Good Evening Positive AFC fans,
The first game of the 2018/2019 season under the belt, so to speak, and I feel a lot better with that opening obstacle concluded. A real thumping would have cast a pall over my week and I could not have that. Not the result we hoped for but a team performance that I thought was good overall.
Of the parts that impressed me most our teenage debutante Guendouzi stood out, and he earns his first MoTM award. Matteo was able to cope with the physical demands of the game, tackle cleanly, and showed himself able to control the ball with no time or space. There was some pre-match discussion on SKY about the speed/pace of the English PL game troubling foreign players. He had no obvious problem I saw. For the young Frenchman to put in the full 94 minutes with no obvious slacking toward the end also suggests good stamina. Lichtsteiner’s introduction at left back, although the circumstances of it were unfortunate, showed us what the highly experienced Swiss can do. He reads the game well and has that edge of cunning that we need in a cruel, cruel football world. In Michel Oliver’s face, pointing, shouting, even tearing a strip off Mesut at one point. On another day his goading of Aymeric would have seen the opponent on his way back to the dressing room with a red card for his cranial lunge. I like him.
I thought Petr pulled off a string of good saves today, and for a period in the First Half kept us in the game.. The notion that he should have done better on the Sterling goal is bollocks. The kicking out or passing out from the back though between Cech/Matteo/Sokratis/Skhodran ? THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES!! Sort it out Mr Emery.
Of things we could have done better ? We created a number of half chances and potentially useful positions on the Citeh final third that we did not exploit. We looked rusty. At the key moment the pass to an Arsenal attacker went astray, too long, too short, Auba went left as the ball went right et cetera.At 0-1 we all know a goal for us would have left Pep’s boys reeling. Against good teams like Citeh we can expect only limited possessions around the opposition box and I felt today it was not used as it could/should have been. Scoring goals eh ? That is a thing.
I would also like to see more of Mkhi on the ball and challenging in midfield and that it was Aaron who got the hook first and the Armenian playing the full match was a surprise. He did OK but in the first 35 minutes he did not provide AMN with enough support. He worked better with Hector after the changeover but even then he had a air of Theo at times, always available but never involved.
Onwards to the Bridge next week to meet the currently table-topping Chelsea. Probably a busy week at Colney, identifying the parts of the machine that need to be sharpened, tightened and oiled.
Enjoy your week.
Positively Arsenal 
Surprised any tickets returned as they sold out on the day and within an hour of going on sale and the Sold Out sign has been up since.
Perhaps the central committee of AST and Robbie are throwing a moody and have sent their freebies back ?
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Sam Greenwood
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Celtic drop down to the EL after losing to AEK 2-1
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AST trying to force one last AGM before takeover, so they can shout at and abuse Kroenke and the Board for one last time.
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I expect Stan may be too busy that day – He will be washing his hair.
I know I know
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it seems the AST want AFC to pay their legal costs in this.
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Do they indeed ?
Marvellous lads – we shall not see their like again
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Ha- there’s even the possibility of Spurs playing at three home grounds this season.
Options being explored between them and prem because Wembley booked for NFL for Oct 28 home game vs City.
Oh dear. And that after Scudamore stated two home grounds in a year wouldn’t be right/allowed.
Another option is to reverse fixture but that would mean four home games on bounce is April and again unlikely.
Also a problem if a home champions league game on Oct 24 as Wembley again unavailable. Would have to ask Uefa very nicely to make it an away game.
Dear oh dear.
They weren’t going to be ready, they knew it, and if there are any formal rules in place governing stadium use over a season they should have to pay the price.
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Scudamore says a lot of things
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Apparently the club are forcing AFTV to rebrand, I am all for free speech and all that,but with an exception or two, Arsenal Fan should never be words associated with that bunch.
Just call them out for what they are, negative, depressive , uninformed, simplistic, naive, me me me, media led, self serving, attention seeking, vicarious glory hunting, fickle, self important, needing instant gratification yet self flagellating, feeding off perceived failure, but ultimately, twats.
Ok that might not read too well for what they are doing.
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The PL and Scudamore are awfully silent about the rule against having two stadiums in a season. As are the media. Sky had a debate about it and how it would affect them, but no mention of this rule.
Call me suspicious but I had the thought that the PL is working in the background to quietly vote for a rule change and the media will pretend it never really existed.
Why Spurs get such favourable coverage and enforcement, I don’t know. I also don’t know how the budget for a project can rise from 400m to a billion.
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I’d guess the penalties that might be imposed on Spurs would depend on to what extent it can be established that they are responsible for the failure to have the stadium ready on time. Some construction delays are the result of poor planning and execution, others an Act of God. The contractors will be on eye watering penalties for late completion. I can understand the PL taking its time to allow for a clear date that the work will eventually finish. Clearly the “no two stadiums” rule would not operate if a club’s ground was damaged in a fire for example and they had to play elsewhere.
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Yeah, force majeure doesn’t include bad planning or erroneous estimates as far as I’m aware. But you’re the lawyer Andy.
My point is that no one from the PL or in the media is even talking about it being an issue of non compliance. Not what the penalty will be. I am almost certain they will ignore their rules and come up with something like you did. All the contractors fault, poor old Spurs not to blame. (The extraordinary heat slowed construction, hence act of God or something I suppose will cover it. Letter, if not the spirit of the rule maintained and onward we go.)
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400m to a billion is EXTRAORDINARILY bad planning though. Almost to the extent that I have to believe that it’s not true. That either the initial reports were wrong, or the costs include something else. But are they? I don’t know. Going by reports as they are, the act of God was merely reality hitting home.
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Only media reports, but some, including the oracle that is John Cross are saying we could lose Elneny , with the aim of trimming the wage bill to fall in line with the leagues requirements, like any other club is giving a stuff about that, i really hope we are not the only ones falling into line over this leagues version of FFP, as we will find it very hard to compete with those who are clearly not.
Might not be true anyway, but we will need a decent squad if we are going to fight on the europa front as well, Elneny is a very decent player.
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I suspect the Beast from the East would have caused the main delay as a major new build at my place of work is also a few weeks behind schedule. I’m guessing that construction costs would have been affected by currency fluctuations, and so much as it goes against the grain to say this I think Spurs can only really be guilty of a little too much optimism. They are certainly not trying to gain an advantage by having to use two grounds this season so I think a points deduction would be wrong.
However, it is perfectly reasonable to enjoy any discomfiture they may be experiencing. After all a couple of injuries, a loss of form, uncertainty over the future of some star players and manager, not to mention time taken to acclimatise to the new stadium could all cause disquiet in their ranks. They too will have many fans put out by the loss of the Lane and any period of mediocrity (compared to their really rather good last three seasons) will likely cause a meltdown. I can see an opportunity here, and would propose a few of us form a financially lucrative and totally destructive Spurs Fan TV. After all, how hard can it be to act out the role of- and here I pay full homage to Mandy’s outstanding polemic – “negative, depressive , uninformed, simplistic, naïve, me me me, media led, self serving, attention seeking, vicarious glory hunting, fickle, self important, needing instant gratification yet self flagellating, feeding off perceived failure, but ultimately, twats.”
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The slide out (from beneath ground level) MFL pitch wasn’t in the original planning, and must have contributed significantly to the final costs.
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Surely the main cause for the delay was caused by Spurs themselves declaring some years ago that the ‘Northumberland Project’ was ‘uneconomic’ as a reason for applying to move into the Olympic Stadium. This (PL rule breaking) move only served to puts doubts into the minds of all affected parties and, of course, created delays and cost/price increases to everyone concerned.
Spurs’ brinkmanship and double dealing has now rebounded on them and they have become reliant on the PL, the media and their lenders to all at very least turn a blind eye, bend rules and become more concerned than they were before that it was uneconomic after all.
Don’t forget, after their recent ground improvements and failure to get the ticket prices they thought they would get, Liverpool announced that they would not be investing more in their ground because of the ‘downward pressure’ on ticket prices generally.
The introduction of safe standing will only increase that pressure.
Spurs have undertaken too much, too late and could face serious financial consequences. On the playing side it’s already now been proved that they have to sell in order to buy – hence no one in this summer. If they have to sell players to pay the debt they are in real trouble.
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If the costs have more then doubled then it is extraordinary. Cardiff, the Ems and Wembley were all built on fixed price contracts with the contractor picking up the slack on additional costs for material of labour extras if the specification was not altered by the client. If the job came in on time and on budget they made a profit. I have no idea what contract the main contractor Mace had/have with THFC. The reported elements of the Tottingham project that are holding up completion “critical safety systems” (whatever that means) is a bit odd.
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Off current topic. I love the images doing the rounds of Pep wrapping his arms Arteta after Mancity’s 2nd goal. Many of those in the media and even social-media who are patting Arteta on the back for being “instrumental for our downfall” were not so long ago rubbishing his football brain. I have warmth of to Emery though I still hope the younger Spaniard is not lost on us anytime in the future.
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I am led to believe that part of getting a contract to help build Spurs new (still unsponsored) stadium is that contractors have to buy tickets in it. That would presumably mean that you include the cost of those tickets in your quote and thus Spurs end up paying for their own tickets. Not only does this put up costs to Spurs but it also takes tickets out of the market for fans and thus (by the principles of supply and demand) increases the costs to ordinary fans. It also potentially puts tickets into the hands of non fans which then have a greater chance of ending up on the black market.
Now it’s quite possible that everyone does this when they improve grounds or build new ones but the consequences on ticket price inflation and crowd security could be significant.
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Assume it’s already been said somewhere but I would love to jump to the future and read the history book that links a lasagne chef directly with a foreman.
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Steve..Now there’s an idea. Could make for a great short story. Comedy or tragedy, based on your allegiance.
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I wonder how much the NFL is paying Spurs if they felt it fit to install a movable pitch which added (hundreds of millions?) to their planned build costs. 20 matches over 10 years, plus maybe some ad revenue. I wouldn’t think that would be worth much more than 100m over the decade. Increased visibility in the US might be the plan, so a marketing expenditure maybe. Or a plan to get a full time London Franchise? That seems more like it.
Andy, critical safety systems would possibly refer to fire retardant materials in the construction (unlikely), or IT systems, and cables and pipes for stuff like Fire alarms, sprinklers, PA systems, communication towers, placement of power lines/fuses etc. Unless it is a structural issue, which again, is unlikely.
Let’s just say they Spursed it up somehow. Probably, their schedules weren’t realistic and contained no contingency planning.Especially if the decision to add the NFL pitch was made late but they stuck to their original schedule.
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When they showed Pep’s reaction to the 2nd goal, the impression was that Arteta was trying very hard not to react at all, and looked rather sad.
I wonder whether he still has a very soft spot for us.
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Seemingly Ospina is set to join Napoli
also charlton set to take Bielik on loan, they are also interested in taking Mavididi on loan again too
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Andrew the rise in costs is not at all extraordinary. It was predictable and a numbnut like me could predict it.
The comparison between
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Andrew the rise in costs is not at all extraordinary. It was predictable and a numbnut like me could predict it.
The comparison between the Wembley /Spurs contract and Cardiff/the new Arsenal stadium is instructive for anyone working in the construction industry. Late appointments of contractors will always lead to a substantial rise us costs estimated by someone who doesn’t build for a living.
why any sane or competent individual would choose to make a late appointment on such large projects is best known to themselves, it contradicts the advice people like Sir Alan Crane (chair of CIOB) give on partnering contracts: close and early affiliation between all parties. He’s only responsible for Canary Wharf, the Petronas Towers, started his career as a painter decorator and said to an audience recently that he is “to the left of St.Jezza.” so I understand that people with differing ideological and belief systems would choose alternative routes for their own advantage/beliefs.
It is not a mystery to me why the main contractor and engineer on the Arsenal build were happy to work without a contract and fee for an entire year (the old gaffer had a little something to do with that), and it is not a mystery to me that a half arsed build like Levy’s (Olympic stadium etc.) has ended up in a bit of bungle. Yes that is a deliberate use of the word bungle. One technical term to describe such mismanaged contracts as a good friend recently informed me in the financial services sector is:
“control fraud”
I preferred the expression that I invented to describe the Wembley contract when talking with a lawyer who was involved in one of the many lawsuits:
“Grand Theft Larceny”
When I explained exactly how I arrived at that conclusion the lawyer expressed:
“I don’t really understand the technicalities”
Which amused me no end as she’d also had the same training as me in addition to her legal training.
We have our good late friend Adam Bogdan’s account on working on the Wembley contract left upon the pages of Untold. He was encouraged to do overtime. In the construction industry (an industry that ships people all around the world all the time to save costs):
There it is. Perfectly legal. IBSF.
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I was enthused to learn that billy big boots down the local town hall in n17 had got the chop for breaking Planning Law (for some unknown reason) in regards to Levy’s Master(plan).
I have no idea how that came about.
Nope!
No idea at all.
*shrugs*
Though I am glad that local business owners who have spent decades building up their business’ will not be fleeced by that awful club as badly as they might. Indeed with their nous knowledge and hard graft they may even take some advantage of the situation, however give the odious & repulsive character and actions of their local MP the odds are still against them though I am optimistic.
It’s a funny old game.
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Tim,
Sokratis looked the same against City as against the other Oilers. Encouraging.
I believe Mustafi can only attain more consistency, he’s no David Luiz I hope (who is also not a ‘bad’ player, just has an awful temprement!).
Both will get another test on Saturday!
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To quote a learned friend and co-director of the aforementioned local business in n17 (they thought they were dealing with illiterate plebs!!!):
“Haringey council have become the butt of jokes within the construction industry in London”
(He co-directs a construction company!)
He wrote in a letter to the leader of the Labour Party. Cue some cullings.
A tale for our times but a pretty yarn it ain’t.
Those who feel that that are “against modern football” should kneel and prostrate themselves before the new Arsenal Stadium. Arsenal “Values” innit.
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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_fraud
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e.g.:
The recent Carillon fiasco.
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Or a “professional” referees association that claims 99% accuracy without VARs and therefore about 150% with VARs (you can quote me on that).
LOL?
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The above does not mean that I am “anti-Carllion”.
Some of the most highly skilled admirable people I have ever worked with were employed by Carillion. In a previous incarnation as Tarmac they built the world’s first fusion reactor (which somehow survived the Austeritu fetish freaks pulling out all their funding back in the ’80’s). How can anyone not like that?
However the above does not mean that we cannot describe some of the people at the top of that organisation/private company as, to artistically paraphrase Sir Alan Crane: “a shower of…”
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Signed in 15 at £400 million
In 18 (allegedly) a £billion
And still a long way signed off
What is that about then Fins ?
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We lost to a very good team in Atletico. I don’t think I’ll ever get how they do it.
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Was this posted here? The internet has killed my memory. Anyway, there’s some praise for Simeone.
http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2018/unai-emery-what-am-i-missing-making-my-masterpieces-real-masterpieces-and-making-them-my-own/
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Andy I Missed out Brexit! Which could possibly have resulted in the biggest increase.
I don’t know but at a smaller scale I was informed there’d been a spike of 20% in construction costs London. If true that’s huge!
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Can safely conclude that the neighbour’s chose or didn’t know enough to follow the models exemplified in industry as best practice. All they had to do was look down the road.
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Alert
Ayryan do not get to tell people of colour, what racisim is.
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The Tottenham stadium mystery could present an opportunity for that City game to be played in, say Beijing, or New York, could set a nice little precedent for what many see as the inevitable
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Andrew I know that you appreciate esoteric even mystical readings of sums but a 20% spike cannot account for a tripling of a cost sum.
I made a comment (you can quote me) over at Untold a fair time ago now to a Tottenham fan kindly informing them that the late appointment of their builder would lead to huge increase upon the sum that was agreed at tender. I am not a soothsayer. It was an easy prediction. Even a numbnut like me could make it! So I did. On the record and all that.
“chose or didn’t know enough to follow the models exemplified in industry as best practice”
We’ve been here before haven’t we? And whilst you may choose to believe that, for example, that people who have trained and practiced as professional referees do not know how that they are assessed within their industry. Sir Alan Crane really does know his onions, you can trust me on that appreciation if you want to but I don’t inisist upon anyone changing their beliefs. However the chair of the he CIOB does indeed give lectures advising against such practice as witnessed in n17.
I wouldn’t ask Levy to build me a shed.
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The mystery of the new arsenal stadium is the appreciation that trust is truly a valuable commodity.
Which is why giant companies were happy to work for the Arsenal for free. For a year. On a giant project (that is quite a lot of Wonga!).
And that’s the record.
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CIOB
=
Chartered Inistitute of Builders
(“We ain’t cowboys, look at the badge!”)
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Billy the big blagger:
“I didn’t realise that passing out from the back was key signature of Emery’s teams!”
Wow!
Do these people even watch the Football?
Certainly puts their memes on the “lack of defensive coaching” that they pumped out last season like a chorus into the correct light when considering that Cech equaled David James’ record for consecutive clean sheets in the PL just two years ago on his way to winning the golden glove award as the Arsenal finished second in the league.
Into the bin!
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I think that PA was the only if not one of a few forums where people avoided the insane bipolar disgusting attacks on AW regarding “pressing” or “defending” thispalpably obvious meme against the old gaffer and whilst looking forward to life under the new gaffer somewhere where people discussed the old passing out the back during pre-season.
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Oh well. Eyes didn’t deceive me with Ainsley. Thought he was touching leg/shin area instead of knee or ankle and it’s a small fracture to the fibula.
6-8 weeks. Damn. But i was getting worried it could be something worse, especially if it did turn out to be knee.
Rotten luck for player and us.
Even more annoying is that if it was right back we’ve a couple of candidates in youth team who at a push could be involved- much-improved kid from pre-season whose name has left me, and young but v powerful Vontae Daley-campbell.
Left side there’s nothing, and the guy who would have been best youth option there, DaSilva, has gone.
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Bloody hell. Didn’t read down the page. Poor Jenkinson also picked up an injury which’ll keep him out 6-8 weeks.
Savage bad luck as that’ll rule out a transfer and likely means another 6 months for him with little or no 1st team action. Damn
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