Good morning Positives,
After two defeats in games in which we faced difficult opponents yesterday was a game I certainly had marked down as three points to the Arsenal and so it eventually worked out. The eventually being relevant as right up to the time-added-on+ the ‘Ammers were still in the game and could have snatched the equaliser. I was surprised at the 61% v 39% possession in our favour, it looked more even to me. If we were a bit unlucky not to earn a point at the Bridge so our claret and blue visitors will feel aggrieved that all their efforts were for nought.
Of the game itself the content of the post game comments on here was accurate. I also thought it was our worst display of the three games. Defensively we were shaky and better finishing from Arnautovic could/should have embarrassed us further. The right hand side of our football team in the first half worked well going forward. If the move broke down however, with Hector upfield, there was no cover behind him and the ‘Ammers raced in on our goal. Mustafi and Sokratis were confronted with 3-4 charging opponents and the tackles and clearances looked desperate. On the other side of the pitch Nacho did not suffer the same problems. In the final third during the first half our passing was also poor, with good ball wasted. It was difficult to pick put anyone who was better or worse than anyone else, it was just below average.
If the first half was unsatisfactory the second was better. Laca’s introduction gave a definite target for the ball being passed forward and he and PEA combined far better. We seemed to get a better measure of Anderson and Antoine and, slowly, a solid grip on midfield. Our new Uruguayan’s entry on 56 minutes I thought was important in winning that midfield battle. He is very tidy. As it was the first time I had seen Torreira live I was impressed. But he is sooooo short – He really is Alan Ball/Billy Bremner size !! When our second goal came, while it was as ugly as sin, it was deserved.
After that WH scrambled to get back into it, with pressure but no real killer punch in their attacks. The introduction of Chicarito, with his blue rinse, made the work of or back two that little bit easier. The Arsenal defence did enough to fend them off. The third goal was a little cherry on Danny’s cake, the reward for effort.
Of the Ammers I thought Antoine did well, and despite some wayward finishing Arnautovic’s goal was a peach of a shot. Jack was anonymous. If I had not been looking for him I would not have noticed him. A hard Autumn beckons for Manuel Pelligrini.
So three much needed points in the bag and AFC are on the road for two interesting games in Cardiff and on Tyneside.
Fear not for the future, weep not for the past – and enjoy your Sunday…
Positively Arsenal 
See if this works
LikeLiked by 3 people
That link works for me Rich. Certainly does provide an interesting vantage point. Dare I say rugby- and cricketesque.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Labogoon- my cricket knowledge is zero but I do have rugby to compare it to.
I feel sure that it works very well in rugby overall and that refereeing in a way that ‘sounds right’ over the mikes is actually beneficial to the quality of the decisions.
Have no idea if same would be true of football and quite a few doubts about whether the game is as well suited to it.
I don’t see harm in exploring it though. Clips like the one shown would be a start. Just that one shows the game we’re all so familiar with isn’t exactly what it seems.
Initially just show well selected clips which are free from big controversy and then maybe build up to a whole game, again shown after and not live. then eventually a live trial game could be considered.
Many won’t be interested in it but I believe plenty will be and, in theory, could be more prepared to sympathise with the lot of refs with the better understanding of what it’s like for them.
If the crazy money in the prem doesn’t give our refs the best possible chance to develop best practice, including grass roots to try address the huge North South imbalance, then obviously it’s a poor show.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bloody hell, moral titans like Vinnie Jones (haven’t heard of him in football context for many a moon) now piping up about Mesut.
Given what went on over the Summer, with the seriousness of the central point, and the media playing some role in it…you’d think a modest amount of basic decency, and caution even (he’s human- hasn’t he had enough to contend with for a bit- especially when there is no ‘good’ in hounding him to justify the potential ‘harm’), would lead them to just shut the hell up for a bit.
Disturbingly, it’s the complete opposite. A modest amount of basic decency is simply not in the equation of how the media operates. There may be exceptions, but that doesn’t help when the rest are so shoddy.
Sad state of affairs
LikeLiked by 3 people
Rich,
I am afraid that these days in the UK racism is regarded as perfectly acceptable by many media outlets.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I see West Ham’s defender Declan Rice is considering his International future and has refused a call up to make his competitive Republic of Ireland debut v Wales. He played all his youth football for Ireland, and has 3 senior caps for them too, but all in Friendlies, he recently changed agents and has had contact with the English FA.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Early days, but so far, Utd look very poor. Jose’s negativity cannot be helping
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unconfirmed reports, Zidane seen boarding a plane to Manchester
LikeLiked by 1 person
everything is setting up well for moreens third season implosion
LikeLiked by 2 people
he might still blame wenger for this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dislike of Spurs, especially euphoric Spurs, almost caused a short-circuit for me last ten minutes, and had me thinking about whether Mourinho has won more than they have in club’s history. Probably has.
Thankfully, it passed quickly and I remembered how natural and correct it is to dislike both.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On Spurs, still feel relatively comfortable they’ll not have enough for strong title contention this year, and hope they fall well short, but a lot of the former is based on belief City and Liverpool better than them.
Not the way I want to be reassured Spurs won’t prosper but how it seems for this year at least.
Missed first half but in second struck again by how intense and physical, with a very dirty edge, of course, their game is. Like it or as indeed loathe it, Poch has created something which seems designed for the physical nature of the prem, built along sound lines
One true creative flair player in Eriksen, and even he can contribute to the running and harrying. Alli a sort of hybrid. Moura now another dimension with his running with ball and counter deadliness.
Still everything crossed for me that the stadium move hurts them financially, they win nothing this year, and finally lose one or more of the big guns. Then the test for them, with hopefully their true Spursiness erupting forth once more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rich, on the league front we seem to have fallen behind both Liverpool and Spurs in the league at least lately, not good by any stretch, but one has been better funded over the years, they upgrade a stadium and spend 70 million on a defender, we never had that luxury, and it has to be said, Liverpool have sold better than we have. The other team is able to field almost the same players week in week out over quite a long period of time, compare and contrast. They play with a very energetic press game, key players quickly coming back from serious injuries , to what looks to me, almost a suspicious level.
But these cycles happen.
I think our team are like a golfer who is changing their swing and clubs at the same time, up against some very settled and extremely well funded opponents. It was always going to be that way when Wenger left I guess.
But Wenger left us recently with three little pots Liverpool and Spurs haven’t won in ages, I have a hunch that will continue this season, despite cosmetic attempts to make the world think ours isn’t a one team league.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, strange the fitness levels and recovery levels of the Spuds isn’t it. Must be some training regime or diet or something. Also how the double standards on fouls etc are administered. Nine Bob notes all over the place in the EPL
LikeLiked by 3 people
Markyb, I see Spurs as the chosen plucky contenders, Liverpool the same. Leicester were once given that honour, they went months with every decision possible going their way, Vardy could gain a penalty at will, doubt of they suffered a significant injury all season, and the the likes of drinkwater could make tackles with impunity that shawcross, or even Chopper Harris could only dream of! Leicester beat the odds, as we all know, telling the world our league is not just about the monied, despite their ” sponsorship ” in gaining promotion. Cannot see Spurs gaining what Leicester did , Liverpool might stand more chance but doubt it. But both will be allowed every help to challenge city , and let the world know you can compete with state funded teams.
Spurs injury situation is interesting, Kane once a year suffers something that looks pretty bad, then returns three weeks later. They are hugely protected by refs and the media. I suspect they are more Team Sky than Lance Armstrong ie bending the rules to the max rather than breaking them, I am no sports physio but always thought pressing for ninety mins was impossible, especially doing it with very few significant injuries. Ditto Liverpool.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Mourinho: “From a strategic point of view we didn’t lose, the tactical point of view we didn’t lose, but we lost.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is Jose just trying to get a payoff? That quote is mad!
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Is Jose just trying to get a payoff?”
Haha good one Mandy.
Mourinho & Mendez/Raiola, doesn’t have quite the ring of Shankley & the Boot Room, Wenger & Rice, Simone & the big shaggy dog man, but I’m sure that Jose knows his worth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
< Simeone
Much to Shotta's dismay Atletico got Lemar this summer. Third best team in Europe of late? It's a fair assessment, and that SF last season was epic! Antoine & Thomas? Diego is no Jose.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Did no one else make the easy yet bad pun on Monreal opening the scoring for the new gaffer against his old gaffer?
I can’t be the only person online to have pointed that out? Was this easy yet lame pun not highlighted and perhaps only mentioned in passing when it was a significant event because the blaggers were too obsessed about why a player may or may not be on the pitch, whilst most people just care about what happens on the pitch and how the players perform when upon it (bit of a trend I’ve noticed when it comes to the blaggers and the football: explains how they missed out Emery’s passing out the back signature when projecting their mad Gibberish in pre-season etc.)
Monreal was the second helping the Vulture found when he swooped upon the carcass of Malaga in order to build that last great triple cup winning squad.
He’s been good value.
We know his worth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe Jose is being misunderstood, could it be his remarks last night were a touching tribute to Aretha?
LikeLiked by 3 people
OMG is that one of Timmy Stillman’s cohorts expressing the understanding following their weekend trip to N5 that the excessive negativity that surrounds this great triple cup (of late) winning club a little bit excessive?
“Clive
@clivepafc
I was very disappointed in the Emirates crowd especially the slagging of Bellerin
It’s ok to not to love a player.
But to slag him to the point where he plays safe is very poor IMO
How is that going to improve his confidence”
Well well well.
Blow me down with a feather duster.
Better late then never I suppose.
Puts the bleating from the self-righteous fanboys of these blaggers into the correct perspective, alongside the discredited and craven opinions of such blaggers over the years:
into the bin.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Mourinho’s point isn’t that crazy in itself- you can get your strategy and tactics right and still lose a game of football (luck, randomness, individual mistakes, clinical finishing against,etc), even 3-0, esp if you don’t sit back when behind and the other side get you on counter- the crazy part is that it’s coming from him.
As ever, it’s his unequaled hypocrisy and worse in play : boot on the other foot, he would mercilessly mock a rival (and the idea that 3-0 loss doesn’t equal terrible) for saying the same in the same circumstances. No doubt he has plenty of times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonder if it’s correct Henry to Bordeaux broke down as a result of him wanting too much money.
Now that seems a questionable strategy from him. He must be a very wealthy man and if he were to have a good year or two there the big managerial money would be no problem thereafter.
He’d have his work cut out there anyway- as with any managerial job and as commentators including Henry are so apt to forget budget is the biggest determining factor for any club.
Who knows where his next opportunity will be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just watched highlights of u18’s 7-0 win at weekend. Blinking heck we looked comfortable.
Intriguingly, still a number of 1st year scholars who haven’t made team/squad yet this year, and at least one 2nd year. That hopefully bodes well.
The team should have a good chance in youth cup this year, with Amaechi to come in and, I think, Smith-Rowe still eligible.
Might be Chelsea away this weekend. They had a run lasting years without defeat at their place, so a good test.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t mean to imply Mourinho was crazy. Far from it.
He’s just always been a better thespian then a football coach. A unanimous opinion amongst the football fraternity (please refer to the Marquis’ assessment). Which is one reason why all the failed novelists and bitter hacks love him more then they do the football.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fins
Don’t think it was you who used word crazy, was Mandy and was a fair point from her given Mourinho was saying it.
As it goes, it’s something I wish there was more acceptance of in the game- that performance isn’t necessarily result- but for Mourinho to be saying it….
That’s his defining feature for me, and the one it’s driven me half mad he was allowed to get away with so much : exceptional hypocrisy; anything he has said, he has very likely said or done the opposite of as well.
Crying, for instance…no one has accused others of doing it as much or as venomously as him; no one has done it as much as him. That whole minute 14, minute 21, minute 37 etc thing was something Wenger would have been so justified, though alas unwise, to do on countless occasions, yet it was bloody Mou who did it! The bum.
Sometimes he will make very legitimate points, but they are never authentic; they’re just used in service of whatever’s going on with him at any moment.
I guess that’s exactly what you’re saying in pointing to his acting abilities.
Think part of Wenger’s longevity was that he didn’t use up mental energy and resources bullshitting and having to keep track of all the mental contortions that go with it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rich
I think Henry also had issues with Bordeaux not committing to the huge investment he demanded.
Shame I’d like to have seen how he performed in that role, but as you say….’budget’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jose Misunderstoodinho
LikeLiked by 2 people
Damn. Exceptionally disappointed, though not surprised, to hear Nelson is apparently off this month.
The foreign agent, son of manager Guidolin, had me on high alert. Also represents Musah, supposedly off to Juventus but still here for now (maybe only because he can’t leave for another year)
No idea about financial side but we have given him a decent amount of opportunities to date.
That’s the tipping point for me, where it will be hard now to enjoy the progress of youngsters in youth ranks as the odds at present are so high of them refusing to sign after first contract (which is only allowed to be 3 years, I think).
Willock, Mcguane, Dasilva, Malen, Virginia, Mavididi, Reine-Adeleide, Dragomir, Bennacer, Crowley, now Nelson.
Phhh..it’s a lot, a huge amount of potential gone.
Some very good players, Lingaard for instance, don’t make breakthrough at big clubs till 21/22. Chelsea are able to keep that option open till then and beyond on nearly all their top talents. For us things are completely different.
We can’t even know if sticking Nelson in first team and keeping him there would have done the job. It’s like a contagion has got into our ranks.
Fuck.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is not what the scum did to manure what manure did to us at home last year?
It is now part of the modern game that even the so-called top clubs park the bus when playing each other.
It is sad that a team with title pretentions does that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
F******K!
Thought you were kidding Rich.
Reiss Nelson to Hoffenheim???
These agents are really turning the screw on young english talent at the moment.
Doesn’t make sense to me though. Unlike @ many top 6 clubs, Nelson (along with Nketiah), is practically in our first team.
Jeez, are ze germans paying these kids that well ???
(sigh…the bundesresellersliga infiltrates the Arse)
What say ye Serge Gnabry?
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Patrick Vieira faces a crisis at Nice just three weeks into the Ligue 1 season” from the Guardian today !
That did not take very long did it ??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aman
It makes great sense to an agent if he gets a tasty fee, and plenty of sense to a youngster if he picks a club where he should have a better chance of minutes,at present,than here. That’s likely to be the case.
For one, they are free from the dilemma we have of whether to invest valuable minutes to a youngster, who may not be the best option on the day, without any guarantee we will see any benefit from the investment. With a four or five year contract in place, playing the youngster is a different thing altogether.
The calculation, for player and agent, should include that if it doesn’t work for whatever reason, a return here, but not to Arsenal, won’t be a problem.
Burke did it within a year after a big money move from Forest to Leipzig. (as it goes his career at the moment looks a cautionary tale as it did not go well at either Leipzig or West Brom, whereas originally at Forest his progress must have been enjoyable for him)
Certainly leaves a bad feeling, even making allowance for his being young, to think of someone who has talked talk of affection for club all along, and been given a good level of opportunity for his age, seeking the exit…but that’s how it goes.
Seems undeniable now that what’s happened already with youngsters leaving is influencing yet more of them to consider it, despite there being no big hit of success for any so far. There’s no reason to believe this influence or momentum is done yet either.
Optimism is a necessary part of sportsperson’s mindset and so naturally a young player can imagine a move providing more opportunity than staying put, where they perhaps have experience at their existing club of not playing as much as they want and where they have a good idea of lay of the land.
A good agent will help them navigate that realistically.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have no problem on young English players taking their chances in Europe or further afield. A decade ago a young English player would not have entertained a move to the Bundeslegia, La Liga or Serie A because of the funny food and their language difficulties.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh boy! What a fool I am if latest twist- new deal, then loan- is correct.
Lesson learned.
Unless the twist- Mirror, so could be Crossie- is incorrect. In which case, I stand by it all!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We await the great oracle ornstein
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rich,
“Greg Johnson
@gregianjohnson
Sign new contract. Stink the place out. Collect massive pay off. What a life.”
Mr. Johnson in this instance sums it all up better then I can or could.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Think Mr.Johnson is one of those people in awe of Levy’s business acumen (“where’s me
cut mate!”)
“I spoke to experts on stadium safety about the new Tottenham stadium and the checks that must now take place before it can be opened to the public”
Test No.1:
Is there any grass?
Or just some uneven concrete with bits of rebar sticking up at odd angles? (Players deserve safety too!)
Test No.2:
Are there any seats? For people to sit on etc…
Test No.3:
Are there any lights anywhere or do the punters need to bring their IR goggles (available from club shop at a discount!)?
Should we advertise for electricians in the local papers or are all those live wires hanging down from the ceilings ok?
Etc.:
“Laughing stock amongst the construction industry” was an accurate assessment of this projector by the director of a construction company located in n17.
But they’ll get a good press for their “shambles”, no need to speculate upon that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rich I don’t think Emile Smith-Rowe is eligible for the FA Youth Cup this year as he turned 18 in July, I think he would have to be U18 in September to be able to play
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ed
Could well be right there. I had in mind all 2nd year scholars in age terms were eligible for tournament, as would seem sensible, and thought it was only a matter of whether Smith-Rowe still was, technically (think so)
But it definitely does come down to that cut off date at certain point start of season- can’t remember when it is though.
Oh,oh, may need to call in George on this one
‘Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part.’
Suppose that could mean must be under 18 on 31 Aug this year, though should be worded better I reckon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rich,
you got me kinda confused…is he off or not?
anicoll,
“I have no problem on young English players taking their chances in Europe or further afield.”
Me neither except when its one of ours that I’ve invested “much” in seeing him blossom in the first team. Might have to keep my emo a little tighter to meself.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ed
You’re right. Can’t have reached 18 by midnight of Aug 31, so he’s out by a month.
Oh well.
In past I’ve looked at Chelsea few times in tournament and thought ‘ah shit, x,y,z eligible again this year’, so that’s probably what confused me.
They’ve prob had some who fell just right side of the line, like Dujon Sterling who won it three years on bounce and qualified last year by couple of months
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aman
There was a report from goal journalist stating he was off, heavily implied or even stated permanent.
Followed as always by all other outlets reporting same.
Then another report, few hours later, saying loan was likely and a new contract would be signed.
Again a few more report that.
So now a mix of articles,etc out there, all trying to grab their attention and clicks
Including one article which has the novel approach of stating permanent exit in link, but loan when you click on article.
So it’s unclear.
Whereas I can imagine Hoffenheim being very keen to get him permanently, I’m not sure a loan deal would be that attractive to them.
That age-old issue of you only put in a loan player when you feel he is the best option on the day; whereas if it’s your own player there’s real incentive for development, keeping them happy,etc
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh ok, Rich, the usual media bs.
A loan more likely it seems.
Thought he looked the bizness in pre-season (even more than Eddie).
We could use is skillset @ RW.
Oh well….in Unai I trust.
LikeLiked by 2 people
it seems KSE have bought all but 1.2% of AFC shares, something less than 750 shares are now going to be forcibly purchased under stock market rules.
not sure how many shares AST members had, but was some talk it was about 2% of shares, so the latest news suggests that about half of them sold to KSE but of course the attention seekers among them are trying for one last 15 minutes of fame.
LikeLiked by 1 person
as well as buying Usmanov’s shares, KSE bought 1,046 other shares from the small shareholders. so more of the small shareholders sold than held on to the bitter end.
anyone read the AST article of comments on the purchase by shareholders and supporters, – by the way, they include supporters, as all AST members are not shareholders, they have to hike their numbers – anyway back to the article, its full of pretentious waffling, better supporter than you cos we owned a share types, and clearly very wealthy types, who by their own words, don’t need, and did not give a thought, to the £29K per share on offer. Some Usmanov arselickers too. It really made me laugh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
2% of a £1.9 billion business? (Swoons)
I’d be amazed if it was ever 0.002%
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just seen the reports on Vieira, seems his team lost 4-0 to Dijon, but far too early for anyone to say he’s not cutting the mustard
LikeLiked by 3 people
Just seen the earlier thread, plead guilty to calling Jose crazy, or actually used the term “mad “for his words, just a figure of speech of course , he isn’t crazy but what struck me was how he would have viewed Wenger had he uttered similar words a few years back.
I recognise his record, I am sure he has his good sides, but just cannot stand the guy, for so many reasons, Wenger, diving players, cheating, certain agents, and especially when you look at his net spend, yet he moans about a lack of backing in the transfer window, I am sure seriously upsetting some of his players, especially defenders in the process.
He looks a busted flush at utd, I suspect he will soon be replaced , but hope he stays as long as possible.
LikeLiked by 3 people