A pleasure to be reminded this morning that the return of domestic football is not too far away with the release of the PL fixtures.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the World Cup, even as an England fan, but international football does not have that total grip of Arsenal and the daily twists and turns of PL football. It does not have the means of inciting the same exquisite pain as following Arsenal.
I thought I’d have a look at the ten opening games and a possible 30 points in the bag. Lets face it by 1st November we will know if it is three more glorious years or back to marching, turquoise snoods and civil war.
We start with a visit from the nutcase with the drum on the 16th August. I am attending a wedding that day so that clears me of any responsibility for murdering the bastard. Assuming Mr Taylor is not handed the whistle we should get our domestic campaign underway with a positive result and some momentum. Next up A trip to Merseyside and the chance to make amends for the recent disappointment at Goodison in April that nearly, nearly, spoiled a good season. Will Lukaku still be there …… or even Coleman ? Who knows –who cares. I think we can assume that the Everton game will be televised.
Leicester, who apparently did not like it up ‘em, or was that us? I have no idea but I suspect of the three promoted teams it is the Foxes who will struggle most. We shall run the fox down and the hounds tear the quivering vermin to pieces.
And then the great blue Satan, at home. A real serious test of our, and Citeh’s, League credentials. No hiding place.
A ticket to the Citeh game somewhere has my name on it, the fixture falling closest to my the 50th anniversary of my first game at Highbury.
Villa away ? Three points, Spuds at home ? Well conceivably they will make a game of it though about six games into the season it seems reasonable to anticipate the N17 faithful will be calling for the head of Pochettino.
And then, the weekend of the 4th October, Chelsea – Stamford Bridge – no hiding place for them, and their new signing, and none for any Arsenal player – no sir – not that day.
Hull, S’nlunn, Burnley ? Ppppppfffffff !
So 30 points in the bag ?
Well that would be a tall, tall order. We do however possess the tools, we must make sure that we do the job.
Right, you can get back to the World Cup now, Lawrenson and all !
Today’s dose of positivity was brought to us courtesy of @anicoll5
Positively Arsenal 
Unfortunately we will not win the PL unless we bring some quality in to deepen our squad to rotate or in case of injury. Obviously we have to replace Fab and Bac but we also need cover for Giroud. Arsene has stated that he wants more pace so a wide man to allow Theo’s integration would be nice. Finally we need some athleticism and strength in CM. Much as I like Arteta and Flamster they don’t cover the ground quick enough in the big matches.
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Why only 30, Anic? Aren’t we expecting a few bonus points for artistic impression?
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is there a search function on this site. ???? .im sure i called it about chile week before the tournament…god damn im too afraid to bet cause i always lose….i had inspiration that algeria would score first and belgium would win and had inspiration that australia would equalise before ht plus chile will do the best out of all s.american countries……the fear of losing….oracle arsene…….
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We might pick up a few cards for that Merlot rather than points !
Looking at those games though, and unlike AoB, I think that is about as good an opening to a season as we could have expected.
Three openers that we would expect to win, though I grant you if it is the same Everton of March and April last season that will be tricky. They did however stumble in the final furlong and seem likely to lose some of their better players.
With those three games out of the way our first game agains a top 4 side – Citeh AT HOME. We had a good record at home against these other top sides last season, two draws and a win, and unlike Chelsea they are not as strong on the road.
Assuming we can pick up a conservative ten points from those four openers, the next five including a home game against Spuds rather than a trudge up the road to N17 are all games we should win,
Which could bring us to Game 10, 1st November and the Bridge with nine games undefeated, 25 points.
That is two more points than we had at the same stage in the Invincibles 2003/2004 season and three more than last season.
Loads of ifs, buts and maybes but exciting times
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thirty points from the first ten games is possible. we can beat shity at the emirates, spuds like we normally do and we are due a victory over chelski and the failing one. on week twelve, we play manure at home. i cant see anything apart from victory in this match. we had them last season but failed to take advantage.
who says we cant take all the maximum points till we travel to anfield in december? forty eight points possible at that stage.
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@ pedantic george June 18, 2014 at 10:31 pm
“FG it says yield. wtf are you on about.?”
When I posted, it said “Yeild”. Don’t be so rude.
****
Regarding Spain, Thierry Henry put his finger on the problem before the game – they’ve just run out of gas, having been flogged to death playing all those friendlies in far-flung parts of the world for eight years straight.
I feel sorry for Santi but at least it means he’ll get a proper rest and a full pre-season.
@ Dexter
I think we’re a bit short on yutes in the defensive area. The U18s/U21s we have are not ready, though there are a couple of very promising CBs – Plegezuelo and Ajayi. There are rumours of AW looking at bringing in a 20/21-year-old CB with first team experience, so maybe they will do that and pair him with TV at least for pre-season?
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@ merlot June 19, 2014 at 9:56 am
“Why only 30, Anic? Aren’t we expecting a few bonus points for artistic impression?”
ha ha – I do love your dry humour, merlot.
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My predictions on the World Cup so far;
Argentina to win – too early to say ( Brazil aint great though)
France to do better than expected – so far so good on the prediction front
Germany and Holland to do less well – nowhere near the board, although I suspect the Dutch will stumble
and the shock outsiders I called ? Ghana – Oh dearie me
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I have Belgium down to flop, though I expect them to get out of an easier group.
They’ll probably make the final.
–
Hunter, I can’t remember but the Marcelo Biesla inspired Chile are many neutral/football fans favourite. Definitely one of the star teams, one of the best football teams from the last World Cup.
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last four for me …argentina chile italy germany
holland…always a favourite of mine for many years ..but the combo of robben , rvp and van gaal ( although i respect luis tremendously) and the manu connection has immediately made holland a despicable and awful nation/team bunch of cunts…..rvp = terry never want to see them happy and the fucking bastard is having a great tournament its so annoying…where the fuck is frimpong to smash their knees?
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@ hunter13 June 19, 2014 at 11:27 am
“last four for me …argentina chile italy germany”
France in there instead of Italy maybe?
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haha..france???? fuck no ..italy to go for the 5th !!! catch those samba posers with their pele and bollocks…
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this cedreva..crevdas …wtf? never heard of him before and watched the england – italy highlights..he was immense!! ..and ok pilro…pirlo….if i were a footballer id like to be pirlo….or vieira
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It’s fair to conclude that in recent times the AAA have bitten off more then just their noses when they are told by Mourinho what’s what:
“The Chelsea boss said: “I think it’s hard to criticise him, because Özil is Özil.
If you were expecting Özil to be super aggressive and to be running miles and miles from side to side and to show great enthusiasm and aggressiveness, this is not Mesut.
If you are waiting for somebody where every time he touches the ball, the ball smiles. Every time he makes a pass, the ball goes with the right direction, the right speed, the right intensity, this is Özil. At the same time, I learned with him because we were together for quite a long time, that he’s a very sensitive boy. He needs confidence. He needs trust. He needs to feel that people is with him. When he’s on the pitch, every time he touches the ball, the ball goes beautiful – and he’ll always finds the right man on the right place. So, sometimes, you don’t see him, sometimes he doesn’t go to screen many, many times. But when he goes he is a special player.”
Given the fall out with the Spanish players at Madrid I think Jose had a relatively good relationship with Ozil, he did swoop to sign him, away from Arsenal at the time? Arsenal were interested in Ozil when the F Word was still here? Which is possibly further evidence that the dressing room chemistry and previous conduct was the biggest consideration behind Arsenal recently informing the the F Word that he could F off. His consistent appreciation and praise of Ozil is the only thing that makes me think that Mourinho might be able to rehabiltate the F Word a little bit, if his legs are up to it, but then there was Mata…? I hope not.
Seedorf and Henry like many of us expected Spain to transition the team built around Xavi to one that was build around the F Word, but alas (hehehe!) it hasn’t worked out for him. Or Song! It seems that Bunga Bunga Barca have flogged Thiago and the F Word in order to pay for the over hyped Neymar bung.
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oh sorry ..is fungunner a girl/woman? sorry for the language…… ah well…it happens..
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corr:
<Which is possibly further evidence that the dressing room chemistry, excessive wage demands and previous conduct…
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fins it can only be for dressing room harmony that wenger didnt get him back…i see no other valid reason.
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If we can file the alleged excessive wage demands (he’s at Gazprom! Bit of a giveaway, even if we haven’t seen a copy of the contract…) under dressing room harmony then it’s the simplest and most obvious explanation.
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Looks like Chamberlain won’t be rushed back. Phew.
Uncle Roy is too much of fanboy of the Ox to risk him like, say, Sven did with Michael Owen when he ended his career by rushing him back.
Hopefully he won’t play against Costa Rica either.
Roy can blame Riley and his brood if he has to blame someone. He has been a fan of the player for a while, understandably, and he probably would’ve played Theo (Riley again I’m afraid Roy) as well.
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finsbury
June 19, 2014 at 1:50 pm
as per media he has signed for 150k per week….you reckon hed say no if we offered him 120k? i odnt think so ..he would sign on the spot…for me its all to do about setting an example and to show the others that he believes in them in the hope that the new “anelkas henrys and pireses” will arise ..its what he does …sanogo is clearly wenger looking for the new anelka…. yes ill throw the 17-18 year old in ..if ti clicks it will click for a lifetime ( provided all other factors are in place: money, settled club/squad etc)
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@ finsbury June 19, 2014 at 1:55 pm
“Looks like Chamberlain won’t be rushed back. Phew.”
Yeah – big relief.
@ hunter13
Yes, I’m a woman, but you don’t have to mind your language around me, just don’t direct it AT me. (I’m not saying you have)
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do we need help from the failing one of all people on how best to use any of our players? the other time it was lamn who said we need to replace giroud with a striker that will make ozil to shine even if that wont make the whole team to shine. i hope this is not another episode like we witness when barca players were telling us the dna of our player.
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I think Roy is actually too much of a Sterling fan boy to risk the Ox. Frankly I think the Sterlung manus is going a bit too far. He’s exciting and talented but central attacking midfield requires lots of key decisions and he us so young and inexperienced.
The attacking exuberance of youth is great for Engkand but the lack of CL and tournament experience could tell in the knockout rounds if England gets out of the group. They should be relying more on Jack, Ox and Gibbs. They have the youth but with better top level experience. It is good for us that Ox rests and doesn’t risk reinjury but he is a more polished young player. And Baines–to me he is a genuine weakness for Engkand. Gibbs should be playing.
Jagielka, Baines have no CL experience and one tournament, euros, I think? Sterling, Sturridge, Henderson, Lallana and Barkley have no CL or tournament experience and are very new to the England set up.
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Manus=mania. Sorry, autocorrect! Sterling mania.
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This whole Liverpool core is lacking recent CL experience and it might show.
I think the Costa Rica v. Italy will be an interesting game. I am so looking forward to seeing Campbell facing a better defensive group to see what he can do. No doubt they will have noted his dynamism. Can he adjust to Chiellini and co?
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i hope hodgson dont start jack today. this last minute attemp to use arsenal player/s to rescure england from liverpool players wont work. let him live or die with gerrard and sons.
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Layk, Jack actually needs the games. Would be good for him maybe.
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and if they lose it is his fault. LSG by the time england was preparing for this tournament, everyone was talking about liverpool players. an idiot even said jack will not even play a single minute in brazil. so why will they need him now? so that they will have someone to blame?
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On form and on fitness Sterling is an obvious starter – it would be great if he had more European or international experience but he hasn’t ! He got among the Italians well enough and for all our CL experience he appeared to have rather a good game against us at Anfield in February, as he did against Citeh, Everton and most other sides these past few months. Give him an hour to run his arse off.
I’d like to see Jack in place of Henderson as he is a better footballer and I am sure he is desperate to play. Bit of patience required tonight.
In fact a lot of patience required.
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No doubt they will have noted his dynamism. Can he adjust to Chiellini and co?
he’ll be fine ..its the world cup …not the epl where the ref allows rugby tackles and brutal aggression … aghhm passion for the game…is what i meant…
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See the ballotelli deal is now done….according to rumours which should mean we get morata and any talks with Milan would be for someone else.
You do have to worry about England defensively, the world and his wife has told Roy to attack but as a unit England find going forward and backwards quickly ,difficult. sideways passing has always been an affliction the national team has suffered from, since the days of Ray the crab. While the younger generation like to be more creative the old media favourites cannot be relied upon. I certainty won’t be betting on us keeping a clean sheet tonight.
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They have three good attackers AoB – no way will this be 0-0
(well that’s put the curse on !)
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Just seen a tweet from George about Hansen, but this is a better place to ask the question: does anyone remember Hansen’s performance as a pundit in the Paris World Cup Final. My memory is that he was subbed at half-time. It was all a bit tired and emotional.
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Cant say I do FH – mind you I was a bit over tired myself
Mention of Ray Wilkins above though – now there was a man who could not say no
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Limestone,
Roy trusted a younger Ox to start Euro 2012 on the more defensively demanding left sided role against France, because he’d had the coaching and experience in playing the role at the Arsenal.
Sterling? No, even though Sterling said yesterday that he’d spent most of the season on the flanks for Liverpool (I have no idea!). So he asked Rooney to play there against Italy instead, and Sterling’s lack of discipline (red card in warm ups) and possibly defensive techniques (tackling!) meant that he had to shunt the player Henry describes as England’s “main man” over to the left instead. Whether Rooney is that main man is another question, but I bet the above is the logic that Roy used on Rooney himself when asking him to play that role.
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….
The team that Hodgson selected for the 2012 Italy game when they went out had Milner on the right and Young on the left.
Drop the Arsenal players (that includes Gibbs) and you pay the price!
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Hunter,
The reported wages for Van Purse strings were initially out by about a third and we know the F Word has far smarter people managing his PR, as we can see when we witness tears from Arsenal fans over a player who screwed the club over and left, three years ago!
But I completely agree with you. It is an example and with so many young players at the club there is no choice really. Not a difficult decision to understand IMO.
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This Colombia/Ivory Coast game is really good so far. Two evenly matched teams really going for it. I had to turn off the ‘punditry’ though, because as much as I love TH and wouldn’t mind hearing what he has to say, I just cannot deal with the rest of the crap around him. The commentary during the games is about as much as I can take.
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PG;
It’s YEILD…
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Classic dive Droggie – total silence from the commentary team #weak
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Gerveeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnyo!
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Gervais!
What a goal. In Brazil.
Gervinho!
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I told you! So much for Hansen’s moaning at halftime. And great to see Gerv the swerve scoring his second.
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This Columbia team are quite exciting, unlucky Ivory Coast
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Good points Fins.
I have to enthuse as well about Columbia–pace, skill, power, determination. Very impressive in their first two games. They could go pretty deep in this tournament. 3 very fine goals. Gervinho’s just riveting. Too bad for us he would do the dribbling but not as much of that superb finishing g. Good luck to them; Ivory Coast can still get out if this group and would be favoured to do so, still, I think.
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There’s no doubt Sterling is a talent but his pace can be used effectively in the flank. I’d go with Rooney or Wilshere as CAM because if their experience. But I agree with Anicoll that the best would for Jack in CM ahead of Henderson.
I don’t think Jack is being hung out to dry for England’s failure this tournament, layk, rather looks like Rooney is being perfectly set up for that role. Precisely because people like Pearce are saying such stupid things, they’ve already discounted him. there are othef bigger targets. Jack can use the games though.
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Looks like Hodgson is going with what I was just saying about Sterling out wide, but alas no Jack.
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>- “Precisely because people like Pearce are saying such stupid things”
The same Pearce also said Dennis Bergkamp would never be any good in the English league.
Typical idiot. (The FA put him in charge of England). Also idiots
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You’re right Lime
If/ when England go out I am entirely confident that the media will have a bottomless barrel of blame to hand out to every England player, coach, manager, FA official etc
Dishing out the blame is still something England lead the world in
If there were trophies for blame we would be unbeatable
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Limestone
I missed most of the game, any thoughts on the RB for the Ivory Coast?
Gervais is one of the quickest players from a standing start that I have seen, over those first five meters he is devastating. For that goal watch how far and how quickly he leaves the defender near the touchline behind him, terrifying if you are a defender. A great sight. Almost always as in always beats the first man, never a bad player.
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