Before anything, let us send some love to Ben White, who had to leave England World Cup squad for personal reasons.
There is some good and bad news coming from Brazilian side of the World Cup football. Martinelli showed his worth against Cameroon and had a very good game at the left coming close to scoring twice, saved eventually. He is such a threat to the defenders, I always get a CR7 vibes in him; he is probably one of the worst players to play against for any defender. Saying this when he is playing on the grandest stage of football means something.
Coming to the bad news, Gabriel Jesus picked an injury and will probably be out till January. That means he is going to miss some games for us, when we are fighting for the league. Time for Eddie Nketiah to show up, but this might tempt Edu and Arteta to go for a CF in the January window. We needed that fund for the midfield where we need a proper competition for Thomas Partey. I would personally prefer strengthening midfield and waiting for Jesus while Eddie fills up the spot. I have always wanted to see Martinelli in the CF role but I guess we will never know.
In other news, World Cup is getting exciting now. Germany, Mexico, Belgium, Uruguay are out. Such a shame with Belgium, even with so much talents they can’t get through the group stage. Same with Germany, I guess they need a reboot like Arsenal.
Good to see Japan qualifying for round of 16, kudos to Tomiyasu. England is doing great, finishing top of the group with some brilliant games. USA qualified too which will keep Turner busy.
Right, short one today. Apologies for missing for last two weeks, been busy a bit in my own marriage lol. I will take another week off, need some sun somewhere on the beach.
Hope you are doing well, have a good evening!
Hi Ambarish,
We can’t spend serious money (assuming we have it) on another striker just because Jesus is out for a few matches – what do you do with the new guy when Jesus comes back? We all know Arteta isn’t very good at squad rotation and any player worth buying would very likely want guarantees on playing time.
Its not dissimilar to the rumours about Arteta wanting a winger in Jan – we’ve got Saka, Martinelli, ESR, Vieira and even Nketiah who can cover there plus Tierney at a real push.
Personally I think Arteta will look to push ESR out the door in the near future and Tierney will probably go in the summer.
Marc
Well, we would need serious rotation from January, with advancement in Europa league.
Keeping or selling ESR will confirm who was more influencing to Arteta – Wenger or Pep. Pep football needs a disciplined Odegaard while Arsene allows the freedon ESR needs ro flourish. Time will tell but I’m afraid we will have our Coutinho moment at some point. I just wish it’s not Martinelli, Saka or ESR.
And that ref who gave the Cameroon player a red in 92nd min was a C*NT. No doubt about that.
Rule my arse.
Ambarish
I think we’ll see ESR and Tierney go to raise funds – Newcastle will have money to burn and they’re both good players.
What we have to spend and who we’ll go after in Jan who knows but my guess is it won’t be the CM everyone knows we need.
Hi Marc
I think those two potential sales seem credible (sad – esp in the case of ESR). Just speculating – and I have no idea how long is remaining on each player’s contract – how much do you think each would go for? KT 25? And ESR 35? I can see Jesus not being out too long given his indefatigability and agree that MF has to be the priority. Last season taught us that.
Ambarish – just keep working on gettting your priorities right mate. Life first, LiR second. I think I speak for everyone when I say your clients, ie us, are perfectly happy.
Ambarish and Hoopah
I’d be interested to learn how the WC is going down in your areas. Are Indian football fanatics supporting particular teams? Are there busy gathering places where people are watching games? Is it boosting football’s popularity even more?
I’ve just got back from Italy where, predictably, the interest was very subdued. Very few people watching games in pubs/cafes as you’d expect. I think failing to qualify has been a hugely negative phenomenon for the Azzurri and the country.
Kroenke
I’d hate to see ESR leave – especially to Newcastle, Howe’s a decent coach and we’ll see a player who’ll make us ask why did we sell him?
That’s before Newcastle take a step up and bring in the next Pep who’ll push ESR onto the next level.
Money wise – I’d say we’d (Arteta and Emu sorry Edu) would be fools to not manage £35 million ish for Tierney and £45 plus for ESR. Sanllehi got £30 plus for Iwobi and we all know how useless he was – Pedro kept telling us.
Marc
Thanks for that. I’m glad my valuations were a little low. No overseas clubs will have the financial clout to afford ESR let alone the inclination. That leaves the barcodes I suppose. But like you, I’d love to see him stay and become a real legend. Last season, he, more than anyone else, was outstanding at times. He gives us something completely different from Ode and Vieira.
I bet you can’t wait to get back to N7.
Morning all
Ambarish, aways family first. It’s the first rule of our MC club.
I’m grateful for the platform and have no expectations of you because spare time is a rare commodity in an ever busier world.
I’d be seriously grieved if we sold ESR before he really had an injury free run of games. The team has evolved and is continuing to evolve in ESR’s absence, so once ESR gets over his post injury jitters., he’ll thrive. The lad has ability in spades and generally a good first touch particularly talking the ball on the half turn.
I hope ESR is giving Arteta a big headache although as if right on cue, Jesus is out for a few weeks, so the team needs reshuffle, which means ESR should get game time. I’d be sorry to see KT go but he is a bit old school to our new marauding style of 1 and 2-touch football when we play it. Good to keep as a 2nd string LB or LWB.
KSE reportedly lost around £40m on last year and should be in the red again after this year albeit not by much. I hope this gives Edu enough TW funds to battle those middle eastern owned clubs with their filthy lucre unless we are selling to them at vast profits, then their shekels are as pure as the driven snow.
My trust dvd recorder has finally give up the ghost and died. Amazon or Australia to the rescue but not in time to record the England game at 2am and tomorrow morning is room calibration day 1.
Looking forward to watching France v Poland and some of the more interesting games going forward.
Is this Messi’s year? You know saying in true Kevin Keegan style, You know I’d really LUV IT if Argentina won. 🙂
To be honest watching CR7 doing a legacy mutilation, as Wenger did is not palatable at all whereas Messi winning the World Cup would I imagine see a CR7 meltdown of epic proportions that should bring the wee fellow down a peg or 2 because this was his last chance.
The WC is showing signs of threatening to take off; let’s hope tonight is the first of many great games.
Thank you, KP and Tony. The only thing good about the world cup is that it fell during my marriage so I’m not missing much. :))
KP
In my place, it’s crazy. There are a lot of Messi and CR7 fans hence Portugal and Argentine supporters. 4 years back, I was hardly seeing anyone but can see a few jerseys everytime I go out these days. We, Indians, are mostly ‘don’t give a fcuk’ types and hardly anyone cares about 16k deaths. Plus we don’t see regular football so that takes priority I guess.
I’m in a dry state, so I assume it would be crazier outside. Right time to be in Hoopah’s place.
—
KT will be first sacrifice unfortunately. We have a lot of options and Tomi can cover LB pretty well if needed. I hope we don’t let go ESR, he is one of our own and it’s not like he is another Welbeck or Iwobi. There’s a world class no 10 there.
Kronke
“I bet you can’t wait to get back to N7.”
It’s beyond stupid what they’ve done with the World Cup – my last match was the 30th October, I can’t make West Ham on Boxing Day because of family commitments and Newcastle on the 3rd is first day back at work so that’s out the window.
So because of how the fixtures have fallen and the FA Cup draw the next match I’ll make is ManU on the 22nd Jan.
Ambarish
I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t agree that letting ESR go would be bonkers. As Kroenke says he gives us something different to any of the other squad players but if you’re not one of Arteta’s favourites you are gone.
Marc
If it makes you feel any better I can’t get to any games. ):
Ambarish
Do you have problems watching the PL and all sports bar the cricket in India?
Hi Tony
Not at all, all sports bar here has been converted to sitting cafes. You go in, buy some pasta and a tea for 90min. Timing is problem though, so I hope we play only in afternoon unlike earlier times 😀
Hi Marc
Only hope I have is, Arteta is a bit cunning and won’t let the fans turned against him. Selling ESR will angry some fans.
It’s not like we are going to sell him in 150m and buy 5 players we need. We have a competitive team already and we are just finding replacements / competition.
Tony
Yeah but you’ve got a better climate as well!
You’re also not daft enough to buy a season ticket.
Looks like Jesus could be sidelined for a substantial period, as surgery appears to be required…as such, there’s no way we can realistically expect a top 4 finish relying solely on Eddie and/or shoehorned alternatives…it’s quite a quandary, as I would much rather resources were allocated elsewhere, especially in a winter window where you will undoubtedly pay way above the number for any Striker of quality…of all the players selected by their respective countries for this ridiculous mid-season World Cup, he was the least of my concerns, as I figured he wouldn’t see considerable minutes, so long as Richarlison remained healthy…what a f’ing drag, as I always worry when you give our tactically-stunted manager a “built-in” excuse for lowering expectations…fingers-crossed there will be a silver lining of some sort on the horizon…Cheers to all
Morocco goalkeeper Bono is worth looking for. Super confident, cool and good psyching like our ex Martinez, but more professional.
Morocco go through and HEART HEAR Spain of Varca DNA are out
TRVL
I actually heard on the radio earlier that Jesus had had the surgery already – of course could be the radio getting it wrong but either way knee surgery is never something you can just rush back from.
The problem with bringing in a replacement is anyone good enough will cost a lot of money and want guarantees on playing time once Jesus is back.
As you say Arteta’s probably pleased as it will give him an excuse to miss out on top 4.
According to the Telegraph Jesus has had the surgery and it was for medial ligament damage.
Marc…of course we have similar financial concerns regarding any potential replacement, but it would be difficult to envision a productive second-half of the season if we lost the services of our primary Striker for several months or more…that said, I believe we might have to bite the financial bullett as we can’t afford to let this opportunity go to waste, especially after last season’s winter window debacle…maybe we can find someone on an expiring contract, so that our financial outlay would be considerably less…all I know is that I can’t imagine a world where we ride Eddie to an European invite…not to mention, without Jesus, there’s a really good possibility that the sideways borefest will be making it’s way back to the Emirates in short order…I want to remain positive but it’s difficult considering what was on offer prior to Jesus’s arrival
SPAIN IS OUT..
F**k Spain that is what you get with a manager that doesn’t know his best starting 11 and gets in play management more wrong then right. Reminds you anyone?
H-T v Lyon. 3 – 0. All very different but equally brilliant strikes.
And they won the post game penalty shoot put 2-1. Better than losing eh?
Morning all
It’s been calibration week, so I have had little time to follow football at all – just 14-hour sessions calibrating 18 speakers.
I’m at the post calibration testing stage for the rest of the week isolating frequencies and getting the MS timing right on the 3 subs firing and much more.
What caught my eye this morning was a report that White had fallen out with Steve Holland and couldn’t fit in with the rest of the England team.
Being the resident spectrum dweller I’ve always felt White had spectrum issues: when you have them it’s easier to see in others.
What led me to that conclusion is a guy playing a sport he doesn’t watch or like that much. So, if the reports are true, I’m not surprised at all and hope he sorts his issues out before Boxing Day.
I genuinely feel for the lad because ADHD is bad enough to deal with, ask Rory Bremner.
I’m going back to room testing until 10pm where I’ll finally get to watch the Brazil game, but Netherlands v Messi will have to be highlights as my DVD recorded has given up the ghost, so needs replacing and me stuck with the next morning’s highlights.
K’Phobe I’ver got Wisdomitis from my Wisdom Audio. When you get to Spain check out the L75s. My mate here has 7 x L75s being calibrated now with a Wisdom STS and wisdom electrics.
https://www.wisdomaudio.com/product/sage-series-l75/
If you get to that stage I’m always talking to Luc ands my friend Steve, Wisdom’s MD and second in command a lot where I’ll find out the best demo room for you and Mrs KP to go to.
Wisdom is big at elite end in India, too, Ambarish. Something to aim for when you’re older. I’m 67 and just got my first Wisdom.
Hope all here are well and happy.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/index.html
R.I.P Jet Black -The Stranglers drummer.
Good stuff Tony. With my hearing, I wouldn’t have a clue. It would be interesting to know what you think of the final result.
I saw the Stranglers in 78 or 79. Their first few albums had a really unique sound. Punk mixed with harsh political lyrics and a Hammond (?) organ. Get a grip on yourself, dead ringer, and of course no more heroes will always stand out. I also enjoyed their cover of that Dionne Warwick tune, Walk on by’ which I’m sure was written by the great Burt Bacharach. Golden Brown on the other hand I could take or leave – the song always reminded me of cooking toast rather than heroin for some reason!
I read Jean Jacques Brunel’s obit yesterday. It was really warm, describing Jet Black as ‘a rebel with many causes’.
I’m up early watching England reinvent test cricket in Pakistan – it’s quite sonething for devotees of the game.