387 Comments

Dennis Saurez Situation Explains Much-Sadly.

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Dennis Saurez gave interview saying that he was not even 50% fit after 16 days at Arsenal.

One game sticks in my head, I think it was Man City away we were 2-3 down with 15 mins to go.

Ozil was on the bench ( i thought he was coming on @ halftime but stayed on the bench(this was shortly after the claim was made that Ozil can’t play away because of the physicality by the manager) I was thinking at the time Poor away fans who traveled as it was clear we were going to get beat but the fans had nothing to cheer, (cant remember too many chances being created or any pleasing football) at that moment with 15mins to go he brought on Saurez who had been in the country 5 days, ahead of Ozil. I knew something was up then but this really confirms it.

Not only had Denis Saurez not acclimatised to a new country , different way of playing , food, culture, language etc, the guy by his own admission was less than 50% fit.
I think that was the day i decided that this manager had his own interests and not the team or the fans interest at heart.
He played Saurez just to make a power statement and it has had a detrimental affect on team morale.
Look at the start of the season, everyone was bubbling looking forward to the season, people putting themselves forward to be captain, people saying they want to follow in legends footsteps, to how we finished the season low on morale and without a Scooby Doo.

I want the manager gone because i seen more conflict with the team than working to harmonise the team and make them a coherent unit.

Victory through harmony it certainly has not been.

Rant over

 

Gee.

387 comments on “Dennis Saurez Situation Explains Much-Sadly.

  1. Anyone see it then? An Englishman with a Shawcross/Taylor/Smith/Mcnair number, but thankfully not on one of ours?

    Choudhury with a disgraceful challenge in u21 Euros, conceded pen and, thank goodness, yellow corrected to red by VAR.

    Was probably chasing hard to get back, French attacker with a clever turn, and instinct or whatever took over as Choudhury sped up, launched himself with full weight forwards, with sort of side on action which creates most force of all, connected high around ankle with studs of leading leg.

    Looked like he prob broke opponents ankle/leg.

    Got my fingers crossed UEFA do right thing and go beyond 3-game ban, as other competitions do outside England for very bad ones. Also hope it leads to some heat from other guy’s club and federation if it’s a serious injury.

    As well as player himself, some of blame surely lies with coaches who haven’t taught young player better and maybe even more so with refs who haven’t taught him by punishing foul play properly. Ref in our recent game was more than happy to let him gain advantage with some foul to go with fair work.

    From what I’ve seen of him previously, he’d have been in my top twenty of players likely to do that to one of ours. Like say just hope UEFA step in and send him packing.

    Early indications out media will try defend and protect him. Already seen tweet praising him for his maturity in seeking out victim to apologise. Manager said it was just his eagerness to block ball. Watch a video to see how pathetic that excuse is.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. oh oh, was just trying to link the one video. Apologies if mucked up and there’s loads of em

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Shard 7.07, think you have hit on some truths there.
    A good youth policy is one of the ways forward, especially on our model, supplemented by experience of course. This club should be able to attract some excellent youngsters.
    I am not sure if Freddie’s appointment is just a logical progression, someone who can really help Emery, or a shot across the bows to the manager, but it seems heavily linked to a youth policy, and maybe much more in the future. An interesting choice, and a potential threat and successor to Emery, I sincerely doubt emery was the main instigator of this. Emery has given a lot of game time to AMN and Gwen, seems he may have to expand his faith in youngsters, reports suggesting a couple very soon on their way from Brazil and maybe France. Hopefully,UE and Freddie they can work well together, with edu and co for the benefit of the club, they will need to.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Just read this in interview with Mauro Itoje (top rugby player)

    ‘It is partly crowd behaviour, as much as the fact that rugby has become his life and career, that ended his love affair with football – that and the realisation that he was ‘wasting too much emotional energy’ on Arsenal.

    He added: ‘I was taken aback by the way the fans behaved, towards each other, towards the players.

    ‘If I had children, unless I had a box I would not take my child because the behaviour was disgraceful. I saw little kids, 12, 12-year-olds, watching their parents swearing, abusing Arsene Wenger, abusing the players.

    ‘This small boy sees his father do it and so he does it, starts spouting abuse at players, at opposing fans. Horrible.’

    Liked by 6 people

  5. Great story of Ronaldo the Great.
    Van Gaal turning him down to put all his chips on Kluivert. The impact of losing a star player like Romario on a club like PSG (which only highlights how well AFC did to recover and win the cups and come second etc after the loss of certain players a few years ago etc.)

    Football. People’s love of football. Attacking football. Tales of attacking players will always be more popular then others though I think a documentary on Maldini will be very popular but probably not for footballing reasons: my sister would enjoy it, she isn’t into football but she remembers Maldini! Heh.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I see a lot of whinging about the retaken penalty in the Scotland womens 3-3 draw that seen them out of the WC, image going out of the WC, just cos your goalie was rightly called for breaking the rules, whatever next, goals not given cos all the ball did not cross the line,

    on the result, Scotland can blame the ref all the like, but my God they really fell apart in those last 20 minutes, 3-0 up and they just went into panic mode, as if seeing qualification for the next round was just too big for them to handle

    Liked by 1 person

  7. rumors in France that we may see these two reunited

    Like

  8. Honestly thought Fakir would be here before Lacazette. Fakir seems like a baller the type we used to stock up on and have too many of.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Well Gee, we don’t have too many of them now, we are down to 1.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Lifes nuts? Why do people think the referendum was legally binding? Why does Piers say it is and others on twitter? With the utter lies and corruption of leading people up the garden path, just so they can have what they want: for themselves, and their ilk. The others can have a few crumbs.Same old same old. Who benefitted from the British Empire? The lower classes? No the Aristos, then the upper classes with a bit to the middle classes as admin servants. Stupid accents and a lie of superiority. ” I say geta plate for their elbows!”. Nuts.
    Why was it the will of the people? How is 52% the will? Lets have another ref and see what happens then? Why not? Undemocratic? How isnt it democratic.Why do “leavers” all ways talk about Brussels as if Britain isnt represented at all? “Over there”?When you reach over there its here and here is over there. How is that possible? A lie.
    Why did the “leavers” believe that Türkei is coming into the EU? When one country votes against it then that country is not accepted. Which would mean the British Euro MPs would be voting for the Türks to come in. German and Austria wont vote for Türkei as its a massive problem of immigration for those countries if they did. So it was never going to happen.
    From continental Europe, looking in on the island of European Britain’s Leavers look insane and insulting.All the wars are well over, although Im sure a few of the Tories would like one? Firstly when in Britain everything else seems far away. When in mainland Europ, all is very, very close. All is seen and watched, there is no hiding. Secondly, there is no “europ”, mostly each country has some kind of old style beef with each other, each country has its “leavers”, certainly “Europa” as a country ( in the minds of the Leavers) doesnt exist. But everyone still gets on, and knows that its a great enforcer of peace, and of trade. F*ck me, Britain certainly benefited from it when the arse fell out of dogshit Thatcherism. I lived in a city that was f*cked, and it desperately need EU cash and it really helped. Wales was also a prime case for EU help when it had been shat on by Thatcher ( and in this case England)…and now what? 39% of the votes for the loony Brexit Party came from Wales. Why?
    If Europe ( which Britain is a part of even if the movement and shift of continental plates and the rise of the sea which engulfed the area a thousand years ago between Britain and what is now called the mainland makes it seem otherwise) is so undemocratic ( another lie) as extreme left and right say ( Communists say a second ref is undemocratic, well when the f*ck has a Communist regime ever been democratic??? Please show me. 8 gramm. bullet to the head /Machete/violent death if you disagree. Or die like Daniil Kharms. Anyway Communism is end state Socialism and when have we ever has that? Never. Why? Because of the human mind that doesnt understand the nature of reality and sees everything as other, and not as relativity, which is one of the major elements in the mid of the “leaver”. Nazi’s and Communists and other Totalitarians regimes are the same: insecure people who are sociopathic and anti-life. Same for the fat cat capitalists who exploit and are consumed with greed like hungry ghosts.
    Sorry there is no independence, there is no freedom ( thats a negation, which against is anti /relativity, and therefore anti-the nature of life) but there is liberty, interdependence, plurality( laws that can enforce that to) negative liberty ( leading to relativity and understanding) and positive Liberty if needed. These are ideas that are to hard to grasp, but the Empire was wrong; so is the Common wealth? Why is the Eu not also common wealth because they wont bow down to contemporary Tories?The irony is that racsim and fear of “other” was at the heart of the illegal interference in the campaign for the referendum, yet the very people the “leavers are frightened of, come through he Commonwealth( the Empire). Immigration form Europe is down while up form outside the EU. Isnt that ironic? Personally I dont care, as Im not interested in race or gender as a guide to a humans worth,that f*ckin dumb. Im interested more ethics, and if we are to be judged then thats the only way for me. What does race or gender have to do with anything?
    Because it wasn’t legally binding the illegal interference cant be prosecuted, so theyve tricked lots of people again. Do what you want, say what you want and exploit the ignorant.Check out Leslie Iwerks latest documentary for more on this, at least on what happend in America. Im sure many of the tricked people are angry and scared, as they were before the ref, as they saw the world changing in ways that scare them and these people knocked on their doors as messiahs. But its anti that?
    Historically Britain is a mongrel race anyway, most of the English either bred with Romans (Italians), Neider Sachsens (German), Low Landers, Scandinavians, Jews, French, etc before the Romans built their walls ( history loves to repeat itself or at least echo itself?) where is this pure blood English? Plus and odd idea of what an English person is ( notice how the other Union countries identities are left out whenever possible, in the same way the Tories tale a sportsman like Andy Murry as British but are only interested really in pretending hes English) seems to come through 1890-1959. Even then its not from the lower classes unless its whitewashing disasters like the Battle of the Somme with the likeable fellow the working class Tommy. Pat him on the head and send him awf to die. What for?
    WW2 was a massive exception, but we could have stayed out of that too. And since then people like Johnson are always getting foaming about it all as a great moment. I not sure great is the right word, plus it was an allied victory. Until I read Rodchekos diaries I didnt know how much the Russians suffered and how much they fought in WW2, our Western allied history books laid little emphasis on this. WW2 was a castrophe for all humanity its wounds are still being felt everywhere, but younger people are moving us away from it. Check out the British F.O policy on Jews in the 1930s. Its disgusting, and embarrassing and sadly many Jewish people died because of it. But then they killed Jesus. No, they didn’t thats horseshite made up by Constantine and other church father, Jews didnt crucify…the Romans did, but anyway we are straying from the plot (happy to discuss that if anyone wants to).
    So if the ref wasnt legally binding then why is it being shoved through, of course for the Tories to save face( what face?) even old time Conservatives hate whats going on and are horrified at the anti- internationalism. Johnson said the day after, that Britain would be “going out there”. Duh! They already were, and still are.
    Why is it the lies are allowed? Why is the racism allowed, the prejudice and ignorance? In the Art World, Hollywood or in other cultural industries theres zero tolerance, and those people would be out and flogged on twitter etc but politics is built up on just endless lies, its tolerated as is corruption and insanity. Do you think a sociopath should be a leader? Ask google what a sociopath is and see whose like that?. Look, I know politics isnt for lightweights like me, but its peoples lives, our lives why should the whim of a few ultra right and left, terrified people ( you dont have to adopt any other culture if you dont want, there no-one forcing anyone else, and anyone who forces their culture on someone else is some kind of fascist,plus what stays the same, all life is constantly changing, its scary for every single human and all the other species, ask the people from Shakespeares time, and the old Dinosaurs) who want profits and benefits for themselves and hate “foreigners” when they eat their culinary offers, drink their alcohol holiday in those countries and were happy to trade with them when the chips were down. But now?
    Going out of the EU isnt going to solve the “problems” of the Leavers, their problems will still exist. Who will be the next target? Why, the ones who they wanted to get rid of in the first place. Much of this boils down to the curse of the Empire, people still think its Britains right to rule. What right? Thats over. Thank G-d .These people might “win”, they are happy to ignore and alienate their neighbours, but at the cost of the Union. Great Britain? It will be England and Wales. And potentially a war in Ireland again.Another great tragedy.Plus culturally, we cant go back to some spiffing ginger -ale swilling and matrons baps, its too late, things have moved on, at least not as the major cultural force. No really theyve moved on. Not just the entanglement of capitalism and trade.

    And all this will affect Afc too. So there it was a post about Arsenal. If its still not your cuppa then please know that I realise Im on cloud 9. But certainly am not an authoritarian. Who has the right to be that?Nobody was ever going to take the cuppa away. They drink tea in the Euro zone( which Britain is part of ) too. What if in this vast universe, where we may well be alone, what if we can try to understand weve got it wrong. Dignity through harmony, internationally, how can that be a vile thing? All humans are scared, but if we can break down a few walls and try to understand flux and mutability then what?

    Liked by 3 people

  11. But what do you really think Mills? (banned smiley here!)

    You make some good points, and to bring it back to AFC, it’s all part of the same problem. We live in a sound-bite society, with a serious lack of critical thinking on the part of the masses. Too many people are behaving like sheep and they are being led by the nose by those who don’t have their best interests at heart. But as long as there is bread and circuses they seem to be happy to go along. Hopefully they wake up before it’s too late.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Arsenal FC
    ‏Verified account @Arsenal
    5h5 hours ago

    🗓 #OnThisDay in 1995…

    Dennis Bergkamp became a Gunner 🔴

    what I remember about that day is that I was going to Knock Shrine, with family members, on a Holy pilgrimage, and just before setting off on a 2 hour drive I checked Ceefax on BBC TV, the quickest way to get your football news fix in those days, and I was pissed off to see the headline “Bergkamp signs for Aston Villa”, there was no Arsenal news to be seen, so I headed off on our journey a little annoyed that one of my favorite non Arsenal players was joining a shower of cunts like Villa.

    About an hour into our drive I tuned into BBC Radio 5 for their sports bulletin after the news, the reception on the car radio was piss poor, even all these years later, its not very good in this end of Ireland. Anyway between the crackles and interference I could hear them mention Dennis Bergkamp, a fee of £6.5M, then couldn’t make out what they said, then something about a record signing for Arsenal, but I could not make out who had signed for Arsenal, after all it couldn’t be Bergkamp as Ceefax had declared he had signed for Villa. But I did dare hope someone had made a mistake and put Aston Villa up instead of Arsenal, but it would be 30 minutes before the next sports update on BBC Radio 5, and I was heading deeper into the west of Ireland, without much hope of getting any radio reception, there was no point in tuning into the Irish Radio stations of RTE as they seldom mentioned soccer news, unless it was Man Utd or Liverpool, and usually did not report transfers unless an Irish players was involved. So the next half an hour had me both excited and anxious, in similar measures. Who had Arsenal signed, I prayed it was Bergkamp, but was I going to be able to receive BBC Radio 5 on the car radio over in deepest Mayo. If not it was going to be that evening before I could check Ceefax again at home.
    Well Knock village appeared in the distance it was 11am, News and sport would be on, I turned the radio over to Radio 5, the reception was woeful, barely a word could be made out, my passengers were telling me to switch it back to RTE, then just as if my prayers had been answered, just as we drove past the Knock Shrine, towards one of the car parks, reception was clear, “and now the sport, Arsenal have signed Dutch International Striker Dennis Bergkamp for a club record fee”, and just as quick as the signal had appeared it disappeared again, but I did not care, I had my own little Knock miracle, Arsenal had signed God(although we did not call him that back then).

    And Pedantic George will try and tell you there is no God, don’t pay him any heed, he never had to try and listen into BBC Radio 5 in the back end of Co. Mayo

    Liked by 2 people

  13. just 16 days till Arsenal play Boreham Wood, in our first preseason game, most likely to be mainly U23’s in our team, and the first batch of players return to training in the next week. We also have the new home kit launch on July 1st, and we might even see some new players arrive and some of our players leave before then too, it may be a busy two weeks

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Mills, is democracy really democracy when most people are politically ignorant. When 90 % of the press are right wing and support one party.
    Just like talksport winding up gooners so the switchboard would light up and telling the fans that Arsene was no good until more and more belived it. The press are now doing the same with JC telling everyone he is an antisemite when he has fought all his life to defend the Jewish community.
    With such widespread ignorance it’s difficult to call it a true democracy and the ARSENAL following are no different most will believe what they are told.
    Hitler managed to persuade a nation everything was certain groups fault and that is happening today in our society as it is in our sport.
    We commemerate the fallen in battles against a country gripped by propaganda but unfortunately we have not learned the lessons.

    Liked by 3 people

  15. can anyone here explain why so many of the kroenkeout mob who clearly want a sugar daddy owner, refuse to actually admit this, they will use all sorts of soundbites, like ambition, an owner who cares, a football man, etc etc, to hide behind it, why is it they just can’t bring themselves to come right out and say, they want Arsenal to have a sugar daddy owner. I find this very odd behavior

    Liked by 2 people

  16. anyone see the USA ladies second goal in their 2-0 win over sweden tonight, a USA striker clearly in an offside position goes for the ball, a defender makes a stretching touch on the ball, but it falls to another USA attacker and her shot takes a deflection and goes in. Goal stood as there is a new rule on the offside, despite the attacker interfering with play and causing the defender to get a touch on the ball, she is no longer ruled offside unless she actually touches the ball, even off the defenders touch.

    Kevin Doyle the former Ireland international, explained this on RTE after the game. He said as part of his duties as a coach to the Ireland U17’s he was at a coaches seminar where this exact same situation was shown to them and the Refs told them this is the new rule on it.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Certainly Ian its a tilted democracy, and one exploited by the Tories beyond belief, seems to go way back to feudal times? It seems insane to me that a referendum that was only advisory that was full of admitted lies by the Leavers is trying to be implemented. To me democracy fails if its based on lies. We might be able to vote but what for?
    Its true, all I see from the right is slander on JC. Yet they seem impervious to slander at he moment. Murdochs involvement was/is also a disgrace ” they never listen to me” so thats why he campaigned against the EU. Just like Hearst its the same old same old. Every PM was in Murdochs pockets going way back. Are they newspapers, or just political outlets?
    And I agree with you about the Arsenal following too, they think they own the club and are convinced they are right about everything, yet seem ignorant once you dig a bit deeper.
    Shitler did persuade the people, of course the Dolchstoßlegende was in full swing before the end of the Frist World war, so he fed those flames to insane levels. The origins of blame go back way back before that though.
    Saddest thing was if the Communist voters had not voted for themselves back in 33, and had voted for the Weimar Republic, Shitler could have been stopped. Once Shitler got in, he banned all opposition, made the Jews illegal and closed down all oppositional press. The “unwanted”, pacifists, etc were dumped in the Kz with the leftists etc. Truly terrifying. Those idiots as a party were only seen as extremist un-German weirdos until they started catching on. They were laughed at. When Shitler took over, he said to them ” you laughed at me, but youre not laughing now”. Farage made the same speech at the EU.

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Ed.

    On your last post, does that mean they actually had justification for the Kane pen in our last Spurs game? Fully presumed pgmol were bullshitting afterwards.

    What an absurd rule it is if so. Literally can’t imagine a reason for it.

    Means defending team is supposed to do a better job of deciding if opponents are on or off than linesmen have ever been able to do.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. George and Gee

    Is that the same Fakir that Liverpool who have evolved beyond using tens according to the completely humiliated and discredited Billy Big Blagger, is this the same player Liverpool been chasing for two seasons? Since they sold their previous playmaker…

    By the football gods. What a shower the Big Blaggers have shown themselves to be! Rather them then me!

    Lots of big injuries for Fakir mean that a smart physio would advise against bringing him to the PL but seeing as Raul has just sacked off the physios that a great coach like AW was happy to be dictated to/listen to perhaps the Arsenal are squids in though I suspect old habits die hard for the agents and Sports Communications consultants and they are
    probably just trying to drum up interest in the player.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. no rich, not then, according to Kevin Doyle its only been brought in this summer, like the rule about the goalie having to have one foot on the line when penalty is hit. Coaches were informed about these tweeks to the rules starting with this summers event, Refs attended seminars with the coaches to explain the rules and showed them lots of scenarios of what is ok and what is not. Doyle said its to try and increase the number of goals scored, he also said he wishes he was playing now as these rule changes are a massive advantage to the attacker, as Defenders can only leave the ball if they know for sure the attacker is offside, basically interfering with play does not apply anymore, the attacker has to actually touch the ball

    Liked by 1 person

  21. Arsenal FC
    ‏Verified account @Arsenal
    3h3 hours ago

    🚨 FULL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE 🚨

    🆚 Boreham Wood
    🗓 July 6

    🆚 Colorado Rapids
    🗓 July 16

    🆚 Bayern Munich
    🗓 July 18

    🆚 Fiorentina
    🗓 July 20

    🆚 Real Madrid
    🗓 July 24

    🆚 Lyon
    🗓 July 28
    🏆 Emirates Cup

    🆚 Angers
    🗓 July 31

    🆚 Barcelona
    🗓 August 4
    🏆 Joan Gamper Trophy

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Ah.

    I see that the failed novelists are “looking to the future already”. Didn’t took long for the catalytic converter for change to choke did it?

    Looks like the end of Emery’s era has began (Around about the time he shot himself in the Arsenal). Hah. Hah. Hah.

    *Raul rubs his mitts*

    Liked by 1 person

  23. I don’t wish Emery has a bad a year next season as that would be reflected on the pitch.

    I do guess that he’ll get more criticism if the season starts off in remotely similar form. Bellerin out for the start so RB remains a key area. I’d like to see Mustafi used there as it would allow a back four at least. And I’m also praying for less reliance on Kolasinac in the final third, that’s no.1 on the wish list, don’t care about the Krankes or the mess upstairs at the club I’d just like to see something different & even vaguely consistently effective on the LW! Fingers crossed.

    And there’s hope to see the younger players given a little more time next season with FL’s step up to continue his work with some of these players.

    Liked by 2 people

  24. All I want from Emery is to tell the team his style of play, his philosophy, and to stick to it. Let the players fail if they’re not good enough. I don’t mind. But play with a consistent plan which will help players perform and help with player recruitment.

    Glad that Freddie has been put into the picture to handle the ‘transition’. I just hope Emery can set aside his need for control and work with Freddie and the youngsters.

    But once again – Everything- Signings, players coming through, success and failure, will depend on first setting the team’s identity.

    Liked by 2 people

  25. Always wondered why the footage the refs, coaches and players watch with examples of how calls will be made, cannot also be shown to the public. It would help clear up so much of the confusion.

    Oh wait. That’s the answer.

    Liked by 3 people

  26. shard fifa have clips on their websites showing and explaining the rules of the game

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Wow, the u21 Euro’s have been a great watch so far.

    Not above taking a little pleasure in the right back Kenny, selected for squad ahead of Ainsley, presumably, having a rough time tonight.

    Nowt personal, but when you complain so much about the paucity of playing time for English players, especially in top six, leaving out a guy with 58 first team appearances in two seasons, including many big games, is a little odd.

    Not seen a single comment anywhere on it in press.

    Kenny had ten appearances this year and got a hunch they were mostly early in season and didn’t go particularly well.

    He’s done very well in past for England youth teams, but not sure that includes with u21’s, and in that case don’t think it should have been decisive.

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Of course, if it was Ainsley’s choice because of some issue or other (hopefully not his ma!), then apologies to Boothroyd and co!

    Still sense we aren’t too popular with some England figures though. From Southgate playing Gibson over chambers at u21 Euros, to same man’s stance with Wilshere (don’t pick people who aren’t playing regularly) which was later proved bullshit. Now this latest question mark.

    Liked by 2 people

  29. Still annoyed I got the link wrong at top of page by way.

    Was trying to post video of the Choudhury foul.

    Felt worth discussing as it was so outrageous and reminded me of the worse shit we suffered.

    Wrote a long old post on it but they no longer show for me on here if over a certain word count.

    Have since read that Choudhury’s manager on the night, Boothroyd, as well as other claims to infamy, used to preside over training sessions which were said to include a lot of ‘murder tackles’. Old school British coach overseeing British players jeopardising careers with revolting tackles. No link though, of course. Accidents happen.

    Liked by 2 people

  30. Choudhury isn’t that type of player and is a lovely lad, errr oh hang on. They even showed his exhuberant tackle rib stamp on Torreira as an example of his ‘qualities’ before the game. He’s a career end waiting to happen the dirty bastard.

    Liked by 2 people

  31. with England U21’s out with a game to spare, and their manager Boothroyd saying he would not resign, in fact he said “they will have to carry me out”, this article from 2014 on him might be worth a read, I really liked the nickname for him, Hoofroyd.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/mar/08/football-association-fa-england-under-20s-steven-gerrard

    Liked by 1 person

  32. He is a failed kick and rush merchant a get in their faces type of geezer. Sack the twat I say

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Most popular defence I saw of it on twitter was- ‘mistimed/accident/one of those things’, with proof offered he can’t have meant it because who would want to give away a pen in such a big game.

    You expect it from leicester supporters as, unfortunately, that’s way it is with football fans, who tend to defend their own players to hilt in these circumstances, but I’m pretty sure there are plenty of others who (nearly) always defend any player in this way.

    I don’t know how there minds work. Was tempted to try draw them out and ask if there is such a thing as an abysmal challenge, for which a player should be castigated and punished? And, if yes, what is it if that one doesn’t qualify?

    There’s no point though. People who will defend that one can’t be reasoned with

    Liked by 1 person

  34. My belief is that he wouldn’t have ‘meant’ to concede a pen, but that doesn’t mean anything about his guilt.

    For me it’s a question of a player being wired wrong if they go in like that. Primed if you like to go in like a maniac, with zero regard for opponent safety.

    Find it sickening that many flip it instantly and are primarily concerned with welfare of the offender.

    How he got primed like that a different question. Can never prove anything- though Dave Kitson handily gave insight into how some managers prepare players and whip them into frenzy- but potentially there are number of coaches who share some blame.

    Also important is the role of those who have reffed him throughout, especially at top level. Our game was a great demonstration of aggression which spills over into foul play being an asset for him, with no attempt made to rein it in, for justice sake but also to potentially protect opponents.

    Liked by 2 people

  35. “Bruiser”,
    “Psycho” (Pearce)
    &
    Boothroyd

    A collection of individuals never afraid to bow down before their betters, the bravehearts. Which is why the Sweet FA have such a sweet spot for these hopeless and useless coaches.

    Like

  36. The failed novelists are falling out of the woodwork with the gibberish about “boot rooms” this week, it’s almost as if they crow in unison…

    “…Manchester United’s ‘culture’ is overrated. Busby and Ferguson swam against the tide”

    I ouldn’t waste my time reading any of the tripe shovelled around by this sh*te merchant but the singular inability of any of these hacks to ever mention or just simply consider the copious bungs flying around the sport (please refer to Raul’s CV record in court), it is amusing.

    Such limping hacks won’t be calling out Boothroyd. Not today, and not tomorrow. given this background Southgate has been a mercy on the national team his inability to pick a worthy no.8 aside from chambo not withstanding – he doesn’t have much options ATM but there were players, plural, who didn’t even make his squad last year who’d have done a better job then Alli at 8.

    Like

  37. This great inspirational modern coach exposes all the frauds in just sixty one seconds!

    https://mobile.twitter.com/CoachesVoice/status/1142086018507649026

    How was this elder statesman of the game who expresses and shares the values of the club on and off the pitch not given the job before a younger coach was eased in?

    Liked by 1 person

  38. IslingtonGoonerAFC
    ‏ @Born_a_gooner

    A little thing I noticed about Kieran Tierney.

    In the last 3 seasons, he’s missed a total of 41 games to injuries.
    That is 1 full season lost to injuries in 3 seasons.

    Last season, he missed over 4 months to injuries.

    This is my worry about him.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Jordi Osei-Tutu is likely to join VfL Bochum, probably a loan

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Little update on what I’ve seen of our lads on international duty:

    Iwobi: positive game yesterday. Looked to have carried over some of that performance in EL final. Few lovely touches and passes. Bright. Just at point where not quite decided what sort of day would be for him and team, they subbed off Obi Mikel (playing 10 role!!), brought on Musa, shifted Iwobi central, and instantly were much more dangerous.

    Maybe so obvious it shouldn’t be stated, but often makes big impression on me how, say, one extra ‘skill’ option, can unlock the others in team. Net result is that it can go from defensive team managing to mostly contain, say, two of them, to struggling to contain three of them.

    Tiredness would have been a factor but fingers crossed Nigeria coach takes heed, plays the three behind striker next time, and doesn’t shoehorn Obi Mikel into team.

    Chances look pretty good of Iwobi having positive tournament at moment, which would be a boon to him and us I think. He pulled off a smooth, bouncing ball Cruyff turn the man himself, or Zidane, would be pleased with

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Bah. Another long post lost (can I change wordpress settings, or something at blog end?)

    Was a little report on Iwobi doing well yesterday. Think positive tournament would be very welcome for him and us.

    Also saw nice cameo from Guendouzi Friday night. Saw all three Bielik games. First two very good, yesterday his team were smashed by Spain and not sure any defender could impress in circumstances.

    Good news for me is that he played three intense 90 min games in 7 days, and didn’t seem to be flagging right at end. Have worried over his fitness for last few years but that’s a good sign. Almost scored again to make it three from three.

    Liked by 2 people

  42. well Rich the good news on Bilik is that Poland are out and so he will be available to AFC no longer than 4 weeks away, he might even cut his holidays short to push for a first team chance, that is if Emery actually wants him for the first team at all.

    The U18’s, U23’s and some of the first team players return to training this week, first preseason game is less than two weeks away.

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Ed

    Such a tricky one with Bielik. I figure he’d be in no hurry to sign a contract even if he had good level of involvement first half of season. Quite possible that even if it went at very top end of how good it could go he still wouldn’t sign a contract.

    Had a good league one loan, followed by impressive u21 Euros- is that likely to be enough of a platform for a lot of football with us this year?

    Ah, who knows. Impress a lot in training and maybe the opportunity could come and he can grasp it.

    If I had to bet, I’d go for him having a really good career, with him ending up a champions league level player, but suspect his next step needs to be much higher level than Charlton but not quite our level.

    Prob is you are less likely to play for a good club on loan than if owned outright, and even if he was to go on loan and it goes well, not much better than 50:50 he’s sign another contract at that stage.

    Funny thing is he looks well suited to playing in centre as one of three centre backs!

    Liked by 1 person

  44. Bloke I work with is a Charlton season ticket holder and can’t speak highly enough of him. Bit disturbed that Emery has not spoken to either him or Nelson about what is going on.

    Liked by 3 people

  45. Markyb. Good to know. Caught a few of their games end of season and he was looking the part.

    All feels a bit up in air with him, Nelson, Smith-Rowe and others. Guess we’ll find out over time. Let’s hope Freddie moving up helps the youngsters get chances.

    Liked by 1 person

  46. May be today we find out if very highly rated youngster Yunus Musah is staying or not. Rumours of him joining Valencia, just as last year was supposed to have signed for Juve.

    Anyway, think I heard it is first day for scholars today. Got impression we release less information than ever at that level these days so perhaps will take time for anything to filter through. I’m guessing we’ll continue with recent policy and there will be few scholars coming in from abroad. Only link I heard was with a Romanian kid months ago.

    Liked by 1 person

  47. rich last summer we had a piece on Arsenal.com showing our first year scholars first day of training, but then again .com had an obsession about training photos last summer, almost as if our players had never had training sessions before, PR

    Liked by 2 people

  48. some of the u18 and u23 players have posted photos of their return to training today, they still using Puma training gear, the Adidas deal does not start till this day week

    Liked by 1 person

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