During the Wenger era it was always a question of being a defensive midfielder short of winning a league title, and then at one time it was a goalie … and now it’s a striker and pace on both flanks.
The question that needs to be posed to this board is how hungry are you to win a major trophy?
Can’t wait for the end of the season and the narrative that will follow
Arsenal have scored the second most goals in the Premier League this season, despite going down to 10 men 4 times. Not quite the same issue of having no number 6 of note and getting ripped down the middle every week
Was Arsenal getting ripped down the middle every week under Wenger? Was he not winning FA cups and competing in Europe with a tenth of the budget given to Arteta?
Please don’t make me defend that man, and put me in a position to question Arteta!!!
Point is that we need an upgrade on Kai, period, end of story and no excuses!
Didn’t get done and like I said, let’s see what becomes of that at the end of the season.
It’s not as if we didn’t have two windows to address this issue …
And be honest if this was Wenger who failed to address this nagging issue with a potential title on the line you’d be leading the line of pitchforks …
Anyway please don’t make me hold brief for Wenger …
Christian, we were getting ripped through the middle every week under Wenger. By the end, we couldn't beat top 6 teams, our away record was abysmal, we were shite in Europe, there were no standards, and problems were not addressed.
Wenger was one of the best paid managers in the world and our wage bill was usually in the top 3 in the league.
No one wrote more about Wenger than me. If you think it's the same, you are wrong.
So just for the sake of clarity, what time period are you talking of exactly???
I don’t even know what this has to do with Arsenal failing to fill a position of need over two transfer windows. It’s clearly not a lack of money.
So let’s not get caught in the weeds of reframing the Wenger years. The old man is done.
Bottom line is that when the post Mortem of this season is done, and God forbid, we don’t win anything … then very serious questions will be asked … and no floating of red herrings on the Wenger Years will distract from the issue at hand.
Pedros infatuation with pgmol is bordering on annoying.You are letting the club off with two failed transfer windows.Failure to win anything this season and the blame lies squarely on the board and Arteta.
I hate fans that are deluded we are second in3 comps still with all our injuries and PGMOL sticking their beak in which their blatant cheating and you are crying and wanting the manager out. Crazy zarry on football is not for you.
You want to have seen some of the teams and managers I grew up with and tell me this is shit.
Terry Neil's teams would make you shit your pants with anger.
I don’t necessarily think Arteta is to blame in this instance.
It’s been fairly obvious to me he would spend the last penny Kroenke made available to him.
Watkins for 60m didn’t happen not because Arteta wasn’t willing.
If Arteta had a winning track record with another club and was on some modest Arsenal salary he probably would’ve shown more frustration with the board’s inaction, but he’s a company man now, a well compensated one at that, so he’ll hide his frustrations and proceed as we were.
Kroenke and the board know exactly what Arsenal fans are like. Most wear their nearly team badge as a badge of honor.
Say, hypothetically speaking, Barca win the CL and La liga title this season , I can guarantee half of this board would say with an aura of superiority what a messed up club they were.
Here, staying competitive is the goal, anything more just a bonus.
‘ company man’ , not necessarily a negative connotations term.
What it simply might mean in this case is the board saying: no, we’re not gonna sanction transfers you want even if we might be able to , but if you win nothing you still keep your job.
I said: "Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, I wanna, I wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill, KILL, KILL." And I started jumpin' up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL," and he started jumpin' up and down with me and we was both jumping up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL." And the sargent came over, pinned a medal on me, sent me down the hall, said, "You're our boy."
'Given that Kai Havertz has led the line without a break for much of the season, Arteta acknowledged that other attackers may have to help ease the burden of the Germany international. One option is to ask 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who is in a rich vein of scoring form, to play as a number 9.
“We’re going to have to be very flexible in the front line and now the ones that we have on our feet make sure that they stay fit and they keep contributing,” said Arteta.
“Leo [Trossard] can play in that position, Raheem [Sterling] has played in that position, Ethan [Nwaneri] I think can play in that position, [Gabriel] Martinelli can play there, so let’s see in relation to how everybody is, the moment, the opponent, but at some point I think we’re going to have to try something different."
-------------------------------
Among those named, think I'd like to see Ethan tried there first. However we can get him minutes-- I don't think it matters the position he plays.
Don't disagree at all. Three times on through balls on Sunday-- had it been Marti instead of Kai-- Marti would have been 1v1 with Ortega at least twice. I get the value.
Where I come to this from, is-- Marti has been pretty good at RW. Much more aggressive. Really like that.
As Ethan doesn't seem fazed by any of his liftoff in the PL.
I'd be inclined to give Kai a rest at Leicester.
Give Ethan the start-- against one of the least-effective CB pairings in the league.
This season will play out-- with Ethan playing CF.
Why not play him there 10 days from now-- with the rest of the XI firing on all cylinders.
Playing Ethan there is a wrong use of his talent. His power, like Saka's is to dribble his way into the box and shooting from 15-20 meters, but not fighting with the large central defenders.
I'd argue that Martinelli might be a better option, give he's not really a dribbler but rather a 1-2 touch player.
on having put work into transfers that may help us in the summer:
We had a clear intention which is always there is a window open to explore opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. We haven’t achieved it so we are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring in certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well, and I think that we were.
on whether he is frustrated that the club didn’t make a signing:
No, because when you try your best and you do things with the right process, and you see the people that we all share the same intentions with and wills, and after you don’t achieve it, okay there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. That’s a piece that was important in the moment and now we have to move on, and nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not, and we’ll find that out at the end of the season.
on whether there is more scope to make a signing in the summer:
I don’t know, what I mean about that [being disciplined] is in everything in the kind of profile, in the kind of player that we believe can really make us much better. Financially, there are a lot of ways that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there, to try to improve.
on whether he is considering Nwaneri as a centre forward:
We’re going to have to be very flexible in the frontline and now the ones that we have in our feet, make sure they stay fit and keep contributing. Leo can play in that position, Raheem has played in that position, Ethan I think can play in that position, Martinelli can play there so let’s see in relation to how everybody is; the moment and opponent, but at some point, we’re going to have to try something different.
on Nwaneri approaching the record for most goals scored before 18:
I didn’t know about that record. The only thing that I want from him is that he continues to do what he has been doing and plays with freedom and tenacity when he is on the pitch. He has the ability to make it happen, and whether he does that or not will be a matter of time.
________________________________________________
Last paragraph is in regard playing robotic, boring, repetitive and ugly football. Also about some people saying Arteta will take away the freedom of a player after a while. Read what he says about Nwaneri. Does that sound like a manager who doesn't allow his players to express themselves?
A big promise for what the summer holds. I expect Arsenal to go really big. Like the summer of 2023 when we dropped over 200m.
PSG win it for me with the Kvaratskhelia signing and Muani exit. Asensio out was also good biz, the Xavi Simons one bit of head scratcher but they did well with Leipzig breaking record fee to keep him.
We'll see how well the Kvara dude performs. I have my reservations. Make no mistake, there was a red envelope under the table. I don't mind him going there one bit.
Barcola is for me, probably the bigger talent of the two and they got a dude in his spot for whatever reason. If he becomes unhappy, we should absolutely be creeping in the dark. If we can seduce him to join us, he could be a superb player for us.
I've always had sympathy for that lazy madafaka Ousmane. He's finally woken up to the idea he's got a massive talent and with just a bit of commitment, he could be an absolute beast.
Hehe I mentioned similar to Marko on yesterdays feed, what the transfer record states and what transpired probably don't align for the Georgian wideman... 😂
Okay, maybe Milan asked for €6m for a full year and that would have been halved to €3-4m for just 6 months and another €3-4m in wages for 6 months. I'm still uncomfortable with the idea.
Any offensive player we would have brought, would have been at the expense of more chances for Nwaneri.
Some don't seem to understand since we've been playing 2 games per week since the start of the season really (minus the international bs and that was also punishing for our players), it won't be 2 games per week for 2 months straight.
Even our fixtures look easier (on paper) because we've played so many of our tough games already.
After tomorrow we've got Leicester, home to West Ham, away to Forest. February is over. After tomorrow, that's 3 games aaaaaaaall the way to 9th of March.
3 games in 30+ days.
In March we've got 2 CL games, Manure (A) and Chavs (H). Month is over. 4 games in 22-23 days.
I don't want a loan deal similar to Sterling's. No, I don't. Sorry.
This is the thing, Sterling may have been crap but he has allowed us to share a bit of the load in wide areas. That is what we needed for Havertz. €6m is nothing for a big club like Arsenal to have an insurance policy.
I agree Sterling has helped share the load but for the busiest time and the tougher games of the season. He's also took chances away from Nwaneri.
Plus we already have him here. If we didn't have Sterling, sure bring in Morata or someone similar. But two duds to steal game time of Nwaneri? And we have to pay them for it? Fuck no.
Bad decisions: looking at the transfer comings and goings this season the only real difference we have right now is Raheem up front rather than Eddie. I would have taken Eddie right here at any time.
Havertz can easily play one game a week in the next 2 months.
In the meantime Bukayo is expected to be back early to mid March.
We'll have:
Martinelli and Sterling
Havertz and Trossard
Saka and Nwaneri
6 players for 3 positions. Couldn't be any healthier than that.
Look, if by the end of March we had to play twice a week non stop, I would have insisted on bringing in a good player for sure. But the club is aware of things. They thought about it and how healthy it will all be during/after March. And before that we'll have one game per week. We saved 10m by not bringing a loanee to help us for the 6 games before the middle of March. Money that goes straight into the piggy bank for our shopping madness in the summer.
Wirtz and Sesko in the summer please
Been a while my friends.
Still cannot get enough of the city demolition job.
And I love how the media are now calling The Arsenal classless. City deserved everything we gave them.
Gabriel in haalands face because that giant ugly kent threw the ball at his head last time out. Fair game I say.
MLS' celebration is just to damn funny.
Stay humble indeed coming from the most entitled team currently hahaha
Fuck yesss you gooners. Fuck yes Arsenal. That performance has shown a new level to this team.
Yes Pedro lad! Exactly what I wanna hear heading into the next part of the season 👊🏾
COME ON YOU GOONERS!!!!
Sky sports running a PGMOL VAR PR piece https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13303118/premier-league-reveals-plans-for-var-announcements-and-semi-automated-offside-in-matches
It mentions the PL considers VAR to have only made 4 incorrect interventions so far this season in the PL. hilarious.
It also completely ignores VAR failing to intervene left right and centre when on field refs fuck up. But never mind that, it’s not important
During the Wenger era it was always a question of being a defensive midfielder short of winning a league title, and then at one time it was a goalie … and now it’s a striker and pace on both flanks.
The question that needs to be posed to this board is how hungry are you to win a major trophy?
Can’t wait for the end of the season and the narrative that will follow
Arsenal have scored the second most goals in the Premier League this season, despite going down to 10 men 4 times. Not quite the same issue of having no number 6 of note and getting ripped down the middle every week
Pedro???
Was Arsenal getting ripped down the middle every week under Wenger? Was he not winning FA cups and competing in Europe with a tenth of the budget given to Arteta?
Please don’t make me defend that man, and put me in a position to question Arteta!!!
Point is that we need an upgrade on Kai, period, end of story and no excuses!
Didn’t get done and like I said, let’s see what becomes of that at the end of the season.
It’s not as if we didn’t have two windows to address this issue …
And be honest if this was Wenger who failed to address this nagging issue with a potential title on the line you’d be leading the line of pitchforks …
Anyway please don’t make me hold brief for Wenger …
Christian, we were getting ripped through the middle every week under Wenger. By the end, we couldn't beat top 6 teams, our away record was abysmal, we were shite in Europe, there were no standards, and problems were not addressed.
Wenger was one of the best paid managers in the world and our wage bill was usually in the top 3 in the league.
No one wrote more about Wenger than me. If you think it's the same, you are wrong.
Pedro Pedro.
Why are you making me defend Wenger?
Please stop … I don’t really wanna do this…
I’m gonna totally disagree with your narrative and not pursue it because of the position you’re gonna make me take.
Fair?
There isn't a defence of it. I wrote about that period daily. You can take any position you like on it, but it won't change what we all saw.
So just for the sake of clarity, what time period are you talking of exactly???
I don’t even know what this has to do with Arsenal failing to fill a position of need over two transfer windows. It’s clearly not a lack of money.
So let’s not get caught in the weeds of reframing the Wenger years. The old man is done.
Bottom line is that when the post Mortem of this season is done, and God forbid, we don’t win anything … then very serious questions will be asked … and no floating of red herrings on the Wenger Years will distract from the issue at hand.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t come down to that
Pedros infatuation with pgmol is bordering on annoying.You are letting the club off with two failed transfer windows.Failure to win anything this season and the blame lies squarely on the board and Arteta.
I hate fans that are deluded we are second in3 comps still with all our injuries and PGMOL sticking their beak in which their blatant cheating and you are crying and wanting the manager out. Crazy zarry on football is not for you.
You want to have seen some of the teams and managers I grew up with and tell me this is shit.
Terry Neil's teams would make you shit your pants with anger.
6 points behind Liverpool. 3rd in Champions League groups, into the last 16. In a league cup semi final tomorrow.
We're in 3 comps and you are behaving like we've lost already. Pick it up. It's embarrassing read.
I don’t necessarily think Arteta is to blame in this instance.
It’s been fairly obvious to me he would spend the last penny Kroenke made available to him.
Watkins for 60m didn’t happen not because Arteta wasn’t willing.
If Arteta had a winning track record with another club and was on some modest Arsenal salary he probably would’ve shown more frustration with the board’s inaction, but he’s a company man now, a well compensated one at that, so he’ll hide his frustrations and proceed as we were.
Kroenke and the board know exactly what Arsenal fans are like. Most wear their nearly team badge as a badge of honor.
Say, hypothetically speaking, Barca win the CL and La liga title this season , I can guarantee half of this board would say with an aura of superiority what a messed up club they were.
Here, staying competitive is the goal, anything more just a bonus.
Tom, which managers in football shit on their own club. The non-company men?
‘ company man’ , not necessarily a negative connotations term.
What it simply might mean in this case is the board saying: no, we’re not gonna sanction transfers you want even if we might be able to , but if you win nothing you still keep your job.
Ha ha, you tipped your hand when you went from my ‘showing frustration’ to your ‘shit on your club’.
Perfectly reasonable too
Plenty of managers have had public falling outs with ownerships over perceived ‘ lack of ambition’.
It’s got nothing to do with shitting on your club, Pedro.
Tell me the top managers falling out with ownership? Why do you think that's a positive?
I never said it was a positive.
I’m assuming you’re joking asking me for examples of managers falling out with ownership over transfers.
But in case you’re serious
I’m gonna use your own phraseology and say pick it up.
Ok, so you don't think it's a good trait to publicly fall out with your ownership group.
Good to know.
It made me chuckle reading someone’s comment hoping we went deep into the CL as a sign of success in a year that competition is wide open.
Got plenty of likes too.
Arsenal fans in a nutshell
So where to find middle ground?
Is the polar opp like some Guthrie-esque type--
I said: "Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, I wanna, I wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill, KILL, KILL." And I started jumpin' up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL," and he started jumpin' up and down with me and we was both jumping up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL." And the sargent came over, pinned a medal on me, sent me down the hall, said, "You're our boy."
Izzat what you're envisioning?
So Arsenal went shopping at the Alvaro Morata bargain basement last minute shopping dash?
Surely this isn’t title winning behavior?
And people will abuse fans who question our desire or competence in this or the past summer transfer window.
Smh at all these wannabe super fans who can’t see incompetence even when it’s bashing them in the face …
Whatever Arsenal
From Arteta 's presser today--
'Given that Kai Havertz has led the line without a break for much of the season, Arteta acknowledged that other attackers may have to help ease the burden of the Germany international. One option is to ask 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who is in a rich vein of scoring form, to play as a number 9.
“We’re going to have to be very flexible in the front line and now the ones that we have on our feet make sure that they stay fit and they keep contributing,” said Arteta.
“Leo [Trossard] can play in that position, Raheem [Sterling] has played in that position, Ethan [Nwaneri] I think can play in that position, [Gabriel] Martinelli can play there, so let’s see in relation to how everybody is, the moment, the opponent, but at some point I think we’re going to have to try something different."
-------------------------------
Among those named, think I'd like to see Ethan tried there first. However we can get him minutes-- I don't think it matters the position he plays.
Martinelli is who should play there and utilize him running in behind and finishing. Ethan belongs in RW or AM
Don't disagree at all. Three times on through balls on Sunday-- had it been Marti instead of Kai-- Marti would have been 1v1 with Ortega at least twice. I get the value.
Where I come to this from, is-- Marti has been pretty good at RW. Much more aggressive. Really like that.
As Ethan doesn't seem fazed by any of his liftoff in the PL.
I'd be inclined to give Kai a rest at Leicester.
Give Ethan the start-- against one of the least-effective CB pairings in the league.
This season will play out-- with Ethan playing CF.
Why not play him there 10 days from now-- with the rest of the XI firing on all cylinders.
Playing Ethan there is a wrong use of his talent. His power, like Saka's is to dribble his way into the box and shooting from 15-20 meters, but not fighting with the large central defenders.
I'd argue that Martinelli might be a better option, give he's not really a dribbler but rather a 1-2 touch player.
https://open.substack.com/pub/theredcannon/p/the-next-season-mentality
If you'd like to read the alternative take on our transfer window.
on having put work into transfers that may help us in the summer:
We had a clear intention which is always there is a window open to explore opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. We haven’t achieved it so we are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring in certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well, and I think that we were.
on whether he is frustrated that the club didn’t make a signing:
No, because when you try your best and you do things with the right process, and you see the people that we all share the same intentions with and wills, and after you don’t achieve it, okay there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. That’s a piece that was important in the moment and now we have to move on, and nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not, and we’ll find that out at the end of the season.
on whether there is more scope to make a signing in the summer:
I don’t know, what I mean about that [being disciplined] is in everything in the kind of profile, in the kind of player that we believe can really make us much better. Financially, there are a lot of ways that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there, to try to improve.
on whether he is considering Nwaneri as a centre forward:
We’re going to have to be very flexible in the frontline and now the ones that we have in our feet, make sure they stay fit and keep contributing. Leo can play in that position, Raheem has played in that position, Ethan I think can play in that position, Martinelli can play there so let’s see in relation to how everybody is; the moment and opponent, but at some point, we’re going to have to try something different.
on Nwaneri approaching the record for most goals scored before 18:
I didn’t know about that record. The only thing that I want from him is that he continues to do what he has been doing and plays with freedom and tenacity when he is on the pitch. He has the ability to make it happen, and whether he does that or not will be a matter of time.
________________________________________________
Last paragraph is in regard playing robotic, boring, repetitive and ugly football. Also about some people saying Arteta will take away the freedom of a player after a while. Read what he says about Nwaneri. Does that sound like a manager who doesn't allow his players to express themselves?
A big promise for what the summer holds. I expect Arsenal to go really big. Like the summer of 2023 when we dropped over 200m.
A solid column with sound reasoning.
AFC needs to overspend this summer; if the club knows it will not get anyone in the winter.
Huge gamble on MLS, Nwaneri, and Kai staying fit for the rest of the season, especially if Mikel does not rotate.
Still say forget league cup, but everyone knows Mikel won't.
2 meat grinder games left, and many in the squad could use a rest.
Look forward to White and Tomi coming back to play a few games, and Saka, if he is able to safely!
How does he forget the league cup?
We still have to show up, don't we?
Better to go for it 100%, use it as a trial run for the last 16 of the CL
We have a 1.5 weeks warm weather break in Dubai after the game. They leave from Newcastle directly to Dubai.
He has to go for it
That's what the fans want.
Would rather have Saliba, Gabriel, Kai, Declan, Timber, Partey and Ode get some needed rest!
Play the under 21's - all of them.
Not all fans.
We don't play for 10 days after tomorrow. They are all going to Dubai directly from Newcastle.
They will rest after tomorrow
Rest is not just 10 days, after 2 years straight of playing.
We haven't won a trophy in 5 years and you're really talking about us not trying at all...when Wembley may be in sight?
Come on man
Wembley, maybe:-)
Ugly January window for most part.
PSG win it for me with the Kvaratskhelia signing and Muani exit. Asensio out was also good biz, the Xavi Simons one bit of head scratcher but they did well with Leipzig breaking record fee to keep him.
We'll see how well the Kvara dude performs. I have my reservations. Make no mistake, there was a red envelope under the table. I don't mind him going there one bit.
Barcola is for me, probably the bigger talent of the two and they got a dude in his spot for whatever reason. If he becomes unhappy, we should absolutely be creeping in the dark. If we can seduce him to join us, he could be a superb player for us.
I've always had sympathy for that lazy madafaka Ousmane. He's finally woken up to the idea he's got a massive talent and with just a bit of commitment, he could be an absolute beast.
Hehe I mentioned similar to Marko on yesterdays feed, what the transfer record states and what transpired probably don't align for the Georgian wideman... 😂
Okay, maybe Milan asked for €6m for a full year and that would have been halved to €3-4m for just 6 months and another €3-4m in wages for 6 months. I'm still uncomfortable with the idea.
Any offensive player we would have brought, would have been at the expense of more chances for Nwaneri.
Some don't seem to understand since we've been playing 2 games per week since the start of the season really (minus the international bs and that was also punishing for our players), it won't be 2 games per week for 2 months straight.
Even our fixtures look easier (on paper) because we've played so many of our tough games already.
After tomorrow we've got Leicester, home to West Ham, away to Forest. February is over. After tomorrow, that's 3 games aaaaaaaall the way to 9th of March.
3 games in 30+ days.
In March we've got 2 CL games, Manure (A) and Chavs (H). Month is over. 4 games in 22-23 days.
I don't want a loan deal similar to Sterling's. No, I don't. Sorry.
This is the thing, Sterling may have been crap but he has allowed us to share a bit of the load in wide areas. That is what we needed for Havertz. €6m is nothing for a big club like Arsenal to have an insurance policy.
I agree Sterling has helped share the load but for the busiest time and the tougher games of the season. He's also took chances away from Nwaneri.
Plus we already have him here. If we didn't have Sterling, sure bring in Morata or someone similar. But two duds to steal game time of Nwaneri? And we have to pay them for it? Fuck no.
No need to debate Raptora on this
He's said he prefers signing no one to a veteran who can play multiple styles
Even Nwaneri can't play too many minutes, it wasn't long ago that he came back from muscle injuries.
Bad decisions: looking at the transfer comings and goings this season the only real difference we have right now is Raheem up front rather than Eddie. I would have taken Eddie right here at any time.
The thing about Havertz is he consistently does god's work on the field.
He dishes it out and also takes the brunt of many nasty challenges
Everytime he goes down, there will be a collective pause and bated breaths
Havertz can easily play one game a week in the next 2 months.
In the meantime Bukayo is expected to be back early to mid March.
We'll have:
Martinelli and Sterling
Havertz and Trossard
Saka and Nwaneri
6 players for 3 positions. Couldn't be any healthier than that.
Look, if by the end of March we had to play twice a week non stop, I would have insisted on bringing in a good player for sure. But the club is aware of things. They thought about it and how healthy it will all be during/after March. And before that we'll have one game per week. We saved 10m by not bringing a loanee to help us for the 6 games before the middle of March. Money that goes straight into the piggy bank for our shopping madness in the summer.
It's all good. I'm cool.
You are indeed reckless
Recovery from surgeries aren't always linear, players have set backs all the time and have to go slower.
Not providing coverage when you could have to throw the dice on Saka coming back in mid March borders on negligence.
We don't have a choice now, all we can do is hope
Sterling? really? after he had literally brought 0 contributions over all appearances?
I mean, he's here. Are we going to completely forget about him?
Like Morata is a better option as a player to Sterling. Both are past it. But one is already here. We shouldn't add another bum.
Morata was scoring in many different teams, at least in three different leagues. And he's a number 9, the physical profile we lack.
He's just trying to cope
Hanging unto hope, like the rest of us. He's just more brash in his approach.