Three important games and everyone’s fit

Three important games and everyone’s fit

We have got 3 games left and City have 4. We play against Bournemouth tomorrow, Man United Away and Everton on the last day of the season. City have Wolves, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham to play. There is only one outcome of this… unless the gods decide to do us a favor.

The only way we can win the title this season is that City drop points (a loss, even a draw would do), and we win all of ours. We don’t need god for the latter.

Everyone’s fit, even Jurrien Timber. But if you are thinking that Mikel will start him in last 3 games of the season when there’s still some hope left for winning the title, and when he has played only a U-21 game in almost a year, then you are wrong. He can turn out to be a better player than Zinchenko and Kiwior combined in that LB position but now is not the time to test it. Lets stick to what’s working.

Chelsea schooled Tottenham last night and Spurs have to play Liverpool next. And I’m sure by the time they play City, they will be out of top 4 fight and hopeless. That’s not a good thing for us, because we needed them to put up a fight against City. However, looking at the sad state and misery they are in, makes me happy. There’s only 1 big club in London and the boys there wear red and white.

2 more weeks left for the season to end, and we are already hearing transfer rumours. It seems like we are open to selling Gabriel Jesus, and Zinchenko. Thomas Partey could leave too. There will a bunch of clearance to fund the CF and a Saka’s back up. Nketiah, Nelson, ESR, Vieira, Ramsdale might be in that list.

Going till the end for two consecutive seasons and falling short by a game, highlights how difficult Pep has made everyone’s life. Frankly, after last season’s collapse towards the end, I thought we would sulk and the players that gave everything would lose the motivation to try again (similar to Leicester’s winning season) but I was wrong. All of them stood up, and played even better. We lost few games that we should have won and those points could have been very crucial now, but that’s not the talk today. Two seasons, neck to neck against the 115 charges and Pep and we are still in the fight is an improvement to our last 10-15 years of football.

If we don’t make this season, we will do in the next. I don’t have any agenda as such for today, I will be back with the match day blog tomorrow.

Note : londonisred.com remains free and we will never go behind a paywall. Adblockers have killed the Ads revenue and we are running on the coffee you guys buy. Every help motivates me to keep it fun here.

187 Comments

  1. The Real Vieira Lynn

    “while Kane has shone, this flawed Bayern side have fallen short and will end the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2011-12.”

    as I suggested before our quarters matchup, this was clearly our best chance to make amends for our previous one-sided losses versus Bayern…that 10-2 dismantling at the hands of Bayern in 2016-17 was a real inflection point when it came to those of us who had been pining for Wenger’s exit since even before our 8-2 thrashing by United 5 years earlier…in fact, that Munich loss was so embarassing that a significant number of former fence-sitters joined the ranks of the Wenger Out brigade in the aftermath, which ultimately led to his long-overdue ousting

    so this matchup wasn’t just about advancing to the semis, it was a managerial measuring stick of sorts…would MA shrivel once again when it mattered most or would he finally change that troubling narrative by opting for a more positive tactical plan…surely he didn’t think that we could win it all by playing scared football for a couple more rounds, as that barely worked against a bang average Porto side…as such, one can logically surmise that he was more focused on us not getting boat raced by this flawed Bayern side, with a lame duck manager, than actually setting us up to win…just further proof that he doesn’t appear to have the mettle and/or the tactical nous required to take us to the next level

  2. KP
    So happy Kane is trophy less and only confirms my belief in karma where Kane is obviously karma-less.

    Aitcho
    Do you have fat fingers (I is next to O)or is it with your losing traction in trying to alpha up your LG image?

    I’m beginning to wonder what your alcohol or recreational intake is here because you seem to be excellent at losing all rationale when faced with incontrovertible facts. I mean Bruno took the piss out of Arteta in the press after signing for Villa. I’m sure Bruno and Emi get on famously talking in shithead language for a position of being class ballers. Bruno would have solved our 8, been an improvement on Willock, but the word was on the grapevine was he didn’t want to play for El B because of El B’s Guendouzi treatment and treatment of others. This you conveniently overlook in El B’s very flawed likely NPD behavior.

    https://mind.help/topic/narcissism/ Judge for yourselves.

    Would you mind if I asked so ever so politely to fact check you arguments and support with links/facts that would educate us further. Your de facto Walter Mitty interpretations of Arsenal reality seem to be affected by something……. but not truthful facts. That’s where you let yourself down…….

    Try researching your points first. I find that always helpful in procuring interesting and often provoking conversation in many forms when points can be discussed intelligently and granted often sardonically.

    You remind me of Bob N15 from LG. Nice enough guy – just a bit of a dick who junior could out argue, but the junior is studying mathematical sciences at Bangkok’s top university run school. Nuances and grey areas Bob championed until he lost himself in rabbit holes.

    I wonder who he is annoying now LG is dead?

    Anyway, Aitcho, you bring the Bob N15 to LIR where I’m sure I can speak for several here to thank you for the humour you add with your comments – which at least I find funny.

    You’re clearly intelligent and have good insights when you’re not trying to piss on every lamp post trying to mark your territory. It’s not necessary to do so. We are happy to be stood corrected – me especially as I age.

    On LIR knowledge is what we like to share with opinions. We deal in facts, as much as the Internet and personal experience will let us. We have a lot of fun and greatly respect all posters here equally. You included when you’re playing the game properly here. Sadly, you seem to want to ruffle feathers with your all too often push backs that are mostly fact less.

    For me, I’d like to read your posts when you offer either an interesting view, opposing or otherwise, or where you can educate us on past present and future knowledge and beliefs.

    Can be Gooner chat or from life as we all share from time to time when things are quiet football wise. I’m sure the others here would concur with me on this.

    Up to you, Aitcho. We have a wonderful collection of global minds here pretty much all A+ demographics where I add experienced educators/trainers to A+ in my world.

    A loved child has many names I was told once is why I didn’t pick you up even after the 2nd time. Just thought 2 times is not coincidental, so if little things please little minds, I’ll indulge you to keep you sated.

    It’s a real shame we can’t add a MP4 video here because I have a seal video a friend passed onto to me.

    It’s a really cute seal with AI but really well put together MP4.

    The seal sings the following words:

    You are a cnut
    You are a cnut
    Nobody likes you
    because you are a cnut.

    When Junior was about 11 and really upped the teen angst ante of pissing off parents, I sent him the seal. He loved it and said sorry.

    From then on when Junior was on one, I’d tell him he’s heading into seal territory, he would laugh and ask how many seals was his behavior potentially worth, and I would give the appropriate number and he’d often try to negotiate. We’d discuss the point in question after seal negotiations.

    Junior and I would judge life by seals after that where junior would say he’s seal worthy or she’s seals worthy.

    The seal became junior’s moral compass of sorts.

    So, Aitcho, consider yourself being sent a seal. If I refer to your future comments as seal worthy, you know what I mean.

    It worked really well with junior and still does……….. Then junior is smart to understand to always keep his mind open to different views.

    LG was his training ground and English language school full of seal worthy idiots. He still reads from BKK now in his condo.

    Norg
    Back line roadie, eh? Bet you really enjoyed it, as there is a certain type of magic on a stage either with expectations of what’s to come or the rooms’ adrenaline of post gigs. It’s a unique feeling.

    A mate was Blackmore’s guitar roady with Richie Blackmore’s Rainbow with Ian Gillian who I thought did his best work solo. Play this with ear buds or Norg in your room: Superbly produced and use of pans. Walking baseline is just sweet.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwkJo9_c3fM

    My only time at Finsbury’s Rainbow theatre was to see the Gilllan Rainbow gig. I was with a fellow live sound engineer where we made the bad decision of eating a too big a chunk of oozing red Leb before going in. My fiend had an escort at the time, and we sat in the car after the gig for over an hour waiting for limbs and brains to work, which in the end we got a cab to the dolls house to crash.

    Have a good one LIR

  3. NORG

    Marc
    Another player surplus to requirements – Eddie. There is a striker in there somewhere but El B cannot find it.
    A few weeks ago I was at a Freight train loco naming ceremony on Ipswich Station – the loco was named Ipswich Town. The reception after was at the ground just down the road from the station. I managed to have a chat with George Burley who was enjoying himself and Kieran McKenna who clearly wasn’t. At the time Ipswich were riding high and McKenna was hoping for back to back promotions (now succeeded). I mentioned I supported Arsenal and was looking forward to attending the game against Arsenal at Ipswich – I know 3 people / companies that have a box at Ipswich. His spend for the current season is a mere £4million. He asked what I thought about Eddie – ‘a difficult question’ I said – he hardly ever gets to play – I am not sure our manager knows how to use him. The last comment from Mckenna -‘he could be going cheap then?’.

    Tony – The Rainbow was a large auditorium – a bit tired and not in the right place to attract big names. A few did perform there. I saw Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin & Zappa there. Zappa was attacked by a member of the audience near to the end of their gig.

    Alvin Lee – I saw TYA at Klooks Kleek in Hounslow? Fast and furious guitar playing.

  4. Norg
    The security head I hired for the Nutty Boys also worked with Bob Marley wee had many interesting chats.

    I was a tour manager and sound engineer on the 2Tone tour. The Selector rastas were really cool guys. Specials? Not so much. It was Madness’s first tour after Robbo signed them to Stiff. Kids in a candy jar tour with Ska bluebell Kingston Town vibes. It was a cool tour where we got the overnight sleeper to London from Inverness and straight on a plane for their first US tour I managed for them as well as engineering. Crazy 20 hour days for months.

    I really liked the Rainbow theater. Sound was good unlike the Hammersmith Odeon where we had to really work at it to get the right balance especially when flying a rig for the upper circle. The desk was either under the circle canopy or up top. I preferred under the circle and my trusty sound meter and always put my stage sound (foldback)engineer up on the circle for sound checks to use talkback where I used his ears to balance the upper levels to the back walls.

    Hammersmith Palais was good and easy to get to sound, though as was the Electric ballroom in Camden.

    Alvin Lee and TYA were amazing I never saw live. I envy you with that, Zappa, too and of course Marley. They will have been exceptional experiences to have in your memory locker. I put a play list together of 600+ tracks entitled “I remember when” as they evoke exactly what I just referred to.

    Were you an Outlaws fan? The rockier version of TYA and where Skynyrd got many influences:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qd4xRdhVps

    This was the more famous of their offerings. Amazing live another big miss for me.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMtYkCwqAhU

    Now you know why I’d have loved to see them. West Coast Rock at its best. I’m sure if there’s a DVD the sound was remastered.

    As for Eddie you can see why he hasn’t had many minutes. Spends too many times sulking or tut tutting eyes raised when no one spots his run. His problem is he isn’t clam under pressure and has a nasty edge to his nature from my thinking.

    He’d fit in a Palace as a back up getting regular minutes. It’s his level and Eze and Elise will probably have played their last season for Palace. Right age and time to move up. Ayew would be a good back up buy and for me would have been a better utility player than Havertz: good in MF and across the top.

    With El B liking utility players I’d buy Ayew with Elneny you said was out of contract. With Ode’s service Ayew would prosper where Eddie and Reis haven’t. No idea about Ayew’s injury numbers, though but as a back up, shouldn’t be an issue.

    When I was State side I’d try to go to local redneck rock and country bars where you would see seriously great musicians no one knows.

  5. On that thread is Dave Meniketti equally as good as the greats. Nice people, too, as his manager wife gave me permission to use his On The Blue Side tracks in one of the MC club ride videos.

    Check out his version of ‘It’s a Man’s World’ as good as James the man himself for me.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aafz1esvQOY

  6. Aitcho

    Tony
    Check your facts. Bruno didn’t sign for Villa

    And then you support that by speculating it was Guendouzi’s treatment that made him sign for Villa.

    You may well be A+ and I applaud you. But generally, if you have to tell people you’re A+ or Alpha or whatever, maybe you ain’t. I doubt Bill Gates goes on blogs telling people he’s A+ to bolster weak viewpoints.

    Stick to the football. Stick to facts and data not fantasy and we’ll have more productive discussions. That’s why we come here after all.

  7. NORG

    Tony
    I haven’t played the Outlaws for years – you can see where they influenced LS when you listen to Green Grass & High Tides. Zappa is one of my all time favourites. I first saw him at the Albert Hall when I was 16. First impressions they were goofing around but then I realised the bunch of musicians were very accomplished and they were being conducted by the maestro. The closing number was King Kong – absolutely brilliant. I saw them several times – the last being in the seventies with a totally different line up.

  8. Aitcho

    Tony,
    Eddie has a nasty edge? Really?

    You see what I mean?

    Not a shred of evidence to support that. Lots to tell us he isn’t very good. But like your Guendozi point, all based in half baked conjecture and unsupported character analysis.

    Stick to football.

  9. Aitcho

    Marc
    Now you want to speculate that Ode was bought off City’s Intel.

    Speculating again.

    But even if true that would support Pedro’s intial Arteta drum banging on the basis he brought ‘Pep/City IP’. I thought that was a cobblers argument. You seem to disagree.

  10. Hoopah

    Tony
    Reading your posts , you lucky buzzard to have been around the music greats , which in my wild year been following, including writting lyrics for a band Brood of Vipers been going around with. That was the time every nuance in sound and words mattered.
    Reading the rest of your your top valedictory post ( might have been water wasted down a duck’s back trying to clean ), it appears that over the years have attained a distinct and mature ageing.

  11. Hoopah

    By the way, there is a chance Schezny might be a Gunner again. That might work only if he starts . Don’t expect El B falsehood assurances would not cut. So guess might not happen.
    Ramsdale is definitely moving

  12. Aitcho
    I never once said I was A+ only intimated at those here from knowing their professions and life stories. I’ve only talked about a company we own and some historical events from my life, such as I’ve lived and worked successfully in 6 countries including Thailand for 25 years and counting.

    I started out in orphanages and am comfortable now as one should be at 68. Like, Norg, who is a little older, I’ll continue doing business because it’s fun and helps others. Norg invents products that saves 1000s of lives in 3rd world countries.

    My next project is a retirement home for the wealthy including a mental health unit and medical wellness spa. The mental health unit will also look after the poor in the north, as well as our retirement clients.

    Also, a Thai Dr friend will be running a clinic for the poor to do outreach work to the remote villages by truck I’m arranging sponsorship for for one of the bigger hospitals. I’ve got land in different provinces where covid debts forced people into fire sales, so just wrap up the sale our company and onto the next.

    Not sure what that makes me other than someone who enjoys helping people because I know what it’s like to fight for food to live up to enjoying life’s luxuries. I stared at Z- whereas you probably had a good family childhood with siblings et al. I’m not complaining, far from it, the experience was made more toxic with me having rampant undiagnosed ADHD ++, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger where the wise ones learn from it.

    Yes, silly me Bruno was Newcastle, I was thinking of Beundia of Villa who didn’t like El b either.

    It matters not. I’ve fired my broadside, and I’m bored now. I’m not tenacious enough to joust with you, I’ll leave that to others. I’ve too many other things to pursue now in a country that offers freedom to those who live and give back to the country. Whatever you do is seen by Thai people and talked about. Thais love to gossip.

    Nearly 70m people here where village poverty is still as it was 30 years ago in terms of little chance to get out of village life and death from many things including untreated Dengue fever. Working in bars in the easiest way to keep a family fed.

    When I say freedom I mean being able to drive your car at safe speeds and only pay £10 for the privilege of breaking the laws. Roads in the mountains and out of the few cities here are generally quiet.

    Freedom when the police smoke herbs outside a weed shop or offer you a hit in a Thai rock bar. Freedom from migrants because living here is not cheap unless way up in the north living the Thai way. The Thais are very hot on immigration and rightly so.

    As I said before if your content is interesting, I enjoy it. I’m really not into the alpha male thing. I prefer the company of intelligent business women especially, and well travelled men who have experienced life away from Blighty for lengths of time. A good mate is the ex CEO of Pfizer who recounted he’d worked in 60 countries. KP has put time in many embassies globally in his career. Talk to a Dr and then one from Doctors without boarders and you’ll see a huge difference.

    I find people who have only been confined to yearly holidays are too British for me, as it’s why I left in the first place. It wasn’t a good fit for me.

    I’m happy pottering around in the north here with my projects and the great people who will be involved, and the pleasure of bringing relief to those who need it most, and making money from the lucrative retirement industry where the retirees will have a real quality of life.

    Enjoy your posting here, Aitcho. I have no problem with you at all.

  13. The Real Vieira Lynn

    Tony-your scathing critique of our little LIR interloper gets my seal of approval…big ups to Junior for finding this gem of a clip

    as for our club’s transfer plans, there’s a couple interesting developments, as Edu was speaking about our summertime pursuits following the underwhelming Jorginho re-up, which undoubtedly included a raise…now I get the whole “role model” narrative, but it still feels like a Tross-like half-measure move…this doesn’t mean I don’t rate either player, I just don’t think they move the needle or properly address our most pressing needs

    Tross gets his flowers largely because we have a glaring lack of finishers, but he’s not a like-for-like cover piece/replacement for Marts…he can’t realisitcally be deployed anywhere else on the pitch, especially against noteworthy sides, so that limits us on the left when he’s playing ahead of an inverted back…the only person this really helps is our shoehorned “Striker”, Havertz, because when Tross tucks inside, it provides more openings for our German giraffe…now this wouldn’t be a problem if Havertz was a legit focal point target man, with goals aplenty in his boots, but that’s clearly not the case…personally I’m concerned that Marts might be on his way out…he’s been in MA’s doghouse for quite some time now and that can’t bode well for his future prospects here…just ask ESR

    as for Jorginho, I like what I’ve seen at times from him, but he has his obvious limitations…unlike with Partey, you can’t have Jorginho sitting on his own in deeper spaces if your intention is to deploy Rice as a CAM, except against bus parking sides who don’t counter with pace and numbers…instead of settling for another potential square peg, round hole re-upping, why not find someone who best fits the intended script; keeping in mind, I’m still not in favour of giving Rice carte blanche when it comes to his final third pursuits

    I just think when you pay top dollar for a world-class positional specialist, you don’t deploy him in a position when there are far more capable options out there…if we were a top, top club we would simply purchase a far more clinical CAM, who likewise has the ability to drop deep on occasion so Rice could go hunting…just don’t see us doing that if we have Jorginho and maybe Partey still in the fold…even if Partey is sold on, we’ll likely pursue a younger “project” replacement, like we’ve done in the past, as it will enable MA to live up to whatever assurances he gave Jorginho to stay, instead of opting for a real deal Holyfield acquisition

  14. Hoopah
    Lyricist for the rock Indian band, cool. I’ll check them out tomorrow. Which albums did you write tracks on? I hope you got your publishing royalties including needle time. It’s different today because the tech and studio improvements allow for better products and, so song writing has evolved from writing idea on the inside of fag boxes or serviettes. Just think what can be done using phones today with apps?

    With studios being so cheap, now I’m considering putting one in my next house in the north. If you ever come to BKK check out the Saxophone pub at Victory monument. People fly in to see bands there. It’s a Thai version of Ronnie Scotts from Soho. Sunday night are best and you can book tables.

    I’ve met a lot of really good Thai musos here, so the studio would be busy plus projects from the west.

    Norg
    Again you leave me envious in a good way because I love the Outlaws and early LS pre plane crash. The 25 minute Freebird rendition at Knebworth was otherworldly. Sadly, I’ve only seen it on video.

    The 70s was such a really good feast of genres. As much as I loved rock, I also liked Spirit, Maze with Frankie Beverly, Motown and much more. I drew the line with punk later, and not too much indie other than some like The Cure.

  15. NORG

    Hoopah
    There seems little intent for El B to blood youngsters. It must be demoralising for some that feel they are ready.
    Which part of the world do you post from?

  16. Marc

    TRVL

    The question of our summer transfer business is complicated because trying to figure what Arteta’s trying to do is impossible (someone randomly stumbling round in the dark is apparently a work of genius) its also difficult to know how much we have to spend before any sales.

    My personal take is the following.

    GK – Raya will be signed permanently but will cost too much for a keeper (include the loan fee in the cost) who we’ll be looking to upgrade on in a couple of summers.

    LB – Did we buy Timber to play there? We paid too much for him to be a squad player and the rest of our defence pretty much picks itself. He certainly looked a good player in the limited minutes he got and he’s highly rated but he’s right footed. We have Saka on the right who prefers to cut inside, Ode drifts right and cuts inside but White can provide an overlap (something I’d like to see him told to do more) and give us a right footed delivery. On the left Martinelli prefers to cut inside but a right footed LB won’t give us any overlap option. If we didn’t buy Timber to play their why did we buy him?

    CM – If Partey leaves we’ll need a quality replacement although there’s an issue with this I’ll get to later.

    ST – We all see we need a better / more clinical option up front.

    The issue with a new CM and ST is where does that leave Havertz who is one of Arteta’s undroppables. Switching him between positions constantly won’t do him or the other players any favours so what is / was / will be the plan?

    It just never feels like Arteta’s really in control of what’s happening, more like he’s hanging on for dear life and making it up as he goes along. In case anyone needs an example of this – White – he’s been excellent at RB this season but he was bought as a CB and only got shifted because Saliba is too good to drop. A £50 million purchase that worked out but anyone who tells you it was planned or the work of intellectual genius is a fucking moron.

  17. Marc

    Norg

    We all know that any young talent is going to look to move on – Arteta struggles to rotate first team players let alone use kids in the League Cup etc.

    Remember the days of Wenger being warned about fielding weak teams in the League Cup and then smashing the opposition with kids?

  18. Aitcho

    Marc
    In fairness, Ben White’s versatility was one of his selling points when he joined us. He was known for playing at primarily centre back but also right back and defensive midfield for Brighton and various teams on loan.

    He was signed with that versatility in mind, as many players Tets signs seem to be, it might not be genius as others did the same with him, but a plan at the very least.

  19. Aitcho

    Tony,
    It’s nice trvl endorses your views but possibly an indication you might be on the wrong track.

    In your world, probably Trvl, Buendia knocked us back because he was outraged over how Tets treated Guendouzi. In mine, we bought Odegaard and Buendia would only have been a poor 2nd option if that deal didn’t go through. Given Ode was cheaper, I think, a bit like Emi’s wage bill, we dodged a bullet. Even more so given Buendia’s lack of output.

    Even in his best Prem season his numbers were poor. Are we still doing this raking up old non deals and making up reasons why they didn’t happen with the power of mind reading?

    Don’t fall into the Vera rabbit hole.

  20. Aitcho

    Emi Martinez letting Villa down.
    His antics got him suspended for the first leg.
    His lack of speed across the line results in a shoddy goal tonight.
    I’m glad we’re not paying him £130k a week.

    Shame, I would have liked Emery to bag another European trophy.

  21. Marc

    Aitcho

    You wanna bullshit people knock yourself out but don’t bullshit a bullshitter.

    White was signed as a CB because Arteta didn’t rate Saliba (check out his treatment of him) he was then forced to use Saliba when White got injured and then shoehorned White into RB.

    End of. No debate no argument just what happened.

  22. Aitcho

    Marc, we fielded young teams in the Carling/Carabao , invariably smashed weak teams, often came unstuck v better ones and never won the thing.
    While I don’t mind a Vela chip, playing youngsters was only fleeting fun most seasons.

    At this point I appreciate Wenger’s faith in the youth but it didn’t yield much and I think was also a fig leaf for not trying to achieve more.

    Wenger seemed set on doing a Fergie, show how clever he was by winning things ‘with kids’ too. The result was us ignoring players like Alonso waiting for the likes of Denilson to come good. How many players did we indulge until it was all too clear they weren’t going to cut it? A long list of players banging at youth level and peaking v the likes of Sheffield United in the Carling Cup.

    What I will say is that Wengers youths and Arsenal youth teams did have a clear identity. But that takes years to develop. Wenger had 20 years. ManC weren’t bringing through classy youngsters until relatively recently.

    We all love to see our own come through my kids love Saka all the more because of something as simple as a selfie they got with him at an U23 match years ago. We build connections with young players as we see them grow, going back to players we only read about in the local press or saw at the odd combination game pre youtube. When Kevin Campbell came in, it was on the back of him ripping up youth and reserve games, Jack Wilshere was the same. There was a buzz about both of them. But Paul Dickov’s claim to fame is with City. Youth development isnt easy. Even Madrid drew blanks in their Zidanes y Pavones phase.

    As a much younger man, I’d saw players I played with go to pro clubs including Arsenal, as trainees, one even made pro terms at Arsenal. He didn’t make many waves although I’d have given a right little finger or so to have made half the waves. But of the players I knew personally who were at pro clubs as youths I can only think of a handful who had meaningful careers from trainee on to pro. Young players will still see Arsenal as a desirable option because they have to believe they’ll make it. Even if you don’t make it or opportunities are limited, having Arsenal branding makes the options after easier. My kids play at a decent level, not quite academy level but not far off. The players they play with who have been offered contracts at clubs, when I speak to the parents, the pathway to the first team are low on the list of priorities. They all simply want to play at the best level available to them. Of course, at 18 or older regular game time may become more of a priority but on just on my own observations, how many players Tets brings through isn’t going to weigh heavily, every player goes in to trials or academies thinking they’re good enough even if the reality for most is they ultimately ain’t.

    It’s hard to judge any manager in the prem on the basis of bringing in youth players. There are some academies that have great brand names but as much as anything players go there looking to get that branding and move on.

    Tets rotation has been questionable to date but I’m not sure that translates to an inability to bring through youth. That takes time as most projects do. Perhaps with better rotation options I hope we’ll see see an improvement in that but one doesn’t influence the other.

    In the meantime I’m not precious about for the next Wilshere, Saka or ESR to come through if I don’t endure more Jenkinsons, Walcotts, Sanogos, Aliadieres, Gibbs, Senderoses and Eastmonds.

  23. The Real Vieira Lynn

    Marc-as you might expect, we’re aligned on several accounts…good to see you go into full-on punditry mode, as that’s a rather rare event…simply-put, you should do that more often

    GK-Raya’s already our guy, for all intent and purposes, as the whole loan gig was more ruse than reality…this simply allowed the “transfer”process to be sped up, as it was later in the window, while likewise enabling us to do some creative accounting…he signed a two year extension with Brenford right before the move, so I’m not sure if we had some considerable input in that process, from a wage perspective, or if he’ll be looking for a raise before everything is made official…regardless, still not sold on him, although he did have some decent moments, like during the penalty shootout against Porto…my concern is that his abilities as a sweeper Keeper don’t make up for his average shot-stopping capabilities…if we do find a suitor for Ramsdale, which might be difficult considering our ludicrous valuation, we’ll need to get another backup, so Raya had better hope our Keeper thirsty manager doesn’t fall out of love with him when he’s on the recruitment trail

    LB-another recruitment carousel position…right now we have Tierney, who will likely never wear the kit again, the underwhelming Zinchenko and 3 shoehorning candidates, in Tomi, Kiwior and Timber..I’m fairly convinced that Timber has the highest ceiling, if he can remain on the pitch, but his CV suggests that he should be deployed on the other side…regardless, knowing MA as we do, he will be our starting LB come August…I hope he performs well, but, like yourself, I find it difficult to come to terms with MA’s counterintuitive roster construction philosophy…most managers understand the merits of having players with positional flexibility, but they don’t continually deploy those players in their second or third option positions

    CM & Striker—bang on—don’t know how you properly redress these positions if Havertz is unbenchable…not to mention, MA clearly gave Rice assurances about his ability to pursue more advanced spaces, so what top-notch CAM or Striker is going to come here to play second or third fiddle to lesser options up top…like I stated earlier, I think we will settle for younger coin toss propositions so that MA won’t need to provide them with similar-type assurances…funny thing is we will still end up paying over the number, which will make them unsellable if they don’t come good

    btw Ben White has only played RB twice and DM 7 times in the TOP division…so all this nonsesne about him being well-versed in several other positions has been vastly overstated…he was a RCB at BHA, who used wingbacks at times, so many felt he could make the required adjustment…he’s done an admirable job, but his passing skills need some work, which is somewhat weird because that was supposedly one of his best attributes…regardless, we all know MA’s original intention was to play him at his natural RCB position, as MA didn’t rate Saliba, so thank fucking god he hasn’t been a train wreck out wide

  24. The Real Vieira Lynn

    “btw Ben White has only played RB twice and DM 7 times in the TOP division” before coming to Arsenal

  25. Aitcho

    Marc, steady on.
    I don’t need to bullshit. I don’t need to.

    Just look at what was done and what was said I’m 99% certain White’s versatility was one put forward as one of his attributes by Tets at the time we bought him. Not just him, everyone banged on about it, using poncy words like ‘specificity’ . To ignore all that now is just ignoring what was said at the time because it doesn’t suit an agenda. He wouldn’t be the first player Tets signed who plays a range of roles and positions. Wasn’t the last. That’s what he does. So there’s a pattern to this as well as what was said. Go through the transfers right up to Havertz. Even if you don’t like him, I imagine in line with page group think you don’t, versatility was a selling point for him as well.

    Given Tets didn’t sell Saliba like he did with others, it’s safe to say he rated him enough Maybe not first 11 at the time but at least potential. Frustrated the hell out of me at the time but in truth I hadn’t seen his games in France and only heard the good reports. We could have cashed in on him after two good seasons at both Nice and Marseille when his stock was high if we didn’t rate him. We didn’t. We didn’t take Tavares back after his swashbuckling season at Marseille. That may indicate a difference in Tets thinking.

    Tets never said he didn’t rate Saliba, we’re indulging in mind reading again. Saliba has never said he resented being on loan. It’s all make believe. A bit like Buendia choosing Villa over us because another, at the time, barely capped Argie left us the season before or we sacked off a stroppy young player. Who has a history of stroppy.

    I prefer to look at the evidence in front of me rather than pretend to know what’s going on their heads as my starting point.

  26. Aitcho

    Vera
    Before signing for Arsenal, Ben White had played 36 games in the top division.

    10 of those as either RB or DM

    He’s a versatile guy. I’m sure you agree with Tets on this.

  27. The Real Vieira Lynn

    “I imagine in line with page group think you don’t” ????

    maybe the lighting is bad in your well-padded cell Achole

    I knew you would take the Ben White bait without doing your due diligence…he was deployed as a DM 13 times since 2016, 6 of which were in a lower division, and 10 times as a right back, before arriviing here, and only 2 were at this level…hardly a sample size worthy of high-end speculation…keep it up clown boy, as you’re making my case for me

  28. Killroy-TM

    You guys can’t resist commenting on A**hole’s BS. keep LIR free of his BS by ignoring him.

  29. The Real Vieira Lynn

    Killroy—will do…when it’s like taking candy from a baby, it can be difficult to resist….just my muscle memory kicking in…Cheers

  30. Morning all

    Aitcho seems you should be getting a seal on the regular. I’ve stopped reading your posts as I imagine others will to ignore your need for attention seeking.

    Marc
    I don’t think I’ve ever disagreed with any of your posts for the last 6 or so years on LG and LIR.

    Kilroy
    I echo your sentiments to leave the troll alone. They soon get fed up of talking to themselves.

    TRVL
    You can take the dog out of the gutter, but not the gutter out of the dog in Aitcho’s case. Switch off your triggers and let Aictho’s posts be like smoke in the wind. Let the attention seeker be.

    I enjoy your fact based posts that we can enjoy debating when we’re not on the same page as all but one seems to be here.

    There’s plenty of room for Aitcho’s nonsense, so, if small things please little minds, leave him to his words and pacifier and self importance.

    Let’s keep LIR a happy place and debate with intelligence.

    Leave Aitcho and his seals to sing together….. One more time…. You are a ….

    In other news
    I think TRVL brought up yesterday seems to be getting legs from the Standard: Wojciech Tomasz Szczęsny linked with return. Does he still smoke? Apparently, El B wants another home grown keeper whatever that means hasn’t our TS spent more time with Juve than us?

    Can anyone see outspoken Szczesny, who will be full of his quality form he’s had at the Old Lady in Italy, and El B getting on? Szczesny won’t be bothered about El B’s non negotiables where he will probably give El B some of his own.

    Most PL clubs would be happy to have Szczesny between the sticks.

    Unless Szczęsny has qualudes as a dietary daily requirement, I see the Pole pissing off El B in the not too distant future and being benched until the fall out becomes open knowledge as TS is larger than life and doesn’t care and El B.

    Who is the better keeper: Emi or Wojciech Szczęsny?

    It seems we have started our own version of the ‘Arsenal Pensioners’ with Jorginho being the first old timer in the squad. Does he come with a zimmer frame? Does El B understand the quantum physics of speed and ability regressing with age?

    Who would be the better MF/false 9 choice: Jorginho or Ayew from palace?

    Ayew for me. I just see it as laughable erupting Jorginho who needs minding on the pitch due to his lack of pace. Another waste of money for me, we could buy better, but it’s pet city in El B’s galaxy brain.

    Other than that not much happening as the season draws to a close. This made me laugh, we have already made plans for a winning-the-PL bus tour for the fans.

    I call that close the gate after the horses have bolted. The chance of City dropping points at Fulham away, Spuds midweek away, and the Hammers and Manure in the FA cup final are sim to none and I expect City to do another double.

    The PL winners bus tour? It will be in Manchester again. El B is always the runner up, never the winner look at his playing and managing career. With City he put the cones out mostly where Pep was happy to let him go to a rival knowing El B wasn’t up to the job.

    A covid FA cup, thanks to Emi, is all El B has to show for almost 5 years with 3 April run-in implosions in a row.

    A coincidence is 2 times, but 3 times is setting a trend that El B is a serial loser.

    Take away City and what has El B really achieved with a £billion+ squad?

    The answer is improved but predictable football that always implodes. Let’s face it nearly fives years with a squad one would expect better football and some form of an identity we show at times.

    One word is El B’s failing: CONSISTENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    He’s a consistent loser who doesn’t look like he’ll stop making repetitive mistakes.

    Re-upping snail’s pace Jorginho when we could get better is just a simple continuation of his mistake addled term with us………

    Szczęsny is just a non negotiable waiting to happen with the likable outspoken Pole.

    El B needs ‘yes men’ and undroppable players such as Ode, Saka, Rice et al where it would be committing seppuku if El B fell out with any of the top pets.

    Still laughing at the bus tour where City dropping points for us to win is not really winning it’s also ran.

    To others I understand winning is winning any way as long as we win. I prefer us winning from the front not from luck of another dropping points.

    Have a good one LIR. Anyone got thoughts on Manure Sunday?

  31. NORG

    Stan & Josh are probably happy with second place finishes. Stan liked his days out at Wembley and Wenger gave him plenty of those. Now we have super star players in our ranks they will demand to finish at the top and not being the continual bridesmaid. El B needs to win the league soon – failure to do so will breed contempt. Shoehorning players is not a solution – Pep would not even consider it and nobody can question his capabilities.

  32. Killroy-TM

    I am still pissed from the Real v Bayern semi. There has to be something about that stadium that causes Refs to have brain farts. 2017 was another classic example. This is the same Ref that made an error by awarding PSG a last minute penalty against Newcastle which made them drop out of the group. WTF is it with the Refs making stupid mistakes, but the one in the semi was a violation against the rules not an interpretation. We are so fucked if they are the best.

  33. NORG

    Tony
    Our trips to Old Toilet on the whole have not been good. Even when they are down they manage to give us a bruising. This time it should be different as they are in a real mess. Have their players downed tools because of the manager? or because they could be playing their last game at home because ETH or the next manager will be doing their best to get rid of them. If they allow Odegaard some room then we should demolish them. I expect the first half could be tense and then the flood gates to open. Maguire to open with an og is in the script.

  34. Norg
    I love to hate Maguire the whinger. His antics in Greece only solidified my endorsing him to be as bigger prick as walker, but unfortunately Walker can play, and Maguire will be history when TH’s replacement is found. A beast of burden at best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlV-ZFyVH3c

    I’m hoping Josh and daddy have found their winning ways after some their US franchises have done well in recent years after middling to maker bucks. I think the faithful wouldn’t accept a 4th capitulation next April and when they get vocal daddy at least listens. Chips isn’t around to put down his irritating rhetoric of “know your place.” I don’t think Chips got enough fish. Certainly had no sauce.

    We know when the fans in the stadium are united in change Stan will oblige. Gazidis couldn’t get rid of Wenger; he died on the fans’ hill. Just a few years too late to snag Pep or Klopp.

    Let’s hope the Emirates faithful are quicker to be vocal if El B just misses out again as the half empty mob will claim. If he buys right, even El B shouldn’t lose.

    We will see.

    With your genuine love of music did you ever play anything?

    With an scientific inventor’s mind I would imagine you look at things differently through different brain wiring.

    Musicians of ability are wired differently, which papers have been written on I can’t remember the details of but to have such fluid ambidextrous ability is not born by normal brain wiring. When you talk to such muses it very apparent they think differently to us.

    Just curious. I got to play scales on a tenor sax but wanted to play guitar, and nowhere to learn in the 60s. So, I got interested in sound and tech, which in turn led me to musicians shocker I know. Then studios where the desks became my instrument.

  35. Norg
    You’re right you never know at Man U.

    I think our tails are up and we’re planning the street parties in haste, so that would a real fly in the ointment to the party plans if we shit the bed at Old Trafford and roped points giving the trophy to City early.

    I sincerely hope not, but with El B who knows?

  36. NORG

    Tony
    I did take up guitar for a while but having the time to practice was a problem. I wish I had taken up piano and may do when I eventually retire. My wife plays piano and violin. My daughter did play flute(but wishes she took up sax) and my son played trumpet. My Nan (Mothers mother) had the gift – she could play piano – no music – just played. When I was seven or eight she introduced me to Garner and Peterson. Kids at school were into Freddie and the Dreamers and I would be listening to Oscar, Jimmy Smith & Co.

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