If That Was A Handball They Have Changed The Laws Of The Game
Dec 31st, 2017 by 'holic
Arsene Wenger made just one change to the team that won at Crystal Palace. Mesut Ozil was reportedly injured and Alex Iwobi was recalled, although he featured mainly on the right hand side rather than as a direct replacement.
A familiar face ended an early attempt at a one-two between Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette. Kieran Gibbs got between the two and happily conceded a corner. West Brom responded with a Phillips cross on to the head of Rodriguez who brought a fine save out of Peter Cech.
It sparked a crazy exchange at both ends with Calum Chambers finally dealing with a goalmouth scramble after Cech had fumbled a cross before Lacazette saw his effort deflected wide of the Baggies far post. Chambers was again called upon to relieve the pressure as his colleagues struggled to deal with a corner, an ominous sign perhaps.
The match wasn’t even a quarter of an hour old when Sead Kolasinac exchanged passes with Alexis only to run into a navy and white wall in the box. Alexis was looking at his most alert and fed Iwobi for a placed effort that just cleared the crossbar. Another peach of a ball behind the defence just evaded the intelligent run of Hector Bellerin.
Skhodran Mustafi was adjudged to have tripped Robson-Kanu but Brunt sent his free-kick into the traveling Gooners behind Cech. That roused the Arsenal from their apparent slumber and Granit Xhaka fired one straight at Foster in the Albion goal. The ‘keeper was tested again by a fine left foot strike by Iwobi but conjured up a save of sorts.
Albion, looking far from a bottom of the table team were applying pressure in the form of a high press, but their enthusiastic approach earned Evans the first yellow from Mike Dean when he lunged into Iwobi after failing to control a ball in the left-back berth. Kolasinac, also taken out nastily by the unpunished Barry, hobbled off to make way for Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Cech had to drop smartly onto a low cross drilled in by Phillips as the Baggies seized the initiative. The defence were finding themselves with more work to do than they had anticipated. Once again those ahead of them, barring possibly the lively Alexis, needed a proper talking to at half-time. “They’re lacking that little bit of a spark“, said Ray Parlour during the interval. You can say that again.
Four minutes into the second-half Lacazette was the meat in a sandwich between Dawson and Hegazi but Alexis could only hit the Baggies wall with his free-kick and the chance went begging. Chambers last gasp clearance brought an end to an attempted counter attack. He was caught shaking his head at those ahead of him. Another corner gave the hosts the chance to load the box but Hegazi lifted his overhead effort into the crowd behind the goal.
Mustafi, being given a torrid time by Robson-Kanu, was carded for taking the Albion striker out after he had got a cross away. Brunt quickly followed him into the book for taking Jack Wilshere out from behind.
Suddenly a bit of quality. Wilshere fed Lacazette and his fierce drive was knocked out for a corner by Foster’s left boot. Then Alexis picked out the same player and Lacazette’s deft touch glanced the ball just the wrong side of the post. Alexis tried his luck next but drove the ball wide of that same post. At last the Gunners were warming to their task. Xhaka and Lacazette provided an opportunity for Alexis but again the block preserved the stalemate.
A surprise substitution in the 71st minute saw Per Mertesacker introduced for Laurent Koscielny, presumably suffering with his ongoing Achilles issue. Albion too took the opportunity to make a double change. McClean and Krychowiak replacing Phillips and Brunt, followed minutes later by Nyom for Robson-Kanu.
Iwobi drew a comfortable save out of Foster with a speculative effort and was immediately replaced by Danny Welbeck. That decision got raucous approval from the travelling faithful. A quarter of an hour to go and no more substitutions available to either side.
Rodriguez stung Cech’s palms and McClean’s follow-up effort was superbly blocked by Bellerin. West Brom were enjoying a purple patch of their own, but we bounced back again. Alexis was upended by a combination of Barry and Dawson on the edge of the box and smashed the free-kick in off McClean. Dawson’s yellow card increased his agony, but there is no doubt Alexis deserved the reward for an exceptional performance. Let’s hope it wasn’t his last in an Arsenal shirt.
West Bromwich Albion 0-1 The Arsenal
Incredibly Mike Dean adjudged Calum Chambers to have handled a ball hit straight at him from point-blank range by Gibbs. It was the latest in a number of appalling decisions given by Dean against the Arsenal over the years. Rodriguez slammed the gift of a penalty home. Wilshere’s booking compounded the sense of injustice. The excellent Chambers did not deserve that bum call.
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 The Arsenal
You can argue (and some of you will) that the Arsenal had not played well enough to win, but actually they had until Dean’s match-changing intervention. The Arsenal players were quick to tell Dean what they thought of him at the whistle and the self-promoting one showed Cech a yellow card. It was one of those days.
And with that it is time to wish those of you who have already reached it, and those of us looking forward to celebrate it in a few hours, a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2018. I have a few delightful drams waiting to accompany Jools Holland and I into the new year. Thank you for your company and your contributions in 2017.
Sláinte
132 Responses to “If That Was A Handball They Have Changed The Laws Of The Game”
Best Headline yet!
Show’s how the ref’s can influence the positioning of the teams, even if it’s just two points could be a difference between a CL spot.
I am all for tech.. take it away from the refs.
Rugger has it and there’s no problems with that!
sláinte big man
cech and yerself
.
Baggies boss Alan Pardew felt it was “tough” on the Gunners.
—————-
Not everyday your opponent agrees with you.
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech, speaking to Sky Sports: “First I got a yellow card for saying this is not a penalty.
“Every time we meet with refs prior to season and it comes to the point about when the player is close to the ball and has no chance to react it is never a penalty
“I asked the referee why he changes this decision
“I was not rude, I just asked the question and it disappoints me even more that he said nothing when I asked him
“I’m disappointed by the penalty situation and I expect when I walk to the ref with respect and ask a question I would like if he answers in a normal way, not (for him to) give me a yellow card and say nothing.”
——————-
Last paragraph is very telling about referees attitude.
Great report and a very happy new
year to you Guvnor.
A couple of consolatory single malts
await me too before a very late
bedtime. The best of health to you
and yours in 2018.
Petr Cech was rightly seething in his post match interview.
Really gutted about the two points dropped. If we miss out on the top four by a point or two in May, this decision will haunt us along with the Lacazette’s ruled out goal against Stoke.
Even Pardew said in his post match interview that the decision was ‘hard’ on Arsenal!! But of course Dean will continue refereeing in the Premier League after Arsenal receive a letter of apology from the office of Premier League match officials…
Cheated by the ref
Let’s be honest. It was a poor game. It lacked quality. We lacked quality along with urgency and any real invention. That said, with a hint of luck we take the lead and should hang on to all three points. Then up steps “ I’m on the TV, everyone look at me” Mike Dean. I’m always the first to defend officials on many occasions here. However, that was just shocking. I have no idea how he or the FA even start to defend that.
I feel very sorry for those that have made the effort to go all the way to West Brom on a NYE to get treated to a decision like that.
Cheers H. Happy New Year to one and all.
So disappointing to end the year this way. The so-called penalty was an absolute injustice and Mike Dean should be ashamed of himself. No doubt he will suffer another mini-demotion and only be allowed to officiate at Watford v. Swansea from now on.
dean’s a cunt
dean’s a cunt
.
mike dean’s a cunt
.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6P-TghK_3s
@bt8
You think he’ll be demoted.. watch the coming fixtures.. I’ll wager he’ll be in charge of our games in future.
Evening H
A 2 day turnaround from Palace game,travelling up to the Hawthorns,freezing cold, howling wind and driving rain,to face a nicely rested home team who had 5 days to prepare.
Fielding 10 of the players that won at Palace,it showed in our play,and without our midfield maestro, it was at times hard to discern which team was bottom of the table and which was nearer the top.
Scored a scrappy own goal from a poor free kick that was going wide and looked like we might nick i must say,an undeserved 3 points till a very dodgy penalty decision.
The madness of the Christmas/New year schedule was there for all to see both at our game and at the Palace/City game earlier.
If anyone had said Palace would keep City scoreless and then have an injury time penalty to win the game,they would have been certified.
Now somehow in 3 days time we have to gird our loins and find the physical and mental strength to take on a nicely rested Chelsea,who had a couple of easy training runs over the Christmas break at home to Brighton and Stoke.
Fair schedule ??
You’re having a laugh.
Cheers ‘h! ? ? ?
HNY! Onwards & Upwards to a more healthy, successful and competitive 2018! ? ?
Deans a friggin muppet and obviously
Holds grudges
Friggin twat head eat some friggin carrots
Or go n get an eye op
Muppet head
Your write up was more entertaining than the game, Holic. Excellent builds, Sweeper with which I agree completely. Sadly, with 5 minutes to go, I said to Her Nellieness that we wouldn’t hold on to a one nil lead. It isn’t what we do these days 🙁
Have a great New Year and I’ll look forward to catching up in 2018.
To top it off… Kos, Giroud, Ramsey, Kola now unlikely to feature against the chavs..
Schedule is designed to fail certain teams.
The schedule is the same for everybody.
Nobody was complaining about the schedule when we had five clear days over Christmas to prepare for Palace, when other clubs played Saturday/Tuesday/Saturday
That’s three games in seven days for Chelsea and we’ve had three in nine. You could argue that the schedule is more unfair on them, as they will play us next having had one day less to play the same amount of games.
It all unfair on everybody but as an excuse it’s poor.
You made some sense of a very poor game Holic. We were very laboured and flat and Ozil was hugely missed. I like Lacazette but he hasn’t got the physicality you need in games like this .
Dean has made an outrageous decision and changed a game by his incompetence. It’s a joke decision which I hope he is ashamed of. Sanchez was our best player but it wasn’t a great claim today . Chelsea have almost everyone fit and a days more rest after two easy home games .
None of our wounded players are likely to recover. Let’s hope Ozil will play and maybe giving Walcott a run might make sense although I thought Iwobi was decent today
Last point- the lad looked really nervous on the pen and I guessed he would go down the middle. Cech is as much use as a chocolate teapot when it comes to spit kicks although I’m overall a fan of his
The good, the bad and the man in black
Why have the cramped schedule in the first place.. if it’s unfair to everybody, means it’s clearly unfair.
Time for a change, no?
Like having blooming video tech introduced and utilized properly…
Dean has ensured that the entire Goonerverse has a slightly unhappy start to the new year…
We didn’t play too well but during the packed festival schedule you do get games like that and that’s precisely why fighting through to get those three points would have been fantastic for the squad. Thankfully we have an easy home game coming up so ….
Here’s wishing a very Happy New Year to everyone in the bar…Thanks Holic for another year of your fantastic posts and here’s looking forward to many more in 2018 followed by passionate discussions in the drinks. Cheers.
Also it’s not how many games you play…it’s also WHO you play in as many games…but no.. carry on year after year!
There should be a league for referees.. bottom three gets retired.
😀
I hope they do carry on with the same sort of schedule year on year, it’s the same for everybody. Spurs are playing two games in two days this week. Anyone going to shed a tear for them? No? Good. 🙂
Fear not, the scheduling should remain the same in the foreseeable future, along with bad refereeing.
😀
With the huge amounts of ca$h and the impact upon one’s career that arbitrary decisions by a questionable-in-his-impartiality (or just incompetent in his ability) referee has, bring in Video Assistant Referees and Team Reviews (cause almost every other top level professional sport on the planet now has this so why does Association Football still choose to live in the Middle Ages?) then Cunts like Mike Dean will be no more. ? If you don’t do that, with such a small, inept and narcissistic human-resource pool of referees that the EPL has to choose from week-in week-out, then just continue to suck-up the incompetence, and get on with it Folks! ?
This match shows why keeping Ozil should be prioritised over keeping Sanchez.
Thanks for another excellent year H.
I haven’t been here as much as years past, but it’s still my favourite Arsenal place. By a long way.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my post about about the engagement. Much appreciated. Even the puns. ?
Happy New Year to you all! (Feliz año in this country)
Video reviews will make no difference though. As was said on the telly, it’s still down to the ref to look at it and make his own mind up, so if Dean says he still sees a movement of the arm, which there was even though it’s a diabolical decision, would he change his mind?
I don’t want VAR though, it’s asking for trouble.
eat yer spectacles fergie
happy birthday you c*******nt!!!
GSD, fabulous to see you back (for good, or at least for now?) and many congratulations on the engagement. That’s a cause for a ?
Fine report H.
Pity the somewhat uninspiring performance (we are what we are) was topped by diabolical refereeing.
The Jasper Carrot lookalike should be horsewhipped before he is allowed to officiate again. Better to be condemned to lick out the Walrus’ latrine for eternity.
It’s either abject incompetence, unsubtle bias or corruption. How the authorities respond to it will be diagnostic. Inaction is complicity.
Moving on….
Thank you Holic for providing this wonderful virtual bar for the finest subset of Arsenal fans that exist on the planet.
I wish you all a happy and healthy new year bringing you all you wish for.
Slàinte mhath ?
god bless good people everywhere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwNcxd9Jf9I
Ah, the sainted Ivor. God bless him and yer good self. ?
Mike Dean. Yet another thing better left in the old year.
I swear, if Dean were the President of the United States, and Donald Trump were an English referee… really, the only difference would be the President would have better hair (yes, I know Dean is bald, that’s part of the point), and wouldn’t be grabbing women (though he might send them off). Whereas Trump doesn’t need to be taught to lie and be corrupt like English refs.
Happy New Year, ‘Holic. May she be a damn sight better than the old one, and may we be fully prepared for the next season, preferably with a cup or two added.
karaoke contest
this bbc2
pre-formed
pre-packed
.
get Mavis on
Whether or not it was a penalty (it wasn’t, or shouldn’t have been) we struggled for 89 of the 90 minutes to score against the bottom club in the league, so can have few complaints about the result. But plenty of complaints about the quality of our squad, I suggest.
I’ve lost count of the number of times we have struggled to score when we need to this season (and last). Regardless we have one of the best strikers in the Prem (Alexis) and a new signee who clearly has what it takes (Laca). And it’s not just because two of our top three strikers from the last several seasons never get to start any more. So what is it? Even Mesut’s assists have dwindled to half his best years.
Iwobi? His passing is Iwoeful and his shooting is Iworse. How he gets to start ahead of some remains a mystery. As does sending on Danny when we need a goal! Don’t make me laugh.
Can’t wait to see who AW signs during the window. My bet is less than leave the Grove, in quality that is.
?
?
?
Remiss of me not to thank the barman for another year of incomparable service to us patrons. Without Gentleman H’s level-headed analysis, fair-minded opinions and generous reffing of the contributions to this site the rest of us would likely devolve into virtual fisticuffs and mutual character assassinations. Or simply go elsewhere. Credit to the boss that so many of us show up every week, regardless the present declining fortunes we are experiencing in our gooner lives.
And long may it continue.
We have 25 senior players. If we sign someone, one ha# to leave …and so on
A very delayed viewing here due to family visiting, so no time to back drink.
Very good write up, Holic, of a very dull game. Too many stray passes from us, coupled with that slow, pedestrian build up that gives opponents so much time to organise – even ones managed by the ever dislikeable Alain Pardieu, who was approaching his own performance landmark yesterday afternoon by being in charge of the same team for more than six games.
The normally very calm Petr Cech was incensed in his post match interview at the shameful decision by Mike Dean to award the penalty against Calum Chambers.
“I went to him with respect and was not rude – I asked him only why he gave the penalty. He said nothing. He walked off and gave me a yellow card”.
A most arrogant response, following a decision as bad as it was expected from an official who seems incapable of refereeing the Arsenal fairly and without match changing controversy.
It was a poor performance from Arsenal but should still have been enough for three piunts. They though, are never guaranteed when Dean is in charge.
Finally Holic, many thanks for your continued excellence.
I’ve not contributed much for long periods this year – work and family sometimes unavoidably take over. You are always read though, even if not replied to as often as I’d like.
Cheers Guvnor !
ARSELICKERS !
.
.
small moooooooooooooooooooooo
?
ps double tell no one
swear on dead joes grave
here’s a tune ‘hol
ssssshhh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcPiip-xkyw
.
.
not in a that kinda way
“See the Bears game last night”
.
.
everyone’s fucked off
well
everyone’s fucked off
WELL
You’ve been missed, Trev. I just don’t get the same quality of pasquinade from the riffraff.
Deniece Williams is very straight from you, cba. Here’s back at ya … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt2O4Y_sQ98
Happy New Year, ‘Holic, and to all in this estimable establishment. May the new year bring new silverware in abundance.
Another year of top tavern tending by the Guv’nor. What Chris said @40.
GSD: a belated congratulations of your engagement. I trust you will exchange vows mid-air having both jumped out of an otherwise perfectly serviceable plane.
On the way back from Brighton for New Years seeing mates – Up The Arse love to all it can only get better 😉
Make of this what you will:
Mike Dean has reffed 65 Chelsea games. He has given ten penalties against them and twelve for.
Mike Dean has reffed 63 Man City games. He as given nine penalties against them and eleven for.
Mike Dean has reffed 61 Man Utd games. He has given nine penalties against them and 16 for.
Mike Dean has reffed 64 of our games. He has given seven penalties against us but just three for.
Happy new year holic and holix, and apologies for my tirade in the previous drinks and poor choice of words however well intended, true and justified. Thanks holic for this wonderful forum and all you put up with this year as always.
i am not a homosexual
i could be gay if i wanted to be gay , Chris .
yer not the boss o me !
.
.
My wife says she’ll sell the panel-beaters and contend this insinuation bein like it might damage my sunbed business an all
you big old hunka bad man !
*in a belfast accent*
.
.
i have to stop making fun of people
some don’t require my contribution
?
.
.
*digs*
.
.
.
*itches scratchy nipple with armalite*
.
.
*tex avery boinngggg*
etc
.
so YEAH !
.
.
.
.
Listen !
SHITHEADS !
.
got nothing to work with here
me
NOT A DRUNK
NOT EVEN IRISH
NOT KEEPING IT UP ANYMORE
.
.
.
CHEERIO
Rupert
.
.
hey
COME ON IN
THE UNCOMFORTABLE is Fine
points dropped away, shit decision
from the ref, lamentations for lost
glory. Welcome to 2018.
Beat the Chavs and broad smiles
can return ??☺️????
Day 1 of the year and you made me smile, cba. When I said Deniece Williams was ‘very straight’ of you I wasn’t implying anything gay, I was comparing a relatively middle of the road performer to the usual Ramones-type punkery you more often link to. Which is why I offered you Maria Muldaur in response. It was very nearly Minnie Ripperton btw. In fact here she is … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MmEVWI8Ieo
Why does the boss always start Iwobi as if the kid is playing lights? Enough of this Iwobi thing. Get some other players to play, boss.
Me thinks you have run out of ideas boss. What say you?
HNY to all 🙂
There’s not much doubt that Mike Dean is a ‘Mike Dean’ and the winner once again of this weeks Mike Dean award.
But it hasn’t escaped me that we were sort of ‘lucky’ to be one up against the bottom of the table club.
And that’s the more pressing issue that needs resolving IMO.
We were devoid of attacking ideas, kept plugging through the middle and getting nowhere. I agree with everything that has been said regarding Mr Dean, he made the headlines in what was a very dull game, shame on him.
We can do so much better and can only hope we are saving a performance for Wednesday. With the mounting crop of 1st team players heading for the sick bay, the line up against the Chavs could be anything and we will probably have to play a back four, who knows!
Thank you Holic and all friends in this hospitable Bar for another year of entertaining comment and first class reporting. Here’s to a very Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year to you all and a Cup or even two for the Arsenal.
See you all at the Ems on Wednesday.
COYR
Thank you Rupert ? One can never listen to enough ‘Niecey.
Thank you all for your good wishes. They really do mean a lot.
Ominous thoughts about Wednesday, Delia. Time to wheel out the England U23 central defenders?
Have we bought anyone yet????
Have we sold anyone yet???
If we lose to the Chavs we’ll be
10 points behind them – given
our lack of consistency I couldn’t
see us catching them. Best stuff
them, no matter who plays.
Happy New Year Everyone ! Except Mike Dean. Mike Dean can feck off.
Have we sold anyone yet???
Hopefully Welbeck will be on his way this month. Not happening though.
The rumoured interest we have in Mahrez had better be fruitless. One season wonder with shit hair 🙂
To be honest I’m not really expecting
us to buy or sell anyone. Maybe
Akpom?
Unless we have Alexis’s replacement
lined up…….
I think our two most important bits of business this January will be to keep both Ozil and Sanchez here until at least the end of the season. Say what you like about Sanchez’ form but he is still our best match winner, and the result of playing without Ozil could be clearly seen yesterday.
The situation is not great with either of them in terms of long term commitment but Ozil is in his best form for a long time and I don’t honestly see much lacking from Sanchez in terms of effort.
The best creative players are always high risk because they are the ones who push the safety margins with their passing. Sanchez does, therefore, lose the ball more than some. That is less of a problem when he plays further forward and if Jack Wilshere can stay fit and maintain his current form, there is less need for Sanchez to come deeper to get the ball.
There might be a bit of friction in the camp because of his contract situation but tough shit. Our priority is to get back in those Champions League places and all the players are plenty well enough compensated to give their all on the pitch and get on with it. They don’t have to love each other. They should be professional enough to do their jobs to the best of their ability.
By the way, there didn’t seem to be any lack of team mates to congratulate Sanchez on his goal last night ….?
Mike Dean went to his country club after yesterday’s game.
On reporting to reception he asked the receptionist to “Let me in to the luxury spa please because I’m a Country Member”.
“Ok”, replied the receptionist, “I’ll remember”.
Thanks Holic for another great year of objective views, previews and reports and for keeping this bar running. I just cannot but admire at how you stay so cool and objective when the majority of us tribals are going over the top with our extreme views. Keep it going sir, can’t do without this drug.
@78 🙂
@77 I just think that if we can get
a replacement for Sanchez in
January then may as well do it and
get the new guy playing. Course
that’s a pretty big if.
Trev hits the New Year running. It is going to be a good year.
I was out today and in a bizarre set of circumstances I thought I saw Mike Dean’s name written on a loaf of bread. It was only on closer inspection that I recognised my mistake and realised that it actually said, Thick Cut.
For once Trev I do not agree with you. I think getting to a situation where £150 million worth of talent is able to walk away for nothing is an absolute disaster.
The fact is that there is so much money in the game now that players hold all the aces. If you were one of Sanchez, Özil or Jack then why would you sign a new contract at this stage? Especially when they are six months away from a multi million pounds signing on fee? We only have ourselves to blame for that mess.
I think all three situations are different. I believe that Jack wants to stay. If that’s the case then pay him what he wants. Our hands are now tied but a swift agreement and the signing of a new deal would be a boost to everyone.
I don’t think Sanchez has any desires to stay. I don’t think it matters what we would offer him, I don’t believe he wants to be here. The best solution for me would be for him to leave. This would either be fit big bucks or in a swap deal for someone like a Draxler.
Ozil? Ozil I’m really not sure about. However I do believe that if the money is right that he would stay. The problem is that as each day passes the club’s position is slightly weaker. My view is that if he wants to stay then pay him what he wants.
Some have said that selling to a premiership rival is a massive no. My thoughts are that letting players walk away for nothing to join premier league clubs in 6 months time would just be horrendous. If our transfer policy was not already laughed at then it certainly would be if that situation played out. Time will tell I guess.
I agree about the importance of finishing in the top 4. However I do feel that we are fighting for 4th with the spuds and the scousers. I think Citeh will have won it by mid March. I think the Chavs And The Mancs with play for 2nd and 3rd. With that in mind we also need to think long term. Our failures in the transfer markets in recent years mean we are now playing massive catch up. For years we have been the normal 3 players short. Now I would say that this has doubled. We need 5/6 players of real quality to even contemplate a challenge. That doesn’t happen overnight and it certainly does not happen if you throw money away by letting your best players leave for free.
Ozil I’m really not sure about. However I do believe that if the money is right that he would stay.
If a club like Barcelona came in for him, as has been rumoured, and he stayed I’d be thinking, “He just wants a cushy life”. I’d think he had no ambition and that we could do without time servers who are enjoying the comfort zone we provide, as we’ve had that sort for years.
But that’s me.
I’m very much with Steve T. Wenger made a complete mess of the summer and while he is still in charge we will gradually slip further out of CL contention . We are already struggling to keep up with the contenders which is exactly what I expected given the Horlicks we have made of the contract negotiations. It’s not clear to me if the club is being reorganised around Wenger without his acquiescence, his lukewarm backing or grudging acceptance but it looks like Gazidis is doing his best to prepare for the future given that Kroenke reappointed Wenger without the full backing of the board in the summer.
So disastrous was the lack of planning that the repercussions will affect us for some time to come. A club owned by Kroenke can’t haemorrhage the amount of money we look likely to lose over Sanchez while Wenger is in charge because he won’t be bold enough or have the resources to compete in this era. I’d sell Sanchez for the best price we can get although a deal with PSG that gives us Draxler would be ideal. I’d try to keep Ozil , yesterday showed how much we missed him. Jack will I suspect sign later this month. Just as worrying is the unwillingness of Reiss Nelson to sign again. If we lose our home grown stars we are just back to where we were while the stadium was being built.
I don’t think we can finish higher than fifth and lower than sixth whatever happens to Sanchez. The priority looks to me to win the Europa League and retain the FA Cup,
I also hear Perez may be recalled from loan. How ironic it would be if he contributed richly to our season
I didn’t like it when Wenger appeared to suggest that the reason why Jack Wilshere hadn’t signed was money. There’s something a bit odd going on there IMO.
Cynic. My understanding was that Özil had said he will sign a new contract and wants some astronomical sum to do so. We obviously distanced ourselves from that. From then there appears to have been nothing.
With Jack I think it’s just tactics from his agent. He obviously realised that he can go for nothing so why not demand bucket loads? What are we paying Theo? What did we pay AOC? I think he just wants as much as he can.
TTG. We sing from the same song sheet.
Lucas Perez?
Desperados Utd.
dysfunctional stars of a dysfunctional team, overseen by dysfunctional manager, overseen (no. not rweally) by a dysfunctional bleedin’ board …
blimee, and I’s the optimistic sort, if i can ‘elp it.UTA!
HNY Goonahfukkahs
Psed Mahrez has been semi-magnificent for nigh on 3 seasons – so wrong again, wassername xx
https://youtu.be/Bif2q_Zo3-4
Evening Rev. Busy time of year for you guys.
Steve T xx – what can i say, am almost all outta the ‘oly stuff. Peace be wiv you & yours, Bro.
Dorset Mick
Haven’t seen you in the Bar over the Christmas/New Year period,so fingers crossed all is well on the health front.
After your travails of last year,just wanted to wish you all the best for 2018,and hopefully the regulars in here will get to enjoy your posts for a long while yet.
Cheers
What Clive said @92.
I have no problem with Sanchez going to $iteh. With their squad he’ll hardly make a difference. But better to get something for him from the highest bidder in January.
Ozil can also go where he likes, although I’d prefer to keeo him – but not at the cost he and/or his management think he’s worth. The £400k a week quoted is a nonsense and an insult to the rest of the squad. Less than half that for mine.
Danny and Iwoeful can have free transfers as far as I care.
With luck we should be able to get a half decent striker for what we could get for Sanchez and Walcott.
Ditto #92 and #93.
Yep, what Clive said.
Steve T, i don’t disagree with you at all really.
It is a huge mess all round and needs some, no, a hell of a lot of, sorting out in the summer.
I just think that keeping Sanchez and Ozil until then would maximise our chances of Champions league qualification and that the money we would earn from that would outweigh what cut prices we will get for them now.
If we did qualify, and sign some more ‘top top’ quality, they might even stay. If not, we have to accept they will walk away, but that is the mess the club is now in.
Shameful for a club of our stature.
If there is still a single fan of Silent Stan left out there, I heard on radio the other day that he gave US$1,000,000 to Trump’s inauguration party. Everyone probably knew that already – I didn’t.
See you next Tuesday.
Mahrez has been semi-magnificent for nigh on 3 seasons
Try telling that to the Leicester fans who have been wondering where he is for about 18 months and wanted him sold in the summer.
Most of them don’t even think he was their best player when they won the league.
Still never mind. His hair is unarguably shit. 🙂
Trev: It gets worse. Here is a picture of Trump Jr, Baron Trump, kicking a ball around on the White House lawn. You might recognise the kit.
https://twitter.com/danasdirt/status/854113201847402496/photo/1
To be fair to Silent Stan, six other billionaire American football (NFL) team owners (including the two other who own English football teams, Shad Khan/Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham and the Glazers/Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Mancs) also donated $1 million so he is scarcely an outlier among US sporting oligarchs. And he made a huge number of small contributions to state Democratic parties during the last election campaign and gave $100,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund. You can find them all listed on the Federal Elections Commission site, http://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/. Just search for Kroenke, and make sure to choose the 2016-17 time option as donations are listed by the two-year US election cycles.
wow – you’re an expert on Leicester fans too. The enormous weight of knowledge you always seem to carry with you, seemingly so lightly, must be an awful burden to you … good luck with all that in the new one …
https://youtu.be/wty3NME82QE
no???
I never knew the monks also studied politics, Ned. What next, social media? You’re not keeping them busy enough.
Yes, Al. You just score a ton. Congratulations. Nice assist too…
Wakey! Wakey! Chaps! ?
So, if Sir Alex Ferguson was able to see it coming, then why haven’t you both done the same and learnt properly from him? ?
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wenger-and-mourinho-failed-to-learn-from-ferguson-6qc6pg9vh?shareToken=52797f3c98b0a222b4dd95cb5503d329
YEeeeeeeeeS! TonUp – ChinChin … don’t me wrong, i’m only dancin’
https://youtu.be/phOaNyOXhHA
the missing piece of Hieronymus Wengosch puzzzle i’ve been looking for…
lukkas perez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UDhAj-_XI4
XXX live XXX
that’s me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-83cmUpKfbk
wop bop a loop a lop a lop boom bam
goddamn!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dXppgOZKOk
LUUUUUUUcas….
Mara – fu*king – donna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrV0barJbH4
God help us all
especially me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Joe7iZA-59c
gute nacht
@103
That was a dreadful article !
@98
That was a shocking photo !
But er…..thank you both for sharing
@110,
Knew you’d like it! Will just wait on the “others” to like it too! ?
AFCOF!
NAWF!
Chris@101: An eclectic bunch, the monks. But no social media. They wouldn’t have time for anything else…
DapperDan@113: A few club owners have yet to realise that constant innovation and sacking the manager every six months are not the same things. (btw, Microsoft missed a major shift in their industry, the internet, which, arguably, constant innovation would not necessarily saved them from, but that is probably a discussion for another day).
Clive@92,
Cheers for the good wishes, much appreciated. I have been lacking internet over the last couple of weeks quite a bit.
I think we all knew that Mike Dean is a cunt in cunt’s clothing a considerable time ago, and the latest proof of this should come as no surprise to anybody.
Fingers crossed for the proper Arsenal to turn up against the chavs tomorrow, as another insipid performance may turn things ugly!
City confirmed on Monday that Jesus had suffered a medial collateral ligament injury….
It’s to be expected with the fixture list and welll.. he’s only human.
😀
Just wondered whether John Cross is likely to do a piece on Gabriel Jesus.
If he does, would it be titled “Cross on Jesus” as opposed to, well, the other way round ? ?
Better ask the Rev AL. – bloody lunatic ?
Just passing by so a good opportunity to drop in for a quick one.
Firstly may I wish all the regulars of this fine establishment and especially the guv’na a very fine 2018 ahead. Holic you remain the maestro!
Trev @ 117 …. that’s nailed on – no doubt though it will be resurrected in the future. Sorry all, couldn’t resist?
As for the Arse, it’s a case of hunkering down & support the lads until the necessary changes at the top are made, however painful that may be. For someone who has gone through the mainly lean periods of 1950s & 1960s and others, it’s just another brick in the wall.
Cheers all ??
@Trev
Jesus Crossed Out!
😀
Wenger has been charged for his behaviour post match, during which he supposedly went into the ref’s room and “questioned his integrity”
I hope he called him a cheating cunt. If you’re going to get charged you might as well make it worthwhile. 🙂
Dean should go the way of Clattenburg.. or maybe they don’t deem him up to their standards ..or any for that matter.
Hey Uply,
Good to see you.
Hope you’re well.
how can Dean’s integrity be
questioned? He hasn’t got any.
Neither has the FA come to
that, so fuck ’em.
Let’s hope it motivates the team
for the Chavs game.
Really strange watching football at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon. If you can call Morton vs St Mirren football.
Nice to hear from you Uply. Those times made these seem a picnic but we never got so angry and the fans didn’t have a voice. It will come good again maybe in 2019/20 !
Happy New Year !
@98. To be fair he may have donated as much, if not much more, to both major candidates, as many of the American corporate masters of politics sre wont to do.
Happy new year Dorset Mick, Uply, and all the other stalwarts. I always enoy reading your words of good humor and footballistic wisdom. ?
All well thanks Trev, very busy with this Bowls lark but it is very rewarding as well. A great sport for the “not so young” to keep active both physically & mentally. It can be very competing but played in good spirit ( mainly?) – etiquette remains one of the absolute principles of the game. Hope your knees are holding up (and thereby holding you up)
and your daughter is now in good health.
TTG – I think we sing from the same hymn book when it comes to matters of the goonerverse. We certainly live in totally different times with “loads of money” & social media having a lot to answer for.
At the moment I fear our beloved manager has gone from being a magnificent innovator to a malfunctioning procrastinator. I used to say to my staff before I retired, if we are standing still, then we are slipping behind the competition as the world is always moving on and sadly the Arse seem to currently be in this stasis.
I always have hope for the future and perhaps our much maligned C.O.E., unable to get the Silent One to ease Arsene out last summer, realises the financial implications of the immediate future andis getting on with things behind the scenes. The recent senior appointments at Highbury House will either “assist” Arsene with recruitment & player’s contract side of the business and completely run these tasks when a replacement comes in – probably a head coach (akin to Pep Guardiola situation). I sincerely hope that Arsene goes soon ( end of this season ) with his dignity still intact and the whole of our support appreciative of his magnificent service to the club.
Here’s to giving the spivs from the bus stop in Fulham a good leathering tomorrow.
Cheers all.
Cheers, BT8.
Looks like Harry Kane FC are starting with their player on the bench.
Fingers crossed that they fuck it up.
RANT ALERT! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks Uply,
My knee(s) are not so bad thanks. Playing tennis (singles) twice a week now and dog walking 6 days a week. Just got to get back to swimming now – if there’s anything in the tank after work. That’s ‘my’ tank – not the swimming pool ?
Rest of your post is about spot on in my book.
Daughter is very well now, thanks – looking forward to skiing in February. ??