Arsenal v Bolton – Carabao Cup begins

Ambarish—two points:

(1) I’m by no means defending the actions of the officials, as I’m of the belief that the professional standards have actually dipped since the introduction of VAR…that said, I think it’s important to note that things were already reaching a crisis point prior to it’s introduction, which directly impacted how this particularly flawed VAR model was going to be implemented…instead of choosing this papering over the cracks version they should have adopted the same model FIFA had used on the world’s stage…by not doing so, no outside eyes were allowed in the room, so the underlying issues continued to fester

until a new level of trust is forged between the players/managers and the officials, these problems will continue to not only persist, they’ll actually flourish, to the detriment of the product on the field…in order for any real change to come about an independent oversight committee needs to be formed to root out the systemic problems, then they can finally turn the page…to ensure future success I would tie their wages to a much higher level of accountability, so that although I would pay them vastly more, which would likewise lower the chances of any funny business, they would face far more severe ramifications, including termination, if they failed to live up to the newly established higher standards

on a side note, I would personally like to see some sort of “sin bin” situation in all of football, especially when it came to dealing with more minor, non-violent infractions

(2) no one is suggesting that MA should deploy an all-out blitzkrieg-like attacking model, but there are other ways to skin a possession-based cat…knowing full-well that City was always going to our biggest stumbling block, it was imperative that he devised a system that would be most effective against our chief competitor…if you look at the tape City is most vulnerable when playing against counter-attacking sides, so why not invest heavily in a side that could become the world standard when it came to countering with numbers and pace…instead he’s been hellbent on constructing a poor man’s version, which I find to be a rather depressing blunt instrument managerial model

as for today’s match, I can only hope we see the most unrecognizable starting 11 MA has ever selected

Best of luck to the youngster in goal – at 16 its a huge match to be dropped into.

why the fuck is Saka playing against fucking Bolton???

bad defending and a better quality Keeper probably makes that save, but 1 up nonetheless

it’s too bad that MA doesn’t use these types of matches to experiment tactically instead of having players who will likely never see the pitch performing within a dumbed-down version of the usual script…after all, he can figure out that other shit on the training pitch

so far they’ve had more touches in our box than we’ve had in theirs

I think Sterling has his boots on the wrong feet

That was some pass from Skelly.. Ethan Nwaneri on the scoresheet.

good for Ethan to get his first ever goal for the first team…finally Sterling contributed in some capacity

the colour man seems like a nice enough guy, but he’s so horny for all things Arsenal that he’s likely hiding his boner with a copy of Wenger’s book on his lap

Jorginho just might be the slowest man in the PL

another silver platter 4th, so this one’s done and dusted before the 70th…it should have been all sorted in the first half, considering the competition, but our rinse and repeat tactics don’t flatter us offensively…great to see a handful of kids getting some minutes though

Game was too late for me and am busy this week with work.

Good to see Ethan get a brace although it’s no surprise as what little I’ve seen of him has screamed out that he should have been given game time pst season.

Hopefully he and Skelly another promising talant will play the next few games and play Nwaneri at least agains PSG. Can always take him off if he flounders, but I don’t see that happening.

The kids playing and the win are the positives to take from last night from reading your commentary.

I’m in BKK tomorrow for the weekend so will get the game on my laptop as most hotels in BKK have the cheapest IPTV system with little or no sport including the 5 stars.

Game was too late for me and am busy this week with work.

Good to see Ethan get a brace although it’s no surprise as what little I’ve seen of him has screamed out that he should have been given game time pst season.

Hopefully he and Skelly another promising talant will play the next few games and play Nwaneri at least agains PSG. Can always take him off if he flounders, but I don’t see that happening.

The kids playing and the win are the positives to take from last night from reading your commentary.

I’m in BKK tomorrow for the weekend so will get the game on my laptop as most hotels in BKK have the cheapest IPTV system with little or no sport including the 5 stars.

Nwaneri is forcing me to put the Carabao Cup goals and assists data. :))

I will make it a top 3 in each section to not clutter the blog in coming days.

Just about back in the land of the living after a mega drive to N London.

A really fun night where the 3 young lads did themselves no harm at all. Nwaneri, Skelly and Nichols all showed their stuff to good effect and they must have been elated afterwards. The team was mixed with a good blend of the older pros.

There is a gulf in class between us and a third tier outfit like Bolton. Indeed, the game helpfully excised some of the lingering demons from the times when Rioch and fat corrupt Sam Allardyce taught us some lessons.

Generally positive environment in the crowd but full of fucking idiots not really watching the game and getting up and down every 2 minutes to take pictures of each other. We had seats in the East Stand at the top near the halfway line. We were at the end of a row do the constant fidgeting and moving about by wankers was more pronounced. I told two cunts to sit down and they meekly obliged. Nice pre game drink in the Gunners on Blackstock Road. But just like the rest of the area,it has probably gone a bit too posh and gentrified.

Got back to W Wales at 3am, happily entertained and with 2 smiling kids. Perfect!

Ambarish – my kids took numerous pictures which I’ll send on. I think you have my email address so can you please send me yours and I’ll put them together.

I’m thinking of a scheme to get to Deepdale for the Preston game. One of my favourite grounds in England. If anyone has any ideas?…

Sounded like a great trip, KP. Good memories to keep

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/willian-arsenal-chelsea-arteta-edu-33747246

After watching Williams earlier at Chelsea and later at Fulham , at both places he was an outstanding footballer who could make things happen.
The reason , besides a 3 year contract, tells ElB is a con artist par excellence. No wonder with all the wool pulled over their eyes the Kroenkes are shown as real idiots, not outstanding businessmen

Hi Hoopah
I hope you’re well mate.

This sounds a little bit like revisionism on behalf of the diminutive and heavily pregnant Willian. He was shit and utterly unmotivated. So many games where Arteta foolishly persisted with him and he consistently failed to deliver the goods. He can’t get out of it by simply blaming Arteta. Remember all that shit about how Mikel had talked him into a vision of winning the CL in three years?

Arteta managed him poorly too of course. One of a littany of failed and wrong-headed transfers.

If it were that easy, I’d blame Willian and Tets 40% and Bunga Bunga Edu the remaining 20%. An utter waste of time and money.

Hoopah—I so wish that he had gone into further detail about what exactly changed his mind, after all, he was still getting planty of opportunities within that supposed 3 month time frame…if I had to hazard a guess, it was likely the manner in which MA’s actions had drastically changed once things went sideways, when he tried to blame everything and everyone but himself…let’s remember that during that season he intentionally tried to turn the fans against Auba, like Wenger did with Sanchez, lied about Marts injury status, besmirched ESR’s contributions, even though he saved his ass, and attempted to gaslight the fanbase by pretending that even though he signed and played more senior players his intention all along was to pursue a more youth-oriented course…there’s no question that Willian’s time here was an unmitigated failure, but I blame MA/Edu far more for how how things panned out…thankfully things were being run so poorly that Willian was willing to leaving a lot of money on the table just to get the fuck out

KP
Edu wasn’t involved with the purchase – it was all about slimy Raul. At the time Edu spent most of his time holed up in Columbus. Edu was clearly a case of running with the fox (Raul) and chasing (Scheming) with the hounds (Kroenke’s). Raul had El B wrapped around his little finger – El B did what he was told unlike Emery who challenged Raul and his purchases.

I simply must say that I completely disagree with what you’ve suggested Norg—Willian officially signed around the 14th of August and Raul was out the door on the 20th…there might have been some coincidental agent-type links to Raul, but with MA about to get the keys to the kingdom and Edu speaking endlessly of his “closeness” to the player in question, there’s no way that Pepe signing lame duck fuck was directing our recruitment room…all 3 parties spoke on multiple occasions about the impetus behind this move and not a one mentioned that car salesman-like fuck…let’s face it, MA used this to falsely prove that he could attract talent, plus it certainly didn’t hurt that he was on a free

interestingly enough a few days ago a “writer” for the Independent wrote an article entitled “Mikel Arteta’s true inspiration isn’t Guardiola or Wenger—it’s David Moyes”…in more recent times, I’ve spoken about MA’s more defensive inklings this season, but, unlike this particular author, I wasn’t trying to put a positive spin on his negative footballing pursuits…maybe this individual forgot that Moyes didn’t win jackshit at Everton and was even worse when he was given the reigns at United…talk about shining up a turd

there’s no way that this Pepe signing…

Great comments KP & TRVL – onward to the LCFC game and Vardy’s nastiness. Hope the cnut sees red like his misses did in Wagathagate. That was comedy gold. The Have I Got News For You at that time was hilarious……..

See you all at the game to morrow…….. Just about to drive 375km to BKK and beat the 100s of speed cameras we have here now.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/09/26/ethan-nwaneri-arsenal-talent-academy-martin-odegaard/

Really heartwarming story about Ethan Nwaneri. He sounds like another all round good kid in the making. A lot of what he did against Bolton was very Odegaard-esque. The photo of him signing with Jack W is charming

I watched Saka on Wednesday night. He was constantly talking and encouraging the (even) younger kids. Someone in the club is doing a brilliant job of ensuring that these young players are grounded and properly human. Much the way that Rocastle and Thomas were carefully mentored back in the day

Top result for the Women’s team last night in the CL putting us into the group stages.

KP—I think we’re incredibly fortunate that those who rose to the top of the academy ladder, like Saka and ESR, were highly personable and level-headed individuals, as they clearly set the tone for those coming after them

today’s match-up should be fairly straight-forward so long as we don’t let Vardy have a day, which shouldn’t be a tough ask nowadays…we should be looking to run it up a bit against this average at best side

Managed to get BKK done in 30hours so back home for the game tonight. Has to be 3 points so no point thinking about line ups or tactics. We are a good level above LCFC and I fancy Ethan to have a field day if he plays.

KP
Good stuff on Ethan. Ode & Ethan at 7 & 8 I think our creative input would be very high in the PL’s table.

TRVL
Agreed LCFC are pretty much a one man team at the sharp end. Saliba and Gabs can handle the ferret faced, nasty arsehole.

Looking forward to game time…..

If your our and about to local grounds hope it’s a fun day out.

Leicester are pure piss this season and Vardy fancies himself as a spoiling pantomime villain (oh no he doesn’t – oh yes he does!) rather than a serious player. I doubt he’ll even start.

We just need to get right on top of them from minute 1, press the fuck out of them when we don’t have the ball, establish a lead, score another 2, and let them chase for the rest of the game.

Arsenal 4-0 winners at a canter.

Hi Tony
Driving in Thailand these days sounds arguably as hazardous as when I was there. The traffic jams in BKK eventually became a disincentive to travel too far. Those speed traps sound like a money making scheme rather than an attempt to improve road safety. I doubt I’d recognise it now after 25 years. You must have balls of steel venturing out on the roads.

Worst place I ever visited for road safety was Tehran.

County beat Cardiff Met University by a goal last night. Couldn’t get there because of a cold (that feels akin to COVID). Back in the top three which is fantastic.

Martinez banned for ‘offensive behaviour’ – https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c756r1609dno

Our erstwhile goalkeeper is at it again. What must go on in his phallocentric mind to equate trophies with his genitalia. Some serious short dick energy going on in his mind. Fucking weirdo.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/sep/28/jens-lehmann-fined-for-damaging-neighbours-garage-with-chainsaw

And while on the subject of eccentric goalkeepers, this is definitely one of the good guys. I loved Jens.