In the words of Peaky Fucking Blinders, we have got a curse. Call it The Emery Curse, or the Emi’s, but we have one.
Last season, in the first game against Villa, we lost 1-0 after they scored in 07th minute and we never recovered. They were coming off of a win at City and they beat us. We did create some chances later on but never converted it. In the home game, we lost 0-2 when we conceded both goals in last 10 minutes. We were just 2 points behind Man City with 6 games to go, and a loss to Villa confirmed our title challenge was over. We needed a win so much at that point and they denied us. I hate them more than Spurs these days. The two losses costed us the title at the end.
Anyways, it’s a new season and a new fight. We take on Aston Villa at Villa Park today in a 5.30 evening kick off.
In the team news, there would be some surprises. Fabio Vieira is most likely going back to Porto on a loan so won’t feature today. Tomiyasu and Tierney remains unavailable due to injuries. We are most likely going ahead with the same team that featured against Wolves. A back 4 of White, Gabriel, Saliba and Zinchenko; a midfield of Partey, Rice, and Odegaard; a front 3 of Saka, Havertz and Martinelli. I would love to see Timber in place of Zinchenko starting today though, he is one for the future and improves our left side by a margin. Martinelli hardly gets any support from Zinchenko and that’s the difference between the outputs of him and Saka.
Gabriel Jesus is also not available as the rumours goes.
Mikel Arteta had to say this in the pre-match conference yesterday,
on how big of a test Villa away is so early in the season:
It’s one of the toughest places to go for sure. We know that, we’ve prepared really well to understand what we have to do to go there and win the game.
on the importance of getting a result against Unai Emery personally:
Personally? I don’t do things personally, I just have the will to win and prepare the team in the best possible way, regardless of who we are playing against.
source: Arsenal.com
It’s tough because we lost both games against Villa in the best season of Mikel Arteta. For the Unai Emery question, Mikel is fooling everyone including himself. He would have sleepless nights thinking how Emery got the better of him and I am hoping he has an answer to that today.
There are some things happening in the transfer window. Forest looks really interested in Eddie Nketiah and we have rejected a £25m and Forest will agree for £30m me thinks.
Fabio Vieira is going on a loan to Porto (from where we got him 2 years back). This one is a strange move, because we have sold ESR already and we would be left with only Odegaard as an attacking mid with no back up or competition. There are talks that the management is very impressed with Ethan Nwaneri and he would deputize Odegaard.
Merino deal is almost confirmed, he will be joining us from Real Sociedad for a £28m free. I have not seen much of him, but we know Rice is more of a #6 and we needed a #8 after Mikel decided to shift Kai up top.
We have also rejected a Wolves move for Aaron Ramsdale on loan + option to buy. We are in a favor of a permanent move for Aaron, and we have already decided a replacement in Joan Garcia from Espanyol.
Hardly a week left, there would be some chaos at the end, lets see how it pans out for us.
Right, that’s all for today. See you during the game.
To add balance these are El B’s decent a good buys:
Declan Rice – If played to his strengths could be a legend for us….
Marten Odegaard – was a fan when he was 16 and he hasn’t disappointed a colossal buy
Jurrien Timber – a decent buy but now possibly broken by El B is dropping form currently
Thomas Partey – when fit decent
Tomi – When fit decent
Trossard – A good but and fit for us who can potentially can change games from the bench
Gabriel Magalhaes – the perfect foil for Saliba at RCB but who El B tried to sell last season – El B wants a better ball playing LCB because big Gabs is not that kind of player; more a solid if sometimes rash LCB.
So a total of seven players in 10 TWs, spanning 5 years – who we can say we’re worth buying and are strong starters or main squad for us.
Next up the January window and more 180 pages dodders on crap players no doubt….
In other news I’m finding it hilarious the amount of press Havertz is getting about him being Vice Captain for Germany. I mean does this mean Havertz is going to be twice the player now?
Can’t wait……….
I had a female friend who once told me a very funny story.
She was in the throes of sexual congress with some or other geezer who suddenly stuck his head between her bristols and said, “mummy, mummy, mummy!”.
Almost – but not quite – as big a passion-killer as any game between any two countries in the international break 💔💔💔
KP there must be a lot of pub team games this weekend that are far better than the dire rubbish that is generally served up by international teams. Did your friend end up changing the geezers nappy.
Can’t have been that bad if Manure are snapping him up, can he?
“Manchester United have signed young goalkeeper Hubert Graczyk following his release from Arsenal earlier this summer.
The 21-year-old, who has represented both Poland and England at youth level, was among a number of players who were let go by the Gunners at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and has been searching for a new club.”
KP
I envy your local football following. Great countryside to do it in as well unless you’re tractor bound……
Enjoy …….
https://www.google.com/search?q=NZ+rugby+internationals&client=safari&sca_esv=5e23bca3cb06adc9&sca_upv=1&rls=en&ei=qBnZZvmnMqaa4-EPvfiE8AY&ved=0ahUKEwj5m6H-4qqIAxUmzTgGHT08AW4Q4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=NZ+rugby+internationals&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiF05aIHJ1Z2J5IGludGVybmF0aW9uYWxzMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBBAAGB4yCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMggQABiiBBiJBTIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGKIEGIkFMggQABiABBiiBDIIEAAYgAQYogRIvx9Q_A9YvxxwAngBkAEAmAF4oAGpBKoBAzQuMrgBA8gBAPgBAZgCCKACzwTCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgIGEAAYBxgewgIIEAAYCBgKGB7CAgcQABiABBgNmAMAiAYBkAYHkgcDNS4zoAe0Ig&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#sie=t;/m/0148q6;8;/m/06brs;mt;fp;1;;;
https://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/2024/england-fixtures.html
I forgot the southern hemisphere rugby until Kilroy reminded us all.
Some great games in November and one this weekend.
In a recent interview Petit spoke candidly about our late-window acquisition and how MA’s misplaced transfer priorities could negatively impact our domestic and European aspirations:
“Petit called the move “a panic buy”, suggesting that Arsenal scrambled to make a last-minute deal as the transfer window approached its deadline. It’s a bold claim, but one that raises important questions about Arsenal’s strategy and whether Sterling will be the player to elevate Mikel Arteta’s side…Petit doesn’t dismiss Sterling’s talent but rather frames the acquisition as one rooted in haste rather than a considered approach. “I think Raheem Sterling was a panic buy from Arsenal,” Petit explained. “They just wanted to get someone in before the transfer window closed. They were looking at so many different players for months and didn’t get any of them, including a number nine…Everyone knows the quality that Sterling can produce and everyone knows what to expect from him, in both a good and bad way on the pitch,” said Petit. “He doesn’t behave badly off the pitch and he always tries to give 100%… He has played under and learned from Pep Guardiola. Mikel Arteta plays exactly the same style, so Sterling knows exactly what Arteta will be expecting from him on the pitch”
“I have been very happy with Kai Havertz’s performances, but he’s not a natural striker,” Petit explained. “When Arsenal aren’t playing well, they become predictable… They need a plan B, a typical striker up front who can create more options for the midfielders and attackers around him. They needed something different, and they didn’t get it…Petit also draws comparisons with Guardiola’s earlier attempts to play without a recognised striker at Manchester City. For several seasons, City tried to navigate both domestic and European competitions using a false nine system. While successful to an extent, the lack of a physical presence up front was often cited as a reason why City struggled to break down elite European sides…Petit’s point is clear: having a striker like Haaland doesn’t just offer goals, but also shifts the way opposition teams defend. It forces them to adapt, creating more space for other attackers to exploit. Petit suggests that Arsenal, without a similar profile of player, may face similar limitations in their quest for silverware”
I, for one, applaud Petit for his level-headed and insightful commentary…it certainly wasn’t some sort of scathing diatribe without merit, in fact, quite the contrary…he gave flowers when he felt they were deserved and then simply stated what we all know to be true, that MA’s plan appears to have been flawed all along; even after his managerial overlord acknowledged his similar Striker miscues, then recitifed the situation and finally won his first CL title with City…as for all the chatter about a meticulously crafted transfer plan, that was clearly a load of shit
I loved Petit as a player. He and PV were imperious in our midfield and when they played for Les Blues. The all round midfielder in my view: passing, tackling, energy and a desire to get forward. I’m thought he left us far too early and I don’t recall him setting the nou camp alright when he went there.
He’s also a bright geezer with a good football brain who is not afraid to voice his opinions.
Un bon oeuf je crois. 🇲🇫
To the tune of quartermaster’s store…
He’s blond, he’s quick
His name’s a porno flick
Emmanuel, Emmanuel…
Hi Tony
County at home (ie in Carmarthen) tomorrow against TNS (aka the New Saints or Total Network Solutions). Take your pick – they’re both crappy names.
I have a bit of a dislike for this team (who knew?). First off, they’re English. They play in a town called Oswestry on the wrong side of the Cymru – Lloegr border. Second, they’re much wealthier than other teams despite being one of the worst supported. Third, they usually go through the season unbeaten and have won the title something like 9 times in the last decade. Fourth (phew my enmity is reaching Spud levels here), they’ve reached the group stages of this year’s Europa conference with a game in Italy coming up against Fiorentina – jealous?moi? 🤢
No major expectations but County are hitting new heights this year and have only conceded once. I’ll party like it’s 1999 if we can even scrape a draw.
KP—couldn’t agree more…even though I was an enormous fan of the more obvious choices, like Henry, Vieira and Bergkamp, my favourites to watch were Petit, Pires and Rosicky, especially when they were healthy and cooking on the pitch
Roy Keane being loved up about Petit and Vieira.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_To4hBx-Ys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLNb6IUet0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gBHnNicOyo
Thwere’s no football for us, so some memories from happier times.
TRVL
Excellent Petit interview. He always speaks well with wisdom and forethought.
KP
Thanks fo the link and I hope County becomes the victorious under dog I will imagine the jubilation post game. Me, I’d find a hotel and get the lads merry in any way possible. In Thailand that has a variety of options……….
In other news it’s a good job we have 7 LBs with Calafiori picking up an ankle injury with Italy.
Remind me again why we have International breaks? Now we have a manager who doesn’t want to sing the national anthem. How the FA must love that…….
Shame we haven’t got a 9 who can score like Petit and Vieira could. Let that sink in……
The Ireland v England fixture in Dublin brings a lot of bad memories from the time those English neo-nazis disgraced themselves. Those cunts still exist of course and were busy destroying already fucked northern towns and cities whipped up by racists and the media a few weeks ago. Right wing, anti-migrant groups are also a much bigger problem in Ireland now as well. That game was a terrible occasion which harmed relations between the two countries and highlighted the very worst about supporting England.
Another reason, were one needed, to reject international football and its jingoism and bigotry.
Carsley was born in Birmingham but played 40 times for Ireland presumably because of family connections so it’s reasonable to assume his personal loyalties may lie with the team in green. He’s made clear he’ll sing neither anthem. It’s his call, but it won’t do him any favours I suppose with the wankers in the FA. In any case, I reckon Carsley must be cursing his luck over the way the fixtures have come out
It all underlines why international football is out of step with the rest of the game. Kane, Grealish and our very own Declan all have strong connections to Ireland too. Relegate the entire fucking business and let Marc’s captains of capitalism fully run football!
New post, after a lengthy wait. I know you missed me 🙂
KP
Haverford County West losing 0:1 after what you said sounded like a close game. Was it hearts in the mouths stuff? Was hoping to see you’d got the win or draw.