Quick in buying, not so good in selling

Excellent post Ambarish.
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Club assets are literally in players, the stadia and training facilities. The bricks and mortar and land values will always rise, but not as much as player’s accruing or diminishing worth. This is where the Manager and DoF have to be on the same page, so that the incoming players fit as quick as is humanly possible.
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Some, such as Timber, slotted in seamlessly others like Havertz are still passengers. I would say Havertz £65m+ price tag is worth maybe £40m at best at the moment. As with stocks and shares players prices are based on form and ceiling. A fragile structure at best.
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Ever since Arteta has arrived he has sold our best players for pittance and then had to spend almost twice as much to rectify Mikel’s brain fart, as with Emi Martinez that is still in the process of being fixed with Raya’s arrival.
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Now we are looking at ESR being pushed out of the club for an Emi type price if Arteta has his way. Gooners everywhere I’ve read are not happy with this completely unpopular and non sensical thinking.
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Ditto the poor and dumb KT loan decision.
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Regular readers here know I didn’t want KT to go because he’s out ONLY decent LB. He may well be a bit fragile and get confused, rightly, at inverting because of the blame he’ll get for not being in the gap behind at the same time; omnipresent of sorts. Perhaps ubiquitize of ubiquity sums up Arteta’s madness.
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Let me assess this for a moment…………….. ahh, ok, I got it. We play a high line as our defensive tactics, sometime in our opposition’s half. Now to operate such a high line, we need speedsters as our last line of defense.
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Now Kiwior isn’t up to PL speed mentally or phyiscally, and perhaps never will be. He lost all his aerial duals against Fulham. Physically, because his awareness is poor he’s slow to react and slower than KT for that reason.
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Arteta knowing this is happy for Kiwior or Zinchenko to cover the LB. Except he isn’t happy, far from, it and is why he’s haggling with Barca to land Garcia, because he knows our left flank is going to be openly porous to a plethora of continued attacks from speedster wingers, strikers, pacy midfielders and overlapping full backs et al.
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With our need for our fastest PL defender what does Mikel do? He loans KT out as Ambarish’s post covers well.
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Is the writing on the wall for Arteta? He’s certainly not looking comfortable.

Early morning post

TRVL
I think the A&E plan is unravelling as you articulated. It was clear that MA wanted money, and a lot of it for another ‘Rice’ galactico to round off the TW and deflect the current pressure and narrative aimed at his sorry ass. It doesn’t matter who gets burned in the process; their careers are of no mind for Arteta.
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What Arteta is afraid of is that his Adulator meter is in minus – bar his fan boys who, by the way, are conspicuous in their absence. Has the penny/rupee finally dropped? Are they all starting to have epiphanies that Arteta is nothing more than a Galaxy brain after all? Not a footballing managerial god after all. Colour me shocked!
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Plenty of room here on the dark side for the misinformed where you can leave Arteta’s misdirection and misleading that he is indeed a football manager behind, in the world of make belief.
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That has never been proven – not in just over 4 years in fact. The reality is Mikel is lagging behind Moyesyball as a manager because bless him, David won a Euro trophy last season, and his ex captain lost the Title to City. Also, Moyes Euro cup trumps Wenger – Pierre will be devastated.
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So, back to my point. Arteta now needs to make a big statement and Stan has said “ok sell first”. Osimhen or similar in the 11th hour would be so Wengeresque, it’s not worth contemplating, but it would give Arteta more time to get our challenge back on track, because there are some serious negative rumblings among the Gooner Faithful world wide, and rightly so after our dismal displays in the first 3 games.
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September 1, at 23:00 BST the TW closes. I believe what transpires by that date or more importantly what doesn’t transpire is going to save or kill Arteta’s season and managerial tenure with The Arsenal.
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Arteta is going to start to lose players loyalty and belief in him that he is good for their careers. KT, Balogun, ESR, LCB Gabs, and Hale Enders behind them are looking to their agents to look elsewhere. Mikel doesn’t care one iota about those players who have broken his imaginary trust while Mikel routinely crushes the trust of his peripheral and academy players with broken promises of game time – ask ESR.
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We’ll soon be able to add Havertz, Zinchenko and Eddie o the above list when they can’t manage the footballing miracles Arteta expects from them. Hardly their fault, is it?
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I have no agenda against A&E or our suits; I just want elite business conducted by a £5billion+ football club with immense history and pride of old, which we need back. That and elite City or better football for a £billion squad, which requires an experienced manager who is a serial winner and challenger.
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Too much to ask?
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With Arteta certainly and probably Edu as well. Both are far too comfy with little or no accountability on them. Jobs for life type of thing, as well in with the gullible owners drunk on Arteta’s enthusiasm and seemingly fantastical promises that turn out to be whimsical at best. Statues are already being cast for the Franco like belligerent one.
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I’m with TRVL our transfer gang won’t be able to sort out so many player movements in such a short time. Again, a loan may be grasped in the closing minutes, but it will come at a cost. It’s always possible Stan will tell the board to drag their feet and let Arteta run with what he’s got!
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Arteta’s lost there plot if he only wants £14m for Partey. They wanted no less than £50m in their posturing for Balogun’s sale. Then they celebrate as Vera Lynn said, but don’t realise they could be losing an elite player or one with decent ceiling that had Arteta said, “Ok I’ll give you 4 games to prove yourself or you go back on loan”. That would have been fair in my mind particularly the lack of quality Balogun would be playing against.
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Sadly, Arteta isn’t that smart or understanding of how to build a player’s career for the benefit of the club and player. Asking for game time is no no for Arteta. It offends him.
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I’m looking forward to Saturday morning and knowing who is left or added to the squad and how we are going to line up against Manure Sunday afternoon and I’ll add my thoughts for the season then.
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Right now, things are looking grim for Arteta, which includes us if A& E don’t sort out this TW.
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Have a good one LIR

Nice piece Ambarish. I don’t really see it as my concern, but the club wastes monumental amounts of money doesn’t it? All fine now while Kroenke is splashing the cash (that he makes from fans of course) but ultimately it’s not sustainable.

I’m also hugely disappointed about Tierney (a prime example of Kroenkephobian understatement – I have such a vast ego, I’m also a adjective these days!). A proper teamworking pro and a terrific attacking defender. I suspect he’ll sadly disappear down the rabbit hole heavily used to disappear others in or near their prime. The Guendouzi vortex.

Remember that Christmas game a few years ago up at the Hawthorns against WBA. In the snow? That cutback and curling shot? Sublime – KT was brilliant that night. Now, thanks to our stubborn prick of a manager, we’re obliged to start thinking of him in the past tense.

Art Fraud – Nice one mate. Always cool to get fresh perspectives. Looking forward to more thoughts as Arteta takes us into further lunatic scrapes and conclusively proves he doesn’t see himself as a contestant in a popularity pageant.

If we lose to Manure (and I sincerely hope we don’t) it could get quite toxic on Sunday.

I resisted to say ‘Brand’ as a club’s biggest revenue stream.
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Obviously, the brand is a combinations of assets and income streams. We have built a decent brand in the UK, obviously, but also growing in America and I assume India. China and S E Asia and particularly Thailand the brand is not really recognized with City, Pool, Chavs way ahead. Last time I checked no shop here either.
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Our asset management is poor. Simple as that. Arteta has lost the club maybe £200m now on players. This must be exasperating for Stan if he even understands. I fail to see why he wouldn’t.
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Will we be paying Havertz’s contract off at the end of the season? I wouldn’t bet against it, would you?

Cheers Ambarish

We have jokers working the club. A right pair of muppets.
Mikel Arteta and Edu. I dislike them intensely. I simply can not abide bullshitters.
They have taken the enjoyment out of supporting the club.

Havertz another Chelsea mug was the final straw.
Tierney loan? Why?
I could go on and on and in time I might very much do so.

Finally supporters are waking up we have a pair of cunts in charge.

“The Guendouzi vortex”
Made me chuckle, KP.
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Art Fraud
Sorry missed your post. Welcome to LIR.

And how thats Win the dog , or is it a cat doing?
And the olive trees or the herb garden he has at Colney

should have called the thing Mug!

Tony

Good analysis. It’s all totally self inflicted but I think Tets and Edu might be entering a rather dangerous period. This time last year, we were fresh, attacking and playing some great stuff. To me, the players now look confused and hesitant. How the actual fuck did he manage to so comprehensively diminish the optimism around the club? If he’s got any sense this weekend, he’ll ditch this TP experiment and select a more conventional line up. Would you bet on that happening though?

Kinda waiting for the Friday deadline to come and go before I make my mind up about where we’re at exactly but in truth I’m unlikely to veer too far from what I’ve always thought which Marc so eloquently summed up recently.

Apologies for not replying recently, especially to thank you for the links Tony,most enjoyable. Went on the beer last week for a day,spent 3 days realising that I can’t do that anymore and am now currently sharing the trauma of returning to school with my kids who,embarrassingly, are handling it with much more ease than I am. Still,am really enjoying the return of the football,though with the obvious caveat that Arteta seems to be my very own dementor when it comes to Arsenal. I presume KP,that is what you were referring to when you spoke of stepping back somewhat,that need to withhold the personal investment because putting your hopes and dreams into an Arteta led Arsenal is akin to the sword of Damocles,an uncomfortable existence where pleasure can no longer appear. (TRVL,did you put that idea out there recently? Apologies for copyright infringement!)That’s certainly what I was trying to convey a few weeks back,it’s not a turning of the back,more a temporary distancing until natural order is restored. Bloody difficult though isn’t it? We try not to care too much but who are we kidding? Anyway,hang in there man. It seems more people are becoming aware of our own doubts about Arteta. Of course the team will improve in depth and quality if you spend £600 million, but that doesn’t change Arteta’s character and it’s multitude of flaws.
Two quick points.
1) If Boelhy’s Chelsea are used by anyone as a counter to the argument that spending obviously improves a team ,don’t accept that rubbish. Simply think of all the clubs that spend big and dominate domestically and in Europe over the last 3 decades or so since money has totally altered the game. How many have spent big and failed to improve? Explain to them the concept of the exception that proves the rule.Their argument is akin to the one that finds a 90 year old granny who has smoked all her life and producing her as evidence that smoking does not endanger health.
2) Much more importantly ask the person why they felt it necessary to use such an odd exception to justify their defence of Arteta. Do they realise that in doing so they have taken the contrarian stance? Seeking an argument that defies established wisdom and evidence? Is this not the very crime that Arteta’s critics have flung at them constantly, that they don’t represent the ‘average’ Arsenal fan in the pub or the Emirates? Yet here they are producing chainsmoking grannies as evidence against modern science.
The “We have to spend hundreds of millions but should not be expected to win anything” argument is an abysmal one and quite insulting to anyone with a logical mind. Don’t accept it. Demand more. Without fans holding their club’s administrators to account apathy and mediocrity would infect and fester. This is not entitlement, it is duty. That is fanhood,the exact opposite of the mindless sycophantic behaviour that some would force on you. Hold firm is what I’d say.

Hi Almunia

Yes, a lot of that resonates. My trigger was watching AFTV and thinking we could be reverting to that awful end Emery/start of Arteta period. You know, the slow passing, pissing around at the back, error strewn horseshoe shaped anti-football where goals, creativity and fight had all dried up. And don’t get me started (again!) on personnel mis-management.

In some respects, this weekend’s game is akin to that one a few years ago at Chelsea where ESR (who else?) saved his bacon. Talking of ESR, if he’s sold, there’ll be the closest thing to riot (in Arsenal context riot
equals widespread gloom!) we’ll possibly ever see around the Emirates.

Hope it goes well getting back into the swing of work. I don’t envy you. I think we all get the pre-work horrors at some stages in our lives and they’re not to be underestimated. I think about the only pearl of wisdom I can offer is that the reality seldom as bad as one imagines. And take it easy with your health mate.

Art Fraud

Like many labradors, Win has become frustrated and has taken to eating his own shit while still believing he can still win Crufts (a well known dog show in UK for the non cognoscenti).

His breath isn’t taking any prisoners but Pedro and his apparatchiks are nevertheless still fooling themselves that they can smell parma violets (lilac coloured perfumed sweets that UK based pissheads ate when trying to convince their other halves that they were sober) when he yawns at the way we’re playing.

Poor thing – with all of that slobbering attention from Nuno Tavares and paw rubbing training from Tets, he doesn’t have much to look forward to…

I would rather the dog in charge than these muppets, Kronkephobe
At least the dog is likeable.

Someone yesterday sent me a link of Arteta screaming at Tavares after a game a season back.

”you want champions league ‘he screams feet away from him.

Arteta and Arsenal never achieved it and Tavares went to play in in it for Marseille the following season.

Glad people are finally seeing through the bullshit, the man irritates the hell out of me.

Hi Art

That’s a big part of Arteta’s problem. His personality leaves an awful lot to be desired. It ought not to matter but in his case it most certainly does. It’s his embarrassing touchline antics that appal me the most

You’ve found some kindred spirits on here among people who not only distrust and easily find fault with his management methods, but also think he lacks warmth, humility, humanity and self awareness. You quote the Nuno example which is a good one, but he’s alienated several other valuable assets eg Gunnerdoozi, Torreira (who looked brilliant in his first NLD) and KT, plus a handful of younger players. It staggers me that the Kroenkes cannot see this.

Imagine if George Graham, Bertie Mee or even (late period) Wenger had been give such a huge injection of funds from the Hill-Woods or in Wenger’s case, Kroenke himself. That the cash is now being flashed to such a extent underscores the strategic error that the board committed by being so mean immediately after the Emirates opened. Until recently, interest rates were at record lows.

KP
Hill-Wood will be turning in his grave at the thought of Arteta’s spending and losses.
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Just read Edu thinks he can land Osimhen for next summer.

***the following 3 posts were from late last evening, right before Ambarish turned the proverbial page…I apologize if you’ve already seen them”

In a way I wish MA would once again renege on his earlier promises and send ESR elsewhere, as that would finally enable him to actually get on the fucking pitch and likewise expose our manager for the conniving twat he truly is…the manner in which he’s dealt with ESR has been so egregious that it makes me wonder if he’s purposely trying to sabotage the kid’s career…normally I wouldn’t lean into such a conspiratorial narrative, but we’ve seen just how vindictive MA can be when a player doesn’t toe the line or exposes him to criticism, whether it’s justified or not…let’s face it, ESR has been a bit part player, at best, ever since MA was forced into playing him…the fact that ESR saved his proverbial ass means jackshit to this littlest of men, as he undoubtedly still resents the backlash he faced from those who had called for him to get significantly more minutes long before his forced inclusion

I would suspect if swap deals were far more prevalent in the footballing realm ESR would already have a medical scheduled…of course, I would much rather he went outside the PL, but I doubt he would garner as much interest, from a transfer fee perspective, from those outside England

there’s been a couple of reports circulating regarding our potential interest in Osimhen…I’m not exactly sure how to properly evaluate these particular rumours, except to say that this could be either another classic “we tried our best but couldn’t get it done” ploy, simply for appeasement purposes, or a bona fide attempt to properly redress our positional concerns up top…in regards to the latter, it’s important to keep in mind that any such move would require the selling off of several pieces, above and beyond Balo, Holding and Nunes…in fact this could involve both ESR and Gabs…that said, can you even imagine our sloth-like suits actually getting all of that shit done in the time remaining, especially considering how difficult it can be to deal with Napoli at the best of fucking times…as such, my spidey senses say this is a full-bore wag the dogish ruse

here we go, instead of focusing on what matters, Arteta’s PR minions are attempting to hijack the narrative by emphasizing the rather pathetic fact that the Balo sale will be a club record…how is it that we continue to pay above the number for everyone and their Chelsea-based brother, yet somehow our not so dynamic duo are looking for praise to be heaped upon them for getting far less than the expected fee…I guarantee you that Balo is fucking ecstatic to be escaping MA’s vindictive clutches

Welcome AF, always nice to see some new blood being injected into the mix…apologies if that sounded like a greeting card for tweakers…Cheers

Arteta is grade A tool ,Kronkephobe.

He stands outside his box , as you say micro managing the whole game , then we read we have broken the record for conceding 1 minute goals in a season, so its all for the cameras.

The players , who are not the brightest at the best of times, have sussed him out and what type of character he is.

That’s why he keeps buying new ones, like that cunt Havertz.

here’s an interesting quote which sums up our piss-poor asset management for the better part of two decades, “Arsenal haven’t managed to sell many players at a profit – but they could be about to with a fringe star, as Nuno Tavares leaves”…keeping in mind that he’s going to NF on a loan deal with a 12M option to buy…only a payola-inspired media whore could try to present this in a positive light

TRVL
Maybe the £12m can go some ways to address the goal keeper increased losses since Emi’s sale. World Cup winner must be worth double of what we sold him for.
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Don’t worry it’s not my money the fanboys scoff not realising the extended fire sale this TW is casting players we need this season aside for money.
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Arteta will be thinking if I can just get to the January TW, I can buy enough fresh reinforcements to get me to the summer TW before they break on me; wash, rinse, repeat.

Anyone against us buying Cucurela from the Chavs? I doubt they want to sell us a player that would improve us, would they? They just shift their misfits or past their sell by dates onto us laughing all the way to their bank.

Anyone against us buying Cucurela from the Chavs

Hi Tony
Err that’ll be me for one. Gallas, Willian, Cech, arguably Jorginho, possibly Havertz (although I’m fence-sitting in hope more than expectation that he’ll cut it). We need to cure ourselves of our addiction to buying their rejects/cast-offs.

Remember Colin Pates? We signed him from Chelsea back in 80s. I’d say he, Hollins (RIP) and Alan Hudson were the last 3 reasonable successes to come from the Pensioners.

I’m just not sure about Cucurella. Crazy barnet and all that but I’d rather have kept KT. I’m sorry but I’m still in the camp if not giving him any more money. Sink or swim time.

Anyone against us buying Cucurela from the Chavs
Hi Tony
Err that’ll be me for one. Gallas, Willian, Cech, arguably Jorginho, possibly Havertz.

+1. That’s a hard NO for me as well. KP, don’t forget David Luiz.

in regards to Cucurella, it appears as if he’s on his way to United, but that’s certainly not written in stone…I’ve spoken at great length about my concerns regarding the noton of bankrolling our not so dynamic duo to such an unprecendented level, as I’m not convinced they know what the fuck they’re doing from a recruitment and/or boardroom standpoint…furthermore, if they fuck this shit up, we could be thrust into another extended period of mediocrity, as we would likely need to sell off our most cherished young assets just to stay right the ship once again…right now our most coveted pieces weren’t even recruited by him, minus Ode, and the other peices they added we paid above the number for the vast majority, which means they would need to produce here in order to even maintain their respective market values…at this moment in time, we would struggle to break even with Ramsdale, White, Jesus, Zinchenko, Tierney, Vieira, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Timber, Tomi, Kiwor, Jorginho, Trossard and Lokonga, for a variety of self-inflicted and injury-based reasons…just saying

Tony,Cucurella is going to utd by the looks of things so the point is moot I’d say. Utd look like they’re getting Arambat also,a decent player also.
Balogun officially gone to Monaco for £38.7 mil with 17.5% sell on.
Big news for me is that Ryan Gravenberch could be leaving Bayern for Liverpool. Would hate to see him in Klopp”s hands,quality player. Thank fuck Klopp has run out of time and money before he fixed that defence or he’d be back ahead of us already ( and it’s debatable that he’s not).
One other worry,strong links of Fati to spuds. If he’s fit,he’s class. Hope life is treating you and yours well.

KP,thanks for the kind words and advice.Health is ok. Gave up the cigarettes 20 years ago so there’s no way I’m going teetotal,but the odd few pints only. Believe me,Arsenal are far more of a danger to my health! Good comeback by Haverfordwest the other night,2 late goals. Good win for Cardiff also. Hope all well in Wales.

Art Fraud,
You’re not Irish by any chance? You have a marvellous grasp of the best way to use the word ‘tool’!

TRVL,
Couldn’t agree more. I’m like a broken record but this is our time. The Kroenkes have released the funds. It won’t last forever. Blowing the money and celebrating ‘closing the gap’ is a ludicrous mentality that has consumed some fans. When the money and opportunity are gone it will be too late to start talking about botched transfers,wasted money,ridiculous contracts.

omit “stay” in “just to right our ship…”

Cheers Almunia…take care

Between the amount spent this summer and the fanboy’s pushing the narrative that we were actually fighting for the title last season Arteta might just have pushed the bar high enough for enough fans to turn on him.

Going to sit back and enjoy every minute of it.

Almunias.
I dare say there is some Cork in me.

Manchester City can sell Palmer for £45 million, who has hardly featured for them, we can’t even get a fee for a Scottish International player in Tierney.

Compared to them and the other clubs, we are a fucking joke.

As you say, the money won’t always be there , probably not for the next manager, clever bollocks Arteta would have spunked It.

Money wasted means higher ticket prices ultimately.

spot on AF…of course, the fact that MA would rather shoehorn a myriad of players into the RB position than play Tierney surely doesn’t help matters…furthermore, MA never puts anyone in the shop window and rarely, if ever, does his due diligence when it comes to finding proper loan partners, which invariably leads to a players’ depreciative value

Art,
I should have guessed the Cork link.
Yeah,the failure in selling players is pretty stark. Balogun’s value didn’t plummet because he wasn’t at Arsenal long enough for Arteta to fall out with him and brand him a trouble maker. Poor old Edu probably feels like he’s being asked to sell second hand false teeth by the time Arteta has finished ostracising players.

Marc,
There is a remarkable irony in the idea that Arteta may be a victim of his own hype as the veil is slowly pulled back.

No poor old Edu from me, Almunias he is another grade A tool.

He would not be out of place working in the British museum, where they have just realised all the artefacts have suddenly gone missing.

Would not be surprised if he completely fucks up FFP.

I simply can not deal with fuckin idiots like him.

Art

Edu’s in the job because he doesn’t call out Arteta – if he did Arteta would’ve manipulated a situation where they fell out, it looked like Edu had fucked up and Arteta would say its him or me.

They are millions on a year, they get it regardless if they win, lose or draw, Marc

They are are not walking away from that, because they are not getting plum jobs elsewhere.
You have to crow bar these fuckers out.

As long as we are selling the merchandise and tripe , everyone seems happy at the club.

Hardly an elite organisation or business is it?

Upstate

Quite right. How could I forget sideshow Bob? 😊

Almunia
Cricket over, back to some or other sport that vaguely interests me….

My schadenfreude-ometer was flickering as England polished off the run chase against NZ to discover…

Everton are losing in the Carabao to 4th flight Doncaster – oh dear what a shame (again!). 😊Draw for the next round is straight after so I’ll let the lads know in india who we’ll be playing.

Cardiff in the draw too after looking good against Birmingham. A certain on-loan Icelandic goad keeper pulled off a great save from a free kick and got stuck in when Jutkiewicz went studs up on Cardiff’s rb. So hope for him yet. Fingers crossed for Cardiff v Arsenal in round 3.

What about County eh? I’d given it up with 10 minutes to go. I might venture up to Colwyn Bay on Saturday. The alternative is seeing the Bluebirds away at Ipswich which is fucking miles away!

KP,
I was just writing how rangers were back in it when they went and conceded again. 3-1(5-3) now to psv. Difference in quality is pretty obvious but rangers have that stereotypical British ‘spirit’. I did consider watching the Doncaster Everton game but switched back after a couple of mins,atmosphere was funeral-esque compared to Eindhoven. Have to say I do think Todd Cantwell should be playing at a higher level and I watch and enjoy the spl every week. But he is a prem player for me,albeit a mid table team for now.
Gave up on the cricket when the football started, didn’t look like it was going to be remotely close. Presume England cantered home.
You have me keeping an eye on both County and Cardiff. What about Charlton,Dean Holden 1st sacking of the season. Brutal times at the Valley.
Rangers hit the post,PSV go down and score,football is a bitch.
Pity Celtic didn’t loan Tierney back,he would’ve flourished back there. I presume his wages made it impossible. The Rodgers return is not going well,he may not last very long this time a lot of fans didn’t want him back,felt he betrayed the club when he walked away for the Leicester job. They don’t forgive and forget too easily in Glasgow!
Personally I’d love a handy draw in the cup and a deep run,all the way to Wembley, Can’t beat the thrill of a cup win. Fingers crossed for the draw.

Almunia
Charlton are south London’s answer to Watford I fear. A proud storied club run by utter loons these days! There are cowboys throughout English professional football and they seem to get even worse the further down the leagues, although Vinai, Kroenke and Garlick et al take some beating!

Yeah, England (and Wales!) beat NZ pretty straightforwardly. I hope the remaining games are a bit more competitive. Draw coming up!

I’ve not delved too far into Scottish fitba this year other than agonise about Hibs’s results. Every year it just gets a little more distanced from the calibre of the bigger leagues it seems.

KP-the headline in the Daily Cannon reads “Arsenal loanee makes winning start with debut Cup victory”….good times ahead for one and all?!?