show defending we saw in the first few months of the season. If the defence had a proper midfield in front of them, actually protecting them, you might see a more confident back four. Also if we can keep an actual settled back four it would be nice. The good thing about no europe means we won’t be chopping and… Read more »

Danny S

Personally I think ode is dead in the water. I can’t see him wanting arsenal even if Madrid are selling. Why would he want to waste a year out his career not being in Europe when I bet there will be a few CL teams up for signing him.

The buendia is a far more viable and probably cheaper option.

CG

Pierre

“”””Was he ?..”””

Arsenals best central defender is Thomas Partey.

Shunt him back there, get the lad from Brighton, pair him with Willock, off you go.

Easy peasy when you know how.

Pierre

Bacary is god
“On Luiz, maybe we could agree that we were a more dangerous side with him in the team, but that applies both in an attacking and defensive sense.”

Were we ?

Do I take it that Luiz never played up until Christmas, because if I remember rightly our creativity was at rock bottom .
The only centre back who didn’t feature in the league pre Christmas was Mari , who’s first league game was against Chelsea and then featured regularly with the team keeping clean sheets more often than not with him in the side.

bacaryisgod

Here’s the other problem for Saliba. Arteta knows he’s on thin ice and he needs to get off to a quick start next season. He’s got Holding and Gabriel who were the main partnership in our last 3 EPL wins (excluding the Chelsea game where Mari also played in a back 3.

There is no way Arteta doesn’t start with Holding and Gabriel to start the season. He needs continuity at the back. I’m not opposed to it. It will give Saliba a chance to settle in.

Danny S

Pierre

I do like Mari. He has his weaknesses but he has a very Calm air about him and he’s a defensive organiser.

I’d love to see Gabriel or saliba next to him. Put a Tierney type RB in, either of those two, Mari and Tierney in the defence and we are looking 100% better.

Pierre

BIG
“There is no way Arteta doesn’t start with Holding and Gabriel to start the season. He needs continuity at the back.”

Arteta and continuity in the same sentence is almost blasphemous.

raptora

We all agreed that getting elite young talent and turning them into stars could be THE WAY to become a top club again. Pedro has said it millions of times. We did that with Saliba, but when the time came to bee the Dortmund/Ajax we had to be for the young elite talents, Arteta closed the door and said “You, you and you – OUT”. Martinelli, Saliba, Guendouzi, all either marginalized or unceremoniously thrown to the wolves. Remember Reiss Nelson? He had 626 Premier league minutes last season, this season it went down to a total of 69 minutes. Why?… Read more »

bacaryisgod

‘Do I take it that Luiz never played up until Christmas, because if I remember rightly our creativity was at rock bottom’ .

Yes he played before Christmas and I think it’s hilarious that you are attempting to blame our creative problems on him being in the side.

Danny S

Bacary

You are falling right into pierres trap here.

bacaryisgod

Pierre

Continuity has been a massive problem for Arteta who would probably be called ‘The Tinkerman’ if someone hadn’t already been given that name.

However, in the last 4 PL games we played, he used Holding and Gabriel as the CB pair in 3 of them and they were part of the back 3 in the other one. We won all 4 games and I’m sure he wants to keep that momentum going.

bacaryisgod

What trap is that Danny?

Habesha Gooner

I am amazed at the notion that a new CB is absolutely necessary. If we though that, then why did we give Holding a new deal? Are we just going to allow a 30 mil teenage CB who was thought to be the best prodigy CB in France to get to two years left on his contract without giving him any chance? This will only tell me Arteta is Vindictive. I don’t mind signing a new CB. But that will only make sense after two CMs, one CAM, One RB, One Backup GK, One Backup LB and May be a… Read more »

MD-Gunner

Perfect match according to Pedro:
“Barcelona is without doubt one of the worst run clubs in the world.” it deserves the worst manager in the world Arteta! If there is a God please make it so.

TeeCee

Arteta is clearly an idea’s man. I’m sure he talks an excellent game, always tinkering, deep thinking. But when it comes to seeing/spotting talent, he is at Stevie Wonder levels of sight, he’s totally incapable of seeing genuine talent and this is a massive problem for Arsenal, not only for the current talent we have but also in signing others. It will be his downfall.

bacaryisgod

By the way, I happen to like Mari too. However, he and Gabriel are both so left-footed it is hard to see a partnership between them working. For me, it’s Holding/Gabriel or Saliba/Mari next season as they both look like complimentary partnerships with the hope that ultimately Saliba and Gabriel can beast it together.

bacaryisgod

Habesha

You are exactly right here. It’s one of our lesser problems right now. I don’t see Arteta doing anything other than bringing Saliba back.

Habesha Gooner

I really love the links to Buendia are true now that fabrizio reported it. If we aren’t signing Odegaard, he should be the main target. He has everything to be a great player for us. He is one of those gems that people are unsure of because he is playing in a small team. But everyone will be talking about him a year from now if we get him.

Danny S

Bacary

Getting onto the subject of creativity.

You know who he will steer the conversation to.

Vintage Gun

“Expiring in June 2022: Laca, Mo, Iliev, Chambers, Nketiah, Guendouzi, Kolasinac”

I’d extend Chambers as a low wage HG versatile back up.

“Expiring in June 2023: Willian, Auba, Leno, Xhaka, Bellerin, Nelson, ESR, Torreira, AMN, Willock, Kolasinac, Mavrapanos”

I’d extend Mavro (and loan him out for another year) Willock (if he stays) and ESR.

I’d also extend and loan out Nelson as our lack of plan for him over the last year has destroyed his value to the point that he’d be worth next to nothing in this years window

bacaryisgod

Haha Danny-Abandom ship! Abondon ship!

Pierre

Upgrade
“The good thing about no europe means we won’t be chopping and changing so much game to game.”

Are you sure about that.

NorwegianGooner

How many players do we bring in to make top four next season and who? Realistically.

Habesha Gooner

Bacary All the reliable journos are saying Saliba will comeback to fight for a place. But Arteta has also made RCB as his priority position too. It means he wants 5 CBs. It is ridiculous to me. Anyway I hope we don’t sign average players. Even Kounde and Topsoba who we are linked to aren’t a sure thing. It is why it doesn’t make any sense for me. If we are signing some one they should a 100 percent start for us. Konate going to liverpool is a miss if we trying to sign a Sure thing at RCB. Just… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

Pierre,

I know arteta doesn’t know his best side but he’s going to have a lot less games next season.
Unless their are injuries even he doesn’t have the excuse to chop and change.

Habesha Gooner

Ruben Neves available for 35 mil according to the athletic. And wolves would be willing to sell too. That would be an awesome signing. He is going to the top.

Dissenter

Arteta needs someone to laugh off his fantastical thinking
Unfortunately they’ve place him on the same level as his boss, essentially made the DoF an errand boy.
If he wants to keep Chambers when we just signed a back-up RB, then he should be told HECK NO about signing another right footed CB. Let Chambers serve as the right sided center back- he’s been in the club for 6-7 seasons now.

Champagne Charlie

Gambon Get where you’re coming from, but Arsenal aren’t emulating City with the attacking options at the club. They’re not good enough technically, and their ball retention/use is average. City were able to play excellent, winning football with pretty average defenders (Otamendi, Mangela, Demichelis) because there was such a level of class in the forward areas to keep the ball at that end of the pitch and allow them to squeeze opponents. I don’t disagree that we’d benefit from the profile of player you outlined, but it’ll do little for our ability to actually create and dictate matches watching the… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

Realistically playing one game a week for the most part we shouldn’t need a huge squad.
We have too many players again coming to the last two years of their contract, and if there not moved on or resigned in the summer we will be in the same mess contract wise as we always seem to be.

Apart from the oil clubs, Bayern and United, nearly everyone else is skint.
I can see a lot of clubs renewing or swap deals being the way. This summer.

Dissenter

Habesha
You literally just wrote that you don’t want a player like Sander Berge coming in when Norwegian gooner showed up on blog?

Champagne Charlie

Bissouma to Arsenal heating up, Eddie plus around 10-12 mil in cash being heavily backed.

That’s a proper deal.

Dissenter

“Bissouma to Arsenal heating up, Eddie plus around 10-12 mil in cash being heavily backed. That’s a proper deal.”

Seems Edu wants to run for mayor of Islinghton. He’s trying to get thee deals done super quick.

There’s lot of tabloid stuff about Buendia too

I think Bissouma gets announced before the Euros. The player seems desperate to come to Arsenal.

Habesha Gooner

😂😂😂
Dissenter
I didn’t see it. But Sander berge is yet to be of the level that we need. He is a talent sure but not a top quality starter for us yet. I would really love it if we signed the other Norwegian though. You know the one we have had for 6 months. I really think he is quality.

Marc

“Grealish is moving the needle more than the sexiest CB you can think of.”

Grealish cost circa £100 million.

Arsenal transfer budget £3.50 and stale ham sandwich.

What is wrong with people who keep talking about Grealish as an option?

Dissenter

Habesha
Sander Berge is probably plan B or plan C
He’s one option we are using to keep Brighton honest in negotiations

Marc

U4GN

Just one comment re:

“Realistically playing one game a week for the most part we shouldn’t need a huge squad.”

Everyone who’s pushed the idea of a season out of Europe being good for us because it’ll let us have a clear run at top 4 – what happens if we manage it having reduced the squad to circa 16 -18 players?

Danny S

Leno New RB/Holding/Mari/Tierney Partey/New CM Pepe/ESR/Saka New Striker If we went into next season with that starting 11 we wouldn’t look too sad. Bellerin and Xhaka limit our ability to move quickly up the pitch with constant back passing and put pressure on the defence as a result and we get errors. A lack of presence up front limits our impact in the box. Solve those issues and we are a different beast in those fine margin games. As much as anyone can try and deny it, our results (bar Europe) in those last 23 games were a vast improvement.… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

Marc It is really funny to me. Grealish is going for at least 70 mil+. He is top quality and he is English. We might not even be in his list of choices if he wanted to move from his boyhood club. We are not getting him if we were purchased by Saudis from Kroenke tomorrow and they gave us 200 mil to spend. I am not talking about him because he is unattainable. We instead should be looking at players that are up to 35 mil range that can provide us with the same type of cutting edge. All… Read more »

Marc

Danny

Results better performance not even close bar an odd match. Don’t you remember what Pedro told us all when Emery went on a 22 match unbeaten run?

Danny S

Marc

If we manage it having reduced the squad to 16-18 players, then we have a good budget to bring in CL quality players. If not upgrades on the first team, then competition for it.

Marc

Habesha

Exactly – If CC was saying he loved the player, wished we could get him I’d have no problem but it’s like it’s a viable option.

Though trust me Grealish if he moves will go for more than £70 million.

Dissenter

I think Buendia will smash the premier league next season.
He’s had one go at it when Norwich were very good attacking wise but crap defensively. He’s stayed busy by lighting up the Championship.
He’s ready from day one, we just have to make sure that he gets a full preseason, along with Bissouma and Partey.

Marc

Danny

No we don’t – we get in the CL and our income goes up say £80 million now all a big chunk of that does is stop us losing tens of millions.

Even £80 million doesn’t bring in enough players to have a squad big enough to cope.

Danny S

Marc

I remember well how derisive he was of that run yes. Lots of quoting XG.

However it does appear the players are still on board Artetas train, bar Some of the seniors which says a lot. And had we had a decent striker and CM in a lot of those games we would have looked better.

It’s all about the summer for me. I’m in optimistic mode at the moment, Xhaka hasn’t signed that new deal yet, we have let ceba and Luiz go. No more ozil or mustafi EVER!

So reasons to be cheerful currently.

Champagne Charlie

“Exactly – If CC was saying he loved the player, wished we could get him I’d have no problem but it’s like it’s a viable option.“

I never said he was a viable option.

I literally made an illustrative point that ‘Grealish moves the needle more than the sexiest CB (because I don’t know the CB equivalent) you can think of does’…..aka we need quality in attack vs quality in defence this summer.

Up 4 grabs now

Marc, A smaller squad will be fine, First eleven, then five or six understudies Then five kids who can sit on the bench and get 10-15 minutes here and their. Then if we make the top four one or two first eleven signings with our 60-70million which pushes players out of the first eleven into squad positions. Throw in another two kids to step up. To be fair with recalling our players currently on loan even if we don’t sell them it’s a pretty huge squad as is. We will need to shift on 6-7 players and make a decision… Read more »

Marc

CC

I haven’t made a comment saying we need to bring in a new CB? Simple fact is right now there’s more chance of Saka moving to Villa than there is Grealish moving to Arsenal.

Why not talk about Mbappe moving the needle or Kane?

It’s an idiotic conversation and it pisses me off that there are fans playing fantasy manager when the club is in the gutter and they think everything’s fine.

Marc

U4GN

No argument the squads bloated but there’s trimming and there’s chopping the tree down.

Emiratesstroller

Arsenal have been linked with three players in Bissouma, Buendia and Aarons. The asking price for all three is clearly grossly inflated based on current market valuations by Transfermarkt. So one possible solution would be for Arsenal to offer in part exchange some of our unwanted home grown players such as Maitland-Niles, Willock, Nelson and Nketiah. Most of the EPL clubs who might be potentially interested in these players do not have the cash to buy them. So part-exchange would make a lot sense in the current market conditions. Brighton for example are short of goal scoring forwards and might… Read more »

Danny S

I’d like to know what striker options we have.

Been very quiet on that front bar Dembele which is hugely underwhelming.

Champagne Charlie

Marc

Not saying you have, I just quoted what I originally said to Gambon. All you’ve done is misinterpret what I wrote and gave your two cents on the strength of that.

Moan and bitch all you like about “fantasy manager” comments, but it has nothing to do with me because I never said what you claimed.

Up 4 grabs now

Marc,

I’m beginning to think the tree needs chopping down and a new one planting.
The dead wood at arsenal is ridiculous.

Dissenter

Why are these transactions regarded as part-exchange when in fact they are just multiple transfer deals wrapped up in one. If Brighton want Eddie and agree on Arsenal’s valuation- ka-ching —————-one transaction. Then they work on the second transaction and deduct the previously agreed transaction from it. It;s really just multiple deals between the same two or more clubs. It’s no different from doing a trade in for your old car- you have to agree on a price for the trade in. If you’re quoted too low, you sell your car to someone else and but the new car on… Read more »

Marc

CC

You bring Grealish up on a regular basis and then when called out try this I never said it.

Really not in the mood for it. I agree we don’t need another CB (how many do we have on the books even with Mustafi and Luiz gone?) and a CM or a CAM or both will be far better for us but bringing up a hundred million pound player as an example – come on for crying out loud.

Marc

U4GN

I don’t disagree but do we trust Arteta and Edu to plant the right species and nurture it?

Almuniasaynomore

Charlie A few of us were talking last week about our favourite premiership teams of all time and you suggested that we should attempt to pick players from outside of the traditional powerhouses. I never got back to you at the time but I was thinking about it. Obviously the powerhouses have changed over the years in both name and number while some players played briefly with a big club but spent the majority of their career at a smaller on(zaha for example). It was difficult to pick an eleven so I just shortened it to my top 5 Premiership… Read more »

Danny S

Marc

Knowing them they would exchange the whole squad for some magic beans Kia sells them.

Dream10

Buendia is a good player but he should not be our marquee signing

Emiratesstroller

Dissenter It does not matter how these deals are packaged. We can assume that both Brighton and Norwich are going to value Bissouma and Buendia in the £40 million + range. Arsenal will I am sure value players like Nketiah and AMN around £15 million+ and Willock at most probably at £20 million+ So if Arsenal are serious about the two players we will land up most probably with having to spend a combined transfer fee net of around £50 million instead of £80 million + That would make a lot more sense than quoting silly transfer fees knowing full… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Marc

The fact you failed to grasp what was even being written is your own issue. I even clarified exactly what I said and meant by it and still you want to talk bollocks about me.

Not remotely interested, your ego is hilarious.

Marc

CC

You comment copied and pasted:

“Grealish is moving the needle more than the sexiest CB you can think of.”

Not “A player like Grealish” or “a player of the ability of Grealish” your comment easily reads as if we should be targeting Grealish and it’s not the first time you’ve brought him up. He’s a great player and I don’t know anyone who’d be pissed off seeing him in an Arsenal shirt but talking about him as a player we should use as an example is just daft.

Words on a blog

…my Brummie sources at Villa reliably tell me that Grealish is coming to Arsenal for £50m + El Neny – they’re desperate to build on their Egyptian “Els” contingent over there with El Mohamady and El Ghazi.

Marc

WOAB

Come on mate – you know that deal would be Grealish plus £50 million in exchange for Elneny.

At least that’s more realistic than CC’s fantasy that we’re going to sign him.

Champagne Charlie

Almunia

Paulo was superb. Great ability and charisma.

I enjoyed watching guys like Solano, Okocha, Juninho, and David Batty was always massively underrated to me.

Some quality lower tier guys like Pederson, Hangeland, N’zogbia.

Vintage Gun

@Alumunia

Juninho of M’boro should be on that list of yours. Little magician.

@Dream

We need marquee performers this summer not marquee names

Champagne Charlie

Marc Really weird that you think yourself an authority on what is or isn’t kosher when discussing football. Grealish is the benchmark attacking midfielder imo, when I’m talking to Gambon and saying ‘I think we lack quality in attacking areas more than defenders’, it’s perfectly reasonable to state that Grealish moves the needle more than the best CB he can think of. Again, it was such a basic point being made but you always seem keen to police what is or isn’t sensible speech. Fuck knows why you think yourself in any position to judge, but alas, here you shitting… Read more »

Pedro

Samuel Chukwueze on the toughest player he has faced in this season’s Europa League:

“It was Xhaka. He was man-to-man marking me. He didn’t give me space. He was just very close to me & I couldn’t move an inch”

Mb

Buendia will be a good signing if it happens. We need our midfield scoring.

We probably need Auba’s replacement, too.

If we were the second best defense, why do you need another CB? David Luiz don’t need replacement, plus we got Saliba and Mavro on loans.

Almuniasaynomore

Charlie
I wouldn’t have remembered juninho, he was class aswell,good call. Never saw enough of Jay jay, couldn’t watch that Bolton team! Batty,was underrated all right,was he too late for the 92 Leeds team? Just seems to be a dearth of talent now doesn’t there. Would I get shot for saying Ginola?

Almuniasaynomore

Vintage
Yep, when Charlie said it I knew I’d forgotten a good one!

MD-Gunner

@Marc
“What is wrong with people who keep talking about Grealish as an option?”

You must have forgotten that many on this blog including Pedro are not living in reality and at best are over optimistic and worst are delusional.

Vintage Gun

@Pedro

It figures given that Xhaka wouldn’t dare stand off him.
He had to literally be in him.

Champagne Charlie

Almunia

Maybe he was before “PL” time, bit hard to distinguish for me when I think nostalgically.

Remember good Leeds and Newcastle sides growing up, Laurent Robert was a player for a spell, Viduka and Kewell deadly in a really good Leeds side that had some great matches against us.