Sceptical, Hopeful, And A Slow Start By The Kids
Jul 16th, 2016 by 'holic
A perfect start to the holiday at Lord’s yesterday has left me fighting the laws of gravity for much of today. That has given me an opportunity to catch up on the news, if one can call it that, as far as Arsenal are concerned. Regulars will know I don’t enjoy transfer speculation but there seems to be a couple of interesting angles being reported.
You would have to be living on Mars to avoid the stories linking Arsenal with Gonzalo Higuain, undoubtedly a proven goalscorer, but an expensive 29 year old. I’m somewhat sceptical although Kiss Kiss radio station in Naples (it isn’t Napoli’s official club station) has said he is Arsenal bound. They quote a figure of fifty million euros plus Olivier Giroud and reported further that Arsenal were also looking to sell Laurent Koscielny to help fund the deal.
They haven’t really done their homework. We do not need to sell before we buy, and certainly not a player who has developed into one of the best defenders in European football. Added to that what is the point in using Giroud as bait in the deal? It would leave us in the situation we are in today with only one centre forward and no back-up should he get injured or fatigued. We are looking for competition up front, not an exchange.
More believable is that last year’s PFA Player of the Season, Riyad Mahrez, has turned down a new deal at Leicester and is available at around thirty million pounds. We are rumoured to be in the chase for his signature. That is more likely than us being at an advanced stage of negotiations with Higuain although Mahrez is obviously not the central striker we need. He was however a prolific scorer and provider of goals for the surprise champions last season and his capture would probably hasten the departure of Theo Walcott.
There is a large Barcelona-shaped cloud on the horizon, unfortunately. The Catalans are also said to be interested which usually ends only one way. Let’s hope Mahrez has a hitherto unrecorded hatred of all things Barca, or would prefer to come to a club where he could end up making more appearances in the coming seasons.
That the club is actively pursuing attacking options was never in doubt, but it would be hugely advantageous to seal a deal with the important pre-season imminent.
Talking of pre-season, the under 21’s played their first pre-season fixture at Boreham Wood today (Saturday) and were on the wrong end of a 3-0 thumping. That’s a good one to get out the way before the real season kicks in.
Right, I am about to head for the Cornish sun for a week of R&R so by the time I get back I expect us to have a new striker, goalscoring winger, and a central defender in place. Yes, I think I really need this break.
Have a good one, ‘holics.
183 Responses to “Sceptical, Hopeful, And A Slow Start By The Kids”
good riddance ya big jessie ?
moooooooooooooooooooooo
ye might only be a couple or three years
older than me , ‘holic
but
you are the bright north london star
round which I set my Arsenal course !
.
.
of course all of that is a lie
but
i do like you
*sniffling*
OK then
go on yer holiday
leave us
.
Lidl do a catfood dispenser yoke
for when cat owners desert their children
.
did ye even look into that ?
no
cba from previous drinks – Brilliant. Even Westbound just about works.
Have fun elsewhere, ‘h.
SHITEHAWK !
and you are too
s’pose yer gonna run out on me too
BASTARDS THA LOTTA YE !
I will going off my head shortly, cba.
Sorry.
Mahrez, MEHrez – much of a muchness.
letters letters lotsa letters
Tommy Tucker
Hi Heel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bmbSC9c2ys
Sneakers
.
tunes tunes tunes
yer grand cynic
top o the range
?
Well hello there holiday. How’s it going
Enjoy your holiday, Maestro.
Higuain or Aubayemang are the best options for us in terms of quality. I can’t believe we would sacrifice Koscielny or Giroud but I could see Ramsey or Walcott leaving.
It does suggest we are being active which is good. Have a great break Holic!
There’s nobody coming in. Haven’t you guys learned anything about le genius
Sorry holic
“We could not find players better than we have already”
You can see it coming, folks.
If Riyad Mahrez comes, it might signal that Alexis is off to Juve after all.
I wonder if Mahrez (and Konte for that matter) were among the Leicester players urging Vardy to stay loyal a month or so back.
Any trading in of Giroud in part exchange for a new striker would be madness, for the reason the Guv’nor states and because there are plenty of league games in which you need a front man like that.
Have a good holiday, ‘Holic.
Kante, not Konte.
Leicester got back four times what they paid for him last August. Not a bad return.
If Wenger wasn’t willing to pay around 40million for a 25 years old Higuian 3 years ago, why will he play 70million plus for a 29 year old higuian? come on folks that’s never ever going to happen. Wenger should stop playing around and get Lacazette that’s the only feasible option we have right now.
Ah, Paulie. You’ve been missed.
Evening cba et al.
Leicester won the lottery, Ned.
Ttg, I hope you enjoyed yesterday as much as I. 🙂
Cynic, evening. Second album time for Mahrez. 😉
He won’t pay £70 for Higuain, SAG, nor will hw include OG in any trade. He might however offer £50m, take it or leave it, for Higuain and Napoli might take it rather than have him go to Juve.
Signing Mahrez would surely see Theo leaving, with the only difference being how much more we pay for the former than we receive for the latter.
Kos, rumour has, is stalling on a new contract with Bayern interested in him. That may be just a negotiating tactic, but could be a worry.
howdy chris
nowt to say
cept howdy
.
off snoozewise shortly
slainte fella
hope yer well
Hey there, I see you’re in top form, as usual. A bit of French for ya… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2VKaH2sKtU
Sleep well!
Chris- am with you. I wont pay that much for Higuaín at this point in time. Should have bought him years back for way cheaper. One thing is for sure, we need a CF.
Arsenal Ladies on the telly later, if you feel desperate for football.
Chris@22: It is a worry. If you are about to turn 31 and have only won two FA Cups and a Community Shield in your career, the less physically demanding Bundeslega and Bayern’s trophy-generating potential could look very attractive. But would he start ahead of either Hummels or Boateng?
Have a great break H. Hope you get a scorcher.
“Fuck off”
“He never did”
“You’re a big fat fibber”
.
‘holic Ned says you left him in charge
did ye ?
i know you didn’t
did ye ?
he keeps pulling faces at us
and he’s given us homework
.
“STOP NIPPING”
.
“Let’s see who’s the big man now”
“Neddy Weddy Sleeps with a Teddy”
.
“STOP NIPPING ME”
.
.
‘holic , cynic keeps nipping me !
“THUNDER T ! ”
“Take that nappy off yer head and put it back on baff”
.
see
.
.
.
SEEEEE !
.
proud of yerself , ‘holic ?
ya dereliction of duties abandoner !
.
.
“DON’T THINK I WONT NIP YOU ! ”
.
.
“You see if I won’t”
“warned ye !”
“not so cynical now, eh , Nippy”
‘Holic knows well enough not to leave me in charge of anything, cba. Nor am I sure this bar is capable of being taken charge of by anyone but the Guv’nor.
yeah
blaaaaaa
typical measured media response from a despot
.
and ye can iron yer own fried eggs from now on
fuck ye !
.
“DOWN WITH TYRANTS ! ”
.
“WHO’S WITH ME ‘HOLICS ?”
*tumbleweed*
cba, I enjoyed the clip of yer man from the Dubliners. I always liked those fellas.
I also enjoyed the clip about Shenandoah, one of my all time favourite movies and ’tis a lovely song too. I share your love of Westerns, though I rate Jimmy Stewart, Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall above Randolph Scott.
full set o spanners
With you on tyrants too, fella. :0)
what say you , baff
my similarly ridiculously american intriguingly accented friend
.
I propose a vote of no confidence in Ned
(he’ll probably give me lines but blaaaaAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH)
in other news
me mate who has arth psor nonsense
did not need treated for sacro- etc
.
He’s getting hip replacements
staggered
(joke intended)
?
fellas on the best drugs the nhs can buy ?
poor bugger is only in his 40s
I wish him all the best with his hip ops. Thank heavens for the NHS, far too many take it for granted.
nice calls on the actors
I’d sling in Gregory Peck
Jimmy Ringo
.
The Gunfighter
what a show
Yep, Gregory Peck was a good ‘un. Will check out the Gunfighter, (his only friend was his gun….his only refuge, a woman’s heart).
And then, there’s Gary Cooper.
top fella
“and that’s ma rulin’ ”
sláinte
The absolute fucking boss of westerns is, of course ….. Walter Brennan.
😉
Evening one and all. Happy hols Holic.
It’s all very much same old at the moment. I agree totally re Higuain. 3 years ago when he was 25 be refused to pay the €40 asking price and he went to Napoli. Now we are talking about double the price for a 28 year old???? Explain to me this wonderful business model again?
Whatever business we do in this window you can all rest assured that we will pay vastly over inflated prices. Prices that are the result of the previous years of inactivity. For some of us it was all so obvious. To the board, clearly not.
My big concern is Kos. Bayern sniffing with a year to go on his contract. He will be 31 by the time he is ready to play again for us after his break. If you were Kos and Bayern wanted you, what would you do? As much as I would not want him to leave, I for one wouldn’t blame him in the slightest.
There are some interesting times ahead. Manchester is under new management. Klop will have his first full season. Koeman will be an interesting choice for the toffees. If we don’t buck our ideas up then we could have a real shock awaiting us.
There is still a long way to go. I would have preferred to have had our business done by now. But that just isn’t the Arsenal way anymore. I sit here with a resigned apathy. As much as I would love to see the required quality added to the side, very little so far would suggest that we will do it. I’ve read the reports for years and years lining us with this player or that player. I’ve then read the same reports saying that we would not pay the fee and they have gone elsewhere. You never do know how much truth there ever is in any of this but I for one am bored with it all now. It’s the hope that kills you.
What will be will be I guess. However, we start our season in less than four weeks. Personally, I would have liked to have seen us in slightly better shape.
Roll on 1st September.
Lovely to see our ladies beat the Chavs at their own version of the bus stop where on a sweltering afternoon the heating in our dressing room was wedged on full blast! Are there no depths to which Cheksea will stoop?
Answer No!
Alex Scott scored a ridiculous own goal worth watching on BT Sport and certain to figure in blooper compilations . But we still mullered them.
Very good note from Steve T. Although I absolutely agree with the logic a bit of me wants to see a very rich man controlling a very rich club do something daft to show how much he wants to see us win the league title. Yes it’s a daft purchase but no dafter than United paying over £100 million for someone who was in their u 21 team ! Especially when he looks a bit overrated to me. The Kante purchase is a good one but so is Xhaka for us.
I’d love to see Mahrez in our colours next season with Alexis on the other side and if that means we have to settle for Icardi instead of Higuain so be it. And Ashley Williams will do for me as a CB.
Close seasons are ridiculous now with so much ants among bloggers and fans. People are panicking about our first game one month hence. And I really think the Koscielny rumour may be just that. He won’t start at Bayern and therefore if I was him I wouldn’t move there . Hummels and Boateng will be their first choice pairing. He is settled in London….and about to win the league next season!
Walter Brennan was the dog’s bollox, cba. Loved the fella.
Great points, Steve T and TTG.
I cannot rise to the discussion though as I am in a state of enervation and I now expect nothing.
As the man said in Cosi fan tutti, ‘Lunga esperienza!’
and as I said just moments ago
.
“Did you snaffle the last solero ? ”
“Ye did , didn’t ye ?”
.
“Gluttonous fucker”
.
.
“DIVORCE ! “
another half ton
TOO EASY
goodnight all
bed beckons
?
As if anyone could be in charge of you, cba. 🙂
I just play this every time I am reading transfer rumours…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OReeqmk3SU
Resigned acceptance, that should be the heading for every transfer window for us. We live in hope, read every rumour, get linked to every player and in the end try to drive a bargain which goes flat. Lastly, we then get to hear, we did not get the top ,top quality we were looking for. I am sorry as much as I love you Arsene, this is becoming rhetoric and plain exasperating. I for one cannot understand how every other club manages to sign almost everyone they wish for within days/weeks whereas we take an eternity and in the end all for nothing.
Xhaka was a good start and once he settles in, I see him being a very good player. Yet the telling need of a striker/CB/right winger is not addressed and does not look likely to be. Higuain may not be the answer but then who else are the strikers available. Napoli is supposedly asking for 94 million for him( incredulous) and that mean no chance. Who else is left? Lewandowski?? one in a million chance, Benzema? never ending saga and think it is a chance gone long time back. Aubameyang again does not merit a discussion, so who is left? bacca/ Higuian/Lacazette; no brainer that the argentinian is the best among the 3.
Winger can be maharez or Draxler and both wont come cheap. If we are looking at a sustained title challenge, then we need to pay over the odds. Go for it Arsene before it becomes too late. Imagine sanogo starting against pool.
Hey ‘holic and assorted sorted ‘holics. 😀
1. Slow starts are OK when accompanied by fast finishes.
2. On a related front, it has been learned that mobile devices can add to the overall cleverness quotient. Does Arsene Wenger have a mobile (enough) device though?
Assorted sordid ‘holics may have noticed they were mentioned in some way in 56. 😉
Premier League TV revenue has gone up by 70%, the overwhelming majority of which will flow through to transfer fees and wages. Still only 20 clubs in the league so number of players won’t change significantly. Hence, prices can only go one way. Over the odds is the new normal.
The year AW took over, the world, yes, world transfer record was £15 million and we signed Patrick Vieira for £3.5million. No wonder AW looks askance at the prices being asked today.
Joe Baker porn, H
https://beyondthelastman.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/joe-baker-arsenal-1964.jpg
@Vinay all what you said. The transfer fees for any striker we get will be over the top. So Wenger needs to stop acting like this is new to him. Get it done and stop bullshiting around.
Cynic,
Now he was a striker as Holic and I will tell you!
Blimey if he was around today he’d be worth a fortune- and he could knock out Ron Yeats!
Looks like we’re signing young Holding the Bolton centre- back. Not sure if he’s ready for the first team yet
As soon as the latest tv deals were even remotely being discussed, prices went up. It’s simple economics. As soon as clubs were awarded the cash from those absolutely ridiculous tv deals then the price of players was going to rocket. If you’re the selling club then why shouldn’t it? I still remember reading on here those who thought that the monsterous tv deals might lead to cheaper tickets??? How we chuckled at the niaivity.
This is why our lack of activity in recent years in the transfer market, in my humble opinion, has been a massive gaff. I’ve never bought the idea that we don’t have the money. We have recently been valued as a club as being worth more than 2 billion pounds. I really don’t get that a club valued at that level can’t find money to do what was required when it came to squad strengthening.
So, all of the money we thought we had saved really won’t be saved at all, it we head off into the market. We will now have to pay the ever increasing asking price along with the ever increasing wage bill.
So, where do we go from here? I’m not really sure to be honest. We went for the cheaper option with Vardy but we could not persuade him to leave Leicester. Another successful flutter with the transfer market. If we are to buy the quality that we need it’s going to cost us at least double what it would of a few seasons ago.
Interestingly, when Arsene took over at Arsenal the world record transfer deal was £15 million. A player like Patrick Vieira cost £3.5 million. Now compare that with the £100 million quoted today for Pogba?
It’s all gone nuts and we are falling further and further behind.
Steve T@62: My point (and examples) @58 exactly. AW has to get with the (financial) times.
re Rob Holding: In his lengthy career — 26 Championship games — he has played 17 times at centre back and nine times at right back, so AW may be looking for some utility cover for Hector as well as a fourth CB.
Holding also seems to have broken in to the England U21 squad without having worked his way up through the age groups. Not sure what than means except that he might be a late bloomer, if a 20-year-old can be so described.
Ned. My apologies. Did not read your post first.
Lesson learnt. Drink on the bar my old friend.
Rob Holding – the new Calum Chambers.
And if he crumples under the pressure, will we be able to use the Holding Folding pun? 🙂
Today I have mostly been researching historical factoids, watching a Randolph Scott western and the surprisingly good Ross Kemp documentary about the YPG and YPJ.
And sweating. Mostly around the parts that other beers cannot reach.
Too much information Cynic ?
Steve T
We really don’t understand Kroenke’s motives or objectives well enough.
Arsenal with Wenger in charge is a seriously attractive cash cow but his take at £3 million for his extraordinarily valuable ‘ consultancy’ services is comparatively modest. That’s so far but he could raid the club’s coffers to finance his other ventures. He needs to keep the team competitive and consistently in the CL because that way lies greater financial rewards. But it’s unlikely he has the same competitive zeal to win the big prizes that most drinkers here do.
Will he sanction a splurge on the team? Possible if the player purchased has resale value but the Higuain deal makes absolutely no sense in his book. He’s buying a rapidly depreciating asset. I think he’s a disastrous owner but other drinkers like Pangliss ( where is he nowadays? ) have quite reasonably pointed out that he hasn’t harmed the club too much. But failing to invest seriously as you point out is going to harm the club as a football club rather than a sporting franchise
Those seeking the best of old TV dramas should catch The Prisoner from the late ’60s … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner … and The Lotus Eaters from the early ’70s … https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lotus_Eaters_(TV_series)
Both landmarks of their time and highly influential for their genres.
Theme music from The Lotus Eaters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVjqP5-knuE
Chris, Nice music and pictures on that youtube convince me I must check out the Lotus Eaters. The Prisoner is an old favorite.
Big big news on the transfer front … we’ve sold Wellington Silhttp://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/690764/Fluminense-Arsenal-Wellington-Silva-transfer-news-gossipva!
No mention of a fee so I assume we paid them to take him.
That should be Wellington Silva … http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/690764/Fluminense-Arsenal-Wellington-Silva-transfer-news-gossip
Cynic. Well, we might use the Holding folding pun in those circumstances, and I dare say most would call it a propitious use of the Holding folding pun. On the other hand if we use it prior to the advent of those circumstances, some might say it would diminish the effectiveness of the pun when the perfect moment arrives. Not to say it is a bad pun in its own right, however. Nor that anyone on this forum is necessarily an advocate of rightist puns.
What is the most we can hope for this season? Based on the transfer business done so far, which has not succeeded in bringing in the striker we all want to see, I would say the most we can hope for is for Arsene Wenger to try something different. Whether that be playing Aaron Ramsey in a new role, or whatever he might try, by the middle of last season our attack had become too predictable and Ramsey’s talents were not being fully utilized. Now, with Xhaka in his first season and Elneny in his first full season, they will need to be fully integrated into the squad and Wenger needs to use them in imaginative ways to quicken the transition from defence to attack and vice versa. I have a feeling that Xhaka, Elneny and Ramsey will be vital in the success or failure of our new midfield.
Steve T@64: No apology needed. One on the bar for you, too.
Chris@67: The Prisoner was a classic.
We bought Wellington Silva from Fluminense in 2011 for 3.35 million euros. I doubt we got half that back for him.
bt8b@73: I wonder if we have a Gerrard/Lampard problem with Ozil and Ramsey. Both play best, in their different ways, as the central forward midfielder, but it is difficult to see fitting both in the same starting XI.
er, that should be £3.35 million (pounds not euros) we paid for Wellington Silva.
To avoid relegation, bt8
Cynic that would be a cynically modest expectation. I did briefly wonder if something worse than relegation could be in the cards but then thought the month before the start of the new season is supposed to bring at least a dash of optimism so dropped the thought for now. 🙂
Ned @75. From what I have been able to observe I think you are right about Ozil and Ramsey being best in the same position so how about trying Ozil elsewhere?
Once in a while it could be useful to get him back into positions like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDnqq0IAdMc
Optimism is the new black, which is fine if you’re not living in the USA with blue lights flashing in your rear view mirror.
Looks like Virgin UK might be getting rid of BT Sport, after the Irish branch of the business has decided to get rid of Eir and the BT channels.
Virgin UK’s deal to include BT in its top packages expires at the end of July.
I think AW might use Ozil and Sanchez either side of Giroud this season, with Xhaka, Elneny and Ramsey in midfield, with Ramsey allowed to be the box to box free running player he was two years ago and recently for Wales. I think it could work too. He might buy another striker to vary things a bit, but apart from Higuain, I don’t think there is real quality out there and certainly not value for money. Higuain will probably be too expensive for a player of his age. I can see AW sticking with the squad he has already which personally I won’t mind, but others probably will. The midfield is probably the best in the premier league, the keeper is excellent, the defence is good to very good. My biggest concern would be if Giroud gets injured for a lengthy period especially with Danny out for months.If he stays, Theo will have something to prove again and still might with a more creative midfield and attack supporting him. Offensively we were poor last season once we lost Cazorla for six months on top of Willsher, Rosicky, Arteta and Sanchez. There was a serious lack of creativity and Ozil could not do it alone.
cynic
them fuckin paddys
when shit turns de shite
as sure as a cat’s a beast
that shower’s skulking somewhere
pullin’ da strings
?
.
the newest wee cherub
secretary of state for ni
looks like he should be revising for his o-levels
.
this daisy
chosen clearly
for his surname
and the fresh new unpatronising healing approach it evokes
Please everyone cool down. We are a month from the first game and yet everyone is getting twitchy. Wengervwill deliver a top striker. I suspect he may believe Holding can be fast- tracked into the first team squad and we will then have a very strong squad indeed.
So many people are throwing their toys out of the pran in mid- July.
Chill??
in other news
.
howdy ??????????
m’lud knows
or nose
or indeed beak
.
?
.
howdy chief
hope yer well
CBA
Very well. I shall be in your fine land briefly on Friday. Hope the Guinness is the right temperature!
TTG – well said. (and I hope yer right!)
Every year it is the same, TTG
If nobody else arrives, nobody will be surprised.
This is a squad bereft of quality with a manager who is ten years past his best.
Talking of a lack of credibility and quality…
I had a conversation with a non league director today who, despite losing all his best players, having the captain he’d pinned all his hopes on walk out just this week, slashing his playing budget which means he can’t attract anybody worth having, and relying on a team that should have been relegated last season (and now minus his better players) propped up with a few kids, still believes his club will get promoted two steps up the pyramid within three or four years.
I had to bite my tongue or I would have got a punch. Or ten.
i hope it is
big man
.
sláinte
Howdy ‘Holics,
I hope each of you are well. From Blogs regarding Calum Chambers’s prospects: “There’s no room for him to move into midfield, where he’s been tipped to play in the past, and if Holding can provide back up at right-back it would lend some credibility to the stories that the former Southampton man might spend the season out on loan somewhere.”
This is the Arsenal we are talking about, right? We need all the fragile midfielder’s we can get. I fear, come November, our “over-populated” midfield options will have dwindled to ashes…
Be kind and safe, everyone. (Please, say a prayer for your cousins across the pond, would ya?)
BMBD
“Arsenal are closing in on the signing of the England Under-21 international defender Rob Holding from Bolton Wanderers.”
Ah, well … there’s this.
I am scenting a touch of the Hodgson’s here. If we don’t know our best team then we probably don’t have one.
Holding’s stats in the Championship make for grim reading. In his 26 league games (of which he played the full 90 in all but two) he was only on the winning side four times, with six draws and 16 defeats. The defences he was playing in conceded 51 goals in those 26 games. To be fair to the lad, Bolton finished bottom nine points adrift and only won five games all season, conceding 81 goals overall.
cba – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (telly version). Never seen it before, enjoying it greatly.
read blogs stuff most times
the arses i dislike
.
stopped arsing and reading daily
long while back
.
no great loss
either way
i’m sure
.
anyhoo
.
howdy lonestar
aaahh cynic
the main man
.
my memory is such that
yeah
.
what ?
beep
BEEEEP
Cheers, CBA.
BMBD
or cba, even.
well in fer the ton
?
or tonne
?
bit shitefaced
shite telly
i made better telly than this
are people t h at useless
.
vowed never to break my rule
those who can – do
those who can’t – teach
.
i’m coming outta retirement
.
fuckin ungrateful morons on two fifty a day
nope
.
am self sufficient
.
own bread
own beer
own liquor
.
if I can grow ham a nd cheese toasties
I’d be golden
and
a wife that isn’t a fuckin mutter
I shoulda stuck with Denise
Howdy cba?. Your presence was detectable immediately due to a massive uptick in drinks in a short period of time. There are plants growing in my roof gutters. Maybe I should do something about it. ?
mutter ?
dunno
meant nutter
Howdy Lonestar. Hope you are well and far from Cleveland. Been back to Hawaii since you met that Arsenal guy there?
8ball
as holic said
i am a fake
i don’t drink
rumours of my flatdrunkitude
created by others
.
where’s chris
he’s a star
still meant Denise
she was beautiful
looked like Kate Bush but with a big arse
and enormous calfs
mind you
.
see above
don’t like big legs
shame
lovely woman
i’m a stickler for lusty perfection
i’m quite the looker meself apparently
so why should i entertain less than my qouoitieint o
i’m smart
i think luke kelly god rest him
is turning in his grave
Denise was gorgeous
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMGvQ2v-ZRM
fuck him
dead genius
.
free state joe
do you honestly think
in floating time
foy vance coulda sat in a room
with van morrison and the dubliners
without being the guy that made the tea ?
and
that in a room of accidental full proper beards
of which I have been guilty over the decades
the fellas
would not hang themselves laffin at his considered hair lip
gonna eschew my big aggressive captain haddock persona
and
resume smiling
who stole cynic ?
might take a holiday meself
although
probably not
never been on holiday
“ABROAD”
never
ever
talkative one
though
if available evidence pans out
Reads TTG’s sensible drink @84 and considers taking a sedative, thinking it must have been me.
holidays were running the green camo moronic gauntlet
to get through to the free state
Unbelievable relaxation when ye were let through
after only less than an hour or two getting searched by youngsters
with guns
sorry
oooh soldiers
wonderful
think I will take a holiday too
cos the politeness afforded to us over the years was touching
?
and non existant
It’s past your bedtime, cba.
But if you can’t sleep you could do worse than re-watch another of the most influential TV dramas of all time … http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090424/ . The original, NOT the dreaded US remake.
Political thriller worth watching for Joanne Whalley, young and gorgeous, before she married the appalling Val Kilmer, but mainly for great script and sensational acting by Bob Peck.
As the first User Review in the above link describes it (15 years after the broadcast): Superb, courageous television we’re not likely to see again.
Further to the above, the theme music for Edge of Darkness was composed and performed by Eric Clapton … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eteUUZ8U4Bs
Nobody stole me, cba, they just borrowed me for a bit and never brought me back
New rules apparently will not countenance Spurs intolerable behavior.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3571650/Tottenham-break-record-yellow-cards-Premier-League-fixture.html
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36844570
I wonder if that includes a new ruling on the acceptability of telling the referee to fuck off.
Finally we have our three signings as promised by Wenger. Asano/Xhaka/Holding. Cant wait for the season to start…….yay
Fat Sam to be England manager?!
So.. it really is the end.
😀
It seems like the last couple of years we have been watching the “told Arsenal” so will we see the “untold Arsenal” this time?
Not sure what that means, actually, but we did see the “untold Leicester” last time around.
Fat Sam at the helm you say, BB? This means Kevin Nolan will surely be getting an England cap!!
This is the lowest point in English football history. A nob picked by Alex Ferguson is in charge. I have vowed to not watch a second of an England match while he is in charge
carrying 6 stone o shite
in a four stone sack
.
sorry fellas
sorry ‘hol
I didn’t know you could get relegated from international football, but I guess Fat Sam is your man if that’s where England are at…
Rob Holding … yet another youngster ‘for the future’? I guess that means Chambers goes out on loan. Can’t see it meaning anything else. Per to be captain, Kos his CD partner, Gab as reserve CD and Nacho as second reserve? Welcome to the COcup Rob.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36851259
…sheeps testicles Sam?
What happens in the later years then?
Boar’s Balls?!!
😀
Latest on Pogba has Juve agreeing to a transfer fee of ‘just’ £92m, IF Manure pay the whole of the £18.4m fee due to Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola. Say what! I’m in the wrong business (again) … one single transfer negotiation nets that much??? How long will it take Pogba himself to earn that much I wonder? No surprise the cost of actually watching football is now up there with gambling in a salle privee at Crockfords. No chance of any of the increased TV money filtering down to supporters then…
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jul/20/manchester-united-edge-closer-to-paul-pogba-deal-with-second-offer
I also wonder how hard Raiola argued that Pogballs would be better off staying at Juve…
I’m amused by the fact that top- secret discussions are leaked to ITK bloggers like Giulanelli.
His suggestion that we are not in for Higuain, Lacazette , Icardi or Bacca suggests that the choice is Aubameyang, Morata , Lewandoski or Lukaku. I’d take any of them. In fact has Big Raddy still got his boots?
There’s a whole bunch of twits on twitter, tweeting that they know inside transfer information about Arsenal, when they know twot!
Bunch of twats!
😆
Morning all,
And what a beauty it is. A little cloudy, the odd spot of rain, wonderful. I had nearly melted. 🙂
Slept with the big windows open last night. Woken at six by a blackbird shitting all over the window sill trying to find its way out.
Next time I’ll just leave the fan on all night instead.
Cynic. Does that mean the window is about the shut?
Is Paul Pogba really worth 92million quid? I know the market is really inflated price wise but what has he done to be worth that much? maybe in the 60million range but 92mil. Oh well at least they are signing players, come on Wenger what are you waiting for? lets go
Not to turn the subject away from blackbirds shitting, of course, or of birds generally.
Speaking of which, I returned late from the movies last night, having remembered in the middle of the film that I left the chickens in the yard. Big decision, to stay for the end of the film or to go home early to help the chickens into the coop.
…
Stayed to the end of the film.
Got home and the chickens were all safe but they let me take them into the coop more willingly than normal.
All’s well that ends well, and I hope for your blackbird too.
Paul Pogba is the worse piece of transfer business in Manure history. Possibly in all transfer history.
They buy him from Le Harve and develop him, let him run down his contract and join Juve for free. Then buy him back from Juve for 100m.
😆
Chris
It’s only paper talk,why stir up the restless natives in the bar with that rubbish.
Why the fuck would Pogba sign up to go to that miserable rain sodden patch of God’s earth, to play in the Europa league.!!
I’m surprised you didn’t go the whole hog and post a link to the supposed offer of 50 million we are waving in the direction of Inter for Icardi.
Why would Pogba join United?
Yeah why would someone join one of the top three clubs in the world, with (leaving all cuntery aside) one of the top managers in the game, to be paid over £200k a week and have a real chance of winning the biggest trophies in football?
I just don’t get it either.
£25m for Geordie Winegums? The world has gone potty.
@Cynic I am with you on why he might want to join but I just don’t see how he is worth that much cash. This brings me back to the whole Vardy situation. If a player that might end up being a one season wonder is rejecting us at age 29 that says a lot about where this club is heading to. There is no way on earth that he would have rejected a move to Manu or even Chelsea at that. Both with no CL football. I thought been in the CL is what attracts players to clubs.
so, cynic, that’s not quite a blackbird shitting in the dead of night…
bt8, we have had that same problem with the chicklets. we lost one that way to a raccoon, but now that we’ve gotten rid of the raccoons in our yard we stay later easier.
The Daily Star have calculated that Arsenal are actually set to travel 23,143 miles this pre-season. More than any other Premier League team.
Traveling Wilburys.
Rocky raccoons, scruz?
@SAG: “If a player that might end up being a one season wonder is rejecting us at age 29 that says a lot about where this club is heading to”
The club try to sign, the player doesn’t want to move, the club is at fault.
The club does not try, the club is at fault for not trying.
Oh dear, seems like it’s always lost-lost situation for Arsenal to you
“There is no way on earth that he would have rejected a move to Manu or even Chelsea at that”
Pure fiction just like most of the media transfer news
Have a drink, mate, you need one badly…
The new season: are we there yet?
@Ambydex- “there is no satisfying me” I won’t even bother going into that with you. How is it pure fiction if clubs that are not in the CL are signing players? Some fans are really stuck in Arsene Wenger’s ass. A club that have not had a decent striker for the past 3 seasons are still waiting and searching for one up until now. The next excuse will be the window is still open and let’s wait the the last day to see. What the fuck is that? What stupid strategy, why is that easy for other clubs to sign players than we can? Please don’t tell me is the money. Arsenal is not a mid level club. No, give me whatever the fuck you are smoking cos I do need one Not..
yeah, bt8, and they were stinking of grin…
on an arsenal note, next wednesday i get to spend the day hanging out here: http://www.arsenalamerica.com/event/arsenal-america-fan-party-in-san-jose/
and on thursday i’ll get to watch the gunners live from the terraces at avaya stadium (behind one or the other goals). i can’t wait!
I wouldn’t pay half that £92m for Pogba, Clive. I thought he was a major disappointment in the Euro finals, failing to get involved when it mattered (in the final). I was more pointing at the 20 per cent his agent would receive for such a transfer.
I mean, what possible incentive could Raioli have for not persuading his charge to brave the Manchester weather for the immediate future? Assuming it’s true, which I suspect it is.
Such commissions cannot possibly be in the interests of any player, club or sport, no one except the agent concerned, and that is wrong on so many levels.
Cynic @153
One of the top managers in the game. ??
By what definition. ?
Winning a few Trophies.?
This is a manager that has never built any long term sustainable structure at any Club he has been hired by.
A manager only interested in the here and now and fuck tomorrow.
A manager who to my knowledge has never if ever given a young player a chance,has only ever bought players to provide instant success,and as soon as things go pear shaped,it is everyone else’s fault but his,as he scuttles off into the night looking for the next club daft or desperate enough to hire him.
A manager who is proving yet again at his latest club,that he will spend obscene amounts of money to do whatever it takes to get his latest shiny baubles on display,and prove what a great manager he is.
A manager who when he returned to Chelsea,said he was there for life and was back home where he belonged.
How long did that last. ?
If you define a top manager by the Trophies he wins,and not by the normal criteria like integrity,humility,man management,loyalty,
principles and a commitment to playing football the way it should be played,with a smile on your face,then Maureen is your man.
But rest assured,any supporter who loves his Club unconditionally like i and many others around the Country do,and don’t believe trophies are the be all and end all of life,wouldn’t want him within a Country mile of their Club.
Good luck with the match in San Jose, scruz. Last time I watched Arsenal play pre-season was about 40 years ago in Sydney. What I remember most clearly of the evnt was fights breaking out around me and one blood-covered spectator crashing down the stand right between me and my gf of the time.
My choice of entertainment did nothing to help the expectations I had of how that day would end…
@SAG: I was not responding and rambling about the whole transfer business, Fans in Arsene’s ass or stupid transfer strategy from any club.
I was only responding to your quote about Vardy on the drink #155 and only that. You said there is no way that Vardy would have rejected a move to Manu or Chelsea. It is pure assumption from you because it is never happen. How do you know that if Man Utd and Chelsea bid for Vardy and it would be 100% that Vardy would have not turned their offer down?
Let me quote you again:
“There is no way on earth that he would have rejected a move to Manu or even Chelsea at that”
One game at a time scruz. 😀
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160707/pre-season-match-in-lens-confirmed
Well said Goonersince54 @165. For the exact reasons you gave, he has been the greatest manager in football since joining us and probably before that. We are so fortunate to have him representing and leading our club.
If you want to win things, Mourinho is one of the top managers as he has delivered every top trophy in the game, and not done it at just one club. He’s won the league everywhere, won the Champions League, won numerous cups.
That makes him probably the best manager in the world.
Would I want him to manage Arsenal? Not any more. Not after last season’s nonsense at Chelsea. He is a cunt.
But he is by far a better manager than ours.
As far as building something goes, having the structure we have and the team we have is a bit like having a mansion and inviting a tramp to live in it. The structure is there, the team isn’t and hasn’t been for a long time.
Which is why he should be moved aside, so someone else can make use of what’s in place instead of sitting back and admiring the view.
Cynic
After reading your sad and comical post @170, there is nothing more i can add to the conversation.
Cynic @170,
So now that thundercunt is a better manager than ours!!
That leaves me spellbound…
You’re in denial then. He’s won everything there is to win. He’s a cunt and a horrible individual but if you’re going to deny that he knows what he’s doing and is a better manager when his results prove it, well.. keep your head in the sand.
Another bloke with his head in the sand – Ivan Gazidis believes the club now have a squad good enough to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004.
Fuck off, Gazidis. It wasn’t good enough last year, we’ve added a midfielder, a bloke from Japan described as yet another one for the future and a Bolton defender.
Hi honey, I’m home. 😉
Gazidis says that “unlike our rivals we will not just spend money and our approach of believing in young talent gives us a very very powerful balance. We also have a very strong core philosophy and values that lead to success. We’re very very disciplined and we will continue to do well by giving young players a chance and believing in ourselves and our values in a fiercely competitive world.”
what does “a very very powerful balance mean”? And can someone explain the success of last season to me?
@ Harris there is nothing to explain. Its the same old bullshit year in year out. News break Leicester actually won the damn thing. Now we cant compete with other clubs? what a sham. The crazy thing is some deluded fans are still buying the bullshit. League starts in 3 weeks and our only striker will still be on vacation. Yea lets start Sanago/ Asano/ Walcott. That should win us the league not..
Anyone offering odds on the first Wenger Out banners and fists to start flying in the stadium?
I’m interested in the odds for the second week of September.
chris, that’s not what i expect 🙂 california gooners are so starved, in general, i think it’s going to be a huge lovefest. i do expect there to be some anti-wenger banners and what not, but i’ll be shouting support for everyone! and if i meet him, i’ll be happy as a schoolgirl…
holic, that reminds me of the old joke, what did attila say to his best friend when he came back to the neighborhood after his first year away? “hi, homey, i’m hun.”
and i don’t even have a coat to get.
Things could be worse; we could have a third kit as bad as this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36865814
@180 NBN
They’re either trying to blend in with the grass as a sort of camouflage or it’s a bleaching job gone wrong!
😀
…and f*ck Moaninho!
At one sixty-five, incredibly well said. Bravo.
Cynic, living up to your avie in spades. I applaud your consistency.
So, what do all the so-called footballing geniuses expect; AW to announce to the world, “Attention – we need a striker desperately. In fact my job depends on it. So please, all top clubs put out your wares so I can look them over.”
And surely, Gazadis would announce, “Yes, we are looking to spend 100-150 million this summer. We have the cash and we’re gonna spend big bucks. Look out Roman!!”
That is just idiotic because the price would double for every player Arsenal considers. AW has never operated that way. I don’t recall sir Rednose operating that way. Isn’t it possible that Gazaids, like him or loathe him, is keeping things somewhat close to the vest. Maybe being vague and not telegraphing to world what the club’s plans are just might be a good idea ….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>