After Sánchez and Debuchy, who next for Arsenal?

278 thoughts on “After Sánchez and Debuchy, who next for Arsenal?”

• Super post, Dylan. Wetting the appetite for more and more. Back later. 🙂

• we need kdedira and benard

• Possible GK targets which would be homegrown.

  1. John Ruddy. 27 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £3.96 million.

  2. Ben Foster. 31 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £3.52 million.

  3.Alex McCarthy. 24 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £1.76 million.

  I cannot see us signing David Marshall or Fraser Forster.

  Fraser Forster would cost a lot of money as Celtic have no reason to sell, he might be tempted to a move to a big club but only if he is 1st choice GK (IMO) as he is ready to make the step up and be a 1st choice GK for a big club.

  David Marshall would be very expensive for a GK. We were told to pay £12 million for him by Cardiff City. I think we could get him for around £10 million. He would cost a lot and would give us more freedom to sign players which are not homegrown in more important positions but I still see Wenger signing him. He is 29 and could play for us for many years. Personally I would go for it. He is expensive but he is homegrown and the price of homegrown players are generally inflated.

  Possible CB targets which would be homegrown.

  1. Chris Smalling. 24 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £10.56 million.

  If Vermaelen wants to go to Manchester United we could ask for Chris Smalling in return.

  2. Ryan Shawcross. 26 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £7.92 million.

  I know he broke Ramsey’s leg and there controversy over whether Shawcross has apologised properly for breaking his leg. I think Shawcross has apologised and Ramsey has said he has no problem playing with him for Wales.

  3. Steven Caulker. 22 years of age. Value according to Transfermarkt is £6.60 million.

  Steven Caulker is very close to sealing a move to QPR this week. There is still time for us to hijack this deal if we move quickly.

• Good

• Dylan, I just thought I would re-post my comment from the last post as it relates to your post.

  Thanks for the post on potential GK and DM targets. 🙂

  I think we will need to bring in a GK or CB who is homegrown.

  I think it will be easier to sign a GK which is homegrown. So as much as the likes of Begovic, Ospina and Casillas are tempting I would go for the likes of Marshall, Ruddy, Foster and McCarthy. Ruddy could be signed quite easily in my opinion. Marshall would be a lot harder (see my comment above) but would be my first choice and would be perfect.

  For DM, Khedira would be my first choice with Bender second. Khedira would he perfect, I could explain why but that would take too long. Bender might be joining Arsenal next summer when he feels he is ready and the likes of Flamini and Arteta move on when their contracts are up?

  I would sign Schar and use him at CB and then try and sign one of the names on my homegrown list above. That nearly concludes our summer TW and I would be happy with that. A ST would be the icing on the cake. 😀

• A very good Post, Dylan, and certainly moves the debate on, now that we have bought Sánchez.

  I thought for a moment while reading AFC’s comment that I was experiencing déjà vu, until I read his explanation. 🙂

  I liked your views on possible targets to go for, and I cannot disagree with my friend AFC either, so for me, any combination of the suggestions you have made would suit me just fine.

  I have always thought highly of Grenier and Cabella – but they are not on the menu, so to speak, and I doubt there is any room in the squad for them, unless Santi or Podolski are sold.

• Interesting post. I have to be honest and say I don’t know too much about international players, other than those I have seen in the World Cup. I like Khedira, but I did read that he isn’t the most talented player when he has possession. Must admit he looks pretty good to me. Sanchez looks like a great buy and some of the other names are very interesting.

  However to me the one missing thing is a leader. Assuming TV goes and Arteta
  is only a squad player, who is going to be captain and drive the team forward. I just don’t see any obvious candidates

• I want Khedira as CDM and Begovic as backup Keeper, Equally I want another right back to support Debuchy. Another Proven Striker will also be a nice combination.

• MERTESACKER! @ Retsub. Other options are Kos and Ramsey.

• It is probably a bit too early to be considering Ramsey.

• AFC I agree on Mertesacker, I think he is the best bet, but to be honest I don’t see him in the Adams/ Vieira mode

• Good job Dylan. Im hoping for a strong midfielder, and for theo and ox to return and stay healthy. Anything else is just filling necessary openings. I wonder if anyone might be sold.
  I dont want to ask for too much, im so excited.

  Im predicting sanchez to be our Aguero, maybe even better.

• An interesting listen on our new signing Sanchez

• Nice read that was Dylan, tho, it is still early days in the TW, i’m not saying we shouldn’t be happy with the acquisition of Alexis, but as cynical as Joey Barton sounds, i think i’m with him on this, “we need more steel” in the middle of the park. If we remember how we lost those big games last season, then you’ll agree with me.
  On your questions, for me, i think we still need an experienced poacher, one that can deliver on the biggest stage and that can also rub on our up coming youngsters. (3) A good young defender who can learn from the likes of Kos and Mert, and who won’t disappoint when asked to step in. Lastly(4), a good shot stopper than can rally when the cracking signs of rears its ugly head again, someone who has done it a the top, with title wi6ing sides(tho, might even be earlier in his carreer or recently).
  I’d like to suggest Mario Gomez/Eto’o/Remy/Olic/*Balotelli* for the striking position, Mascherano/Cambiasso/Biglia/Matuidi/Mavuba/Banega/Ilkay Gundogån/Khedira for the DM, Either of Caulker or Craig Dawson will do(homegrown) for CB understudy/backup. And either of Ben Foster or Vincent Enyeama for the gk.

• *that can*

• The latest is that we Arsenal and Remy have no reached an agreement on terms and Remy is now on talks with Spurs and Newcastle.

  I still think we need a top ST. Sanchez is best utilized on the flanks where he can use his pace, power and dribbling ability.

  I would go for Balotelli. His price has dropped. It seemed the Milan president wanted to sell him. The new coach Inzaghi says he is staying but he is only the manager and if the board want to sell they will.

  A £20-25 million bid might be enough to get him. Worth a try. I am struggling to think of other options.

• Not be able to reach and agreement with Remy over personal terms*

• Giroud, Pod, Theo, Sanchez, Campbell, Sanogo can all play up front…. There is strength, speed, hold up play, heading ability, fox in the box etc in plentiful. I really don’t think another attacker will be signed, no way.

• I reckon Remy was used as a fall back, decoy. Now we have got our top target, the Spuddies can have Remy hahaha 🙂

• Good stuff Dylan. Definitely keen on begovic’, after the pole in goal I think he’s the best in the league. Doubt he’d leave to be second string.

  De Jong or khedira for me.

  Mertz to captain the squad

• Al good options, Dylan. Am not so bothered about the GK situation as we have safe hands. We need back up, but that should be straightforward.

  DMs are the nigella Lawson’s of football for me: they get me very excited. I like the combination of steel, composure and passing ability so Wanyama or De Jong for me. However, the pairing of Rambo and Kedhira or Bender in the double DM pivot also gets my Nigella aerial buzzing! 🙂

• You could be right TA. If AW reinforces the CB area along with the DM and GK signings and that DM is of Khedira quality I will be happy.

• Agreed AFC, I would be happy too. Just hoping we hold on to the Verminator.

• TA, you don’t think we should cash in on Verm? If United want him for £10 mill and he is in the final year of his contract, that is a good deal. The only trouble is is that we would be giving Van Gaal a good and experienced CB. However we could use that money to sign a new CB or ask for Smalling in return?

  Dailymail Suarez headline

  Good riddance! Liverpool flog Suarez to Barcelona for £75m as they wave goodbye to the BITING, CHEATING, RACIST striker.’

  They couldn’t have summed it up any better.

• A good, PL experienced, Arsenal system trained CB is a real bonus, AFC, and the Verm is just that.

• I really hope TV5 stays with us, it must be difficult for him not getting regular playing time, but he does have the experience we need to cover at the moment. Perhaps as has been mentioned, Per may get more rest time at the beginning of the season and so TV will get some games.

• @ Total- agreed re having plenty of depth in attack. Signing another forward does not seem likely and in all honesty a bit unnecessary. Not to mention the ill effects it could have on the youngsters gnabry, Campbell, or the now-or-never youth prospects who deserve a shot at the first team (eisfeld for example).

  I like the options for DM, but I think Dylan is missing a very capable candidate in Morgan schneiderlin. Aside from his obvious qualities, I think he served as a very dependable leader at Southampton– another key ingredient this team and the supporters have been badly missing.

  On the more unrealistic side of things: one of javi Martinez or Arturo Vidal would be absolutely mind blowing. And the latter just might want to join his compatriot.

• Thanks Dylan for another belter !. I think you should be using your command of my language to pull some US of A ( United States of Afghanistan ) talent !. I`m sure those cheerleaders can be swooned by your silvery typing`s !. 😀
  1) I only want the best and I know Arsend Wonga still has a minimum of about £125M to spend (on transfers, don’t any of you fcuktards give me the wages bullshit or I`ll send the boys around ! ). So it`s Pogba or Vidal !. Goalkeeper ?, who fcuking cares !….. it could be my gran and she was cremated years ago !.
  2) CB and another quick skilful striker !.
  3) All the money on 3 more ! or I will leave my decapitated head on a pillow next to him on his bed with his testicles in my eye sockets and my eyes replacing his testicles !. That`s how far I`m willing to go to let him know I mean business !……..plus I will get to see all the action with all the Rio girls he pulls !. hahaha

  “More work to do !”.

  http://metro.co.uk/2014/07/11/arsenal-chief-ivan-gazidis-confirms-arsenal-working-on-more-big-transfers-4794282/

  What`s wrong with Hamez Bond ?. You cant leave little tormenting teasers !. Come on we`re are BK Buddies !. Give us the info or it`s the Laser !.

• Dylan,
  Good thread mate i agree with most of what you have said i will give you my opinon for the answers in a minute.
  First i have just been looking at Arsenals on line shopping range.
  I for the last couple of seasons have brought a jacket or or 2 which i really liked the training jackets. TBH i am not so keen on the new 1’s they are ok but nothing special, but it made me wonder what Jacket will Arsene be wearing this season ha ha ha ha ha
  All i will say is please not the Poncho! lol
  http://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/adult-fashion/jackets/icat/jackets?sort=sequence_jackets&sort=name&parentCategoryRef=jackets&order=asc&order=asc&q=*&setpagenum=2&perpage=9&bklist=icat,4,shop,adultfashion,jackets
  My money is on this number, the Mountain Parker 😉
  http://arsenaldirect.arsenal.com/adult-fashion/jackets/icat/jackets

• The champions league jacket is nice and the reverseable is ok.
  1 For the keeper position i say Begavic all the way, as the number 1 for me.
  Sami K would be a dream sign but not sure if Real would give him to us but he would be perfect.

  2 Keeper, RB still til Matthew D is confirmed, DMB and maybe 1 more striker, i have heard from sky today say the QPR have confirmed that Arsenal have enquired about Remy lately 🙂

  3 I think about another £40,000,000

• Cockie,
  I love it! Wenger just rolling down the street with his boys! lol

• I can’t work our what number Sanchez will have on the back of his shirt, all the good numbers are taken.??
  Any idea’s ?

• plus Djourou, JC, and Monreal and Coqulin all need squad numbers.

• 2 is available for either Monreal or Djourou

• Alexi Sanchez has just taken number 17 🙂

• Evening Hetrosexuals

  Great stuff Dylan. Rerseve goalie who likes the smooth texture of a bench caressing his arse is a must. Plus a right back of international quality. Debauchery will do.

  This Sanchez signing is great. The way I see it, for us to compete against the best in the world only became an option in 2013. Up to that point lack of marketable comercial deals and the absence of financial rules meant the main aim was to reach top four.

  Now the plan, in,my opinion, is three fold.

  1) Tie up our players to a chair and..errr, I mean tie our players to long term deals, especialy our exciting young british talent

  2) Secondly, add top quality. Sanchez and Ozil is very nice and in some cases can cure impotency. Some one should tell Mark Hughes.

  3) This is the bit were we need some magic from Arsene. Unearth a few gems. What ever we spend, we are no Barca or Man City. We can close the gap with 1 and 2 above, but we need a new Viera, Henry etc. if Arsene can get a couple of lads from under the radar of the others, then improve them or convert there positions, making them world class, then weve cracked it.

  The above is Arsenes and the Clubs blueprint as I see it

• Sanchez has just taken 17 !…………17highbury terrace !………in that case, I shall send 17 some vaseline !. Sanchez or Squatchez….. he doesn`t care, as long as they are SQ !. hahaha

• Cornwall, according to you, poor old seventinio has been “taken” so often, George Michael is writing a love song about him. hahaha

• Yes Stretch !, he needs to bring in a few young rough diamonds like he used to !……………….back to his old stomping grounds would be a good start and quickly before the six week school holidays start, otherwise it will be a waste of time standing outside the school gates as the kids will be down on the beaches here in Cornwall !. hahaha

• Quiet Stretch !……..Careless Whispers will have tongues wagging !. We`ve got to have Faith that 17 will give up his broke back ways !.

• I found that brokeback mountain film very disturbing

  What happened to the good old days, when visiting a public toilet there would be a geezer in a mac having a shuffle? He would give you a sneaky look, and that just increased his frenzy. Or, on a night out in Soho a man wearing lipstick would greet with you “hello sailor”, ask you for a light and stare at you longinly as the flame burned his face?

  Now its so rife, ime surprised the government dont make it compulsory.

• Evening Dylan! Always more fun to do transfer speculation when we have had some good news on this front! And plenty of time for more one hopes.

  1. DM is the key one for me as with most other folk. Khedira ticks all the right boxes, in terms of proven quality, big game experience, as well as the bonus of good work with Ozil. And I will be cheering loudly if we land him for sure. One for the heart for sure. But, but, but… I looked at him during the WC and, despite some excellent play, he looks a bit heavier and slower to me these days He is 27 and recently back from major injury. And he has a hell of a career behind him with RM and Germany. In short will he be hungry and looking to bust a gut for us? I further observe how much he likes to get forward – do we really want or need this if he is playing alongside Rambo or Jack? That leads me towards the ‘head’ options. Bender and Schneiderlin are both young and up and coming players – they have drive, talent, fitness and their best years ahead of them. In the case of Schneiderlin he is also a proper DM rather than a box to box and off course already PL proven. He is not SQ however, nor probably SQ potential. Given we have not had much luck with Bender to date, my punt would be we test the sale price for both Germans and then come in hard for Schneiderlin if we don’t land one of the others at a moderate price. But will Southampton want to sell? After fogging off half their team I don’t see why they would unless it were for top dollar, unless he manages to force an exit. I can’t get excited about GK cover; just get a UK one for not too much – Ruddy?

  2. Other positions. I don’t see that we need another striker either. With San and Pod, as well as Campbell, Walcott and Ox I think we are more than covered after Sanchez and Giroud. And don’t forget Akpom coming through either. RB I assume is banked with Debuchy, so after a quality DM and GK cover what’s left to fill? I would keep Verm if at all possible. I doubt the board will let us write off £10M by letting him leave free next year, but to strengthen Manure would be crazy in my view, especially as it will almost certainly leave us the weaker for it. But I think we could do with a young CB talent to develop. Chelski have already picked up the prime candidate, but there must be more options out there – haven’t heard Ginter mentioned for a while recently!? Finally, I don’t think we need another winger,,,,,,, but I don’t think Wenger would be able to resist if one came available – Griezmann or Draxler etc. Now I don’t think this is hugely likely, but I would not be surprised if it happened all the same. But it would probably mean us moving on one of our older first team players – Pod or Santi. I’m in no hurry to lose either of these folk, so this would be bittersweet for me, even if we bought in a top young name.

  3. Total spend (net spend I presume you mean). I can see this being in the £70M region. Wenger has 3 years; he wont want to add 1 player a year if he can bring in a couple more and have a squad that can challenge this coming year and each year for 3 or 4 beyond. Going back to the DM debate, this may drive him looking at Khedira, even if he might not be the best long term – he needs no development and would be adding a winner right now.

  A last observation from me is around the need for strong, vocal leadership in our first team. What pleases me as much as anything about Sanchez is his drive, work rate and physical determination. We need our new DM to bring the fire that Flam shows, along with greater physical presence, and the quality to win ball and play out from defence. I truly believe that the right DM now and we have a squad to compete with anyone. Good days to be a gooner!

• Cockie, hmmm, that vids was so much fun. I’d like Wenger to see it and see what his reaction’s gonna be. PG, agreed, with the acquisition of another striker, we will be able to bridge the gap in depth of 1st & 2nd, and with the vampire of merseyside gone, ‘Pool will be no match for us. Lets see who LVG unearths. What do you guys think of Craig Dawson or Simon Kjaer(i’m not sure of the spelling.)

• nice one, Dylan – been a long time since you last wrote something for BK , your articles are always top notch non the less and all realistic and viable options presented and wouldn’t be against any one of them mooted.

  17HT (from the last post !

  over the years I have learned not to take anything personally (involving a footy discussion) even if it’s a petty personal insult and so on, especially if it involves football – at the end of the day, we are one gooner family here, so there is no joy in getting riled up over something that can be easily ignored, although I do try to avoid such things as much as possible and stick to the substance as much as possible – as one person’s sense is another’s nonsense and so on.

  re- you thinking I was praising Van Gaal then it’s far from it – my opinion of him has gone down hill in no time and actually am very happy not to have him at Arsenal and see him up north in a land far far away, ha – allow me to make a bold prediction , he won’t take this man utd team/squad very far next season, unless he brings into 2 /3 SQ signings – will wait till the close of window and do the predictions for them.

  on a more serious note, if there is any manager that deserves the praise and a gold statue then that’s Poor Phil Scholari – the guy is a bloody genius for winning the Confederations cup and getting this mediocre or worst ever Brazilian team in history to the semi finals – yet, every tom dick and harry (in south america, mostly) is slaying into him .

  it is Scholari and not Van Gaal who had an average team and squad , took them way too far and overachieved considering they had the home pressure and weight of expectations were sky high.

• Good Evening @ AB

  All good and valid points !

  I’m leaning towards giving the BFG the arm band and letting him have the captaincy full time for the next 2-3 years, at least ?

  what do you reckon

• Yes, I like AB`s point about Khedira and agree !.
  Anyway, I can finally let go of Mrs Sagna……….`cos now I have AS17`s bit of fluff to look forward too whilst he`s training !.
  Mmmmmm Laia !.
  Right off to bed !…….Laia !

  http://www.arsenalstation.com/2014/07/11/photo-sanchezs-hot-girlfriend-posts-selfie-in-an-arsenal-shirt/

  Laiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

• Ludva Sagna, WHO ? ? ? ? ?

  Signing of the season Mrs. Sanchez !

  https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BsONbOkIEAA1d7H.jpg:large

• great minds or perverted minds think aahahahhahahahahahahhahahaha @ Glics

• Too late Hamez !………..I had her first !.

• Mind you, in your photo she`s indicating she wants the both of us !. hahaha

• Yup very happy with the new Mrs Arse! Mert for Captain has to be next year JB. But will Wenger strip Verm of it? If he goes its simple, but if he stays, my money would be on Verm staying as captain too. Wenger prizes loyalty, and shows it to his players, even if few show him the same respect in return. I would not want him to change however; its part of the quality of our club.

• ahahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahahah

• well, then that’s a bit concerning, if AW was to keep TV5 as the skipper – this decision needs to be made purely in terms of football, for the betterment of the team and not loyalty and so on – the guy is injured for 3-6 months in a normal season, unable to train with the team/squad – how can that be good for the team or longer term ?

  we can compensate TV5, by offering a new contract with added bonus incentive payments and so on

  @ AB

  we need to sort out our Captaincy conundrum and this needs to be addressed as soon as the German’s win the world cup, I reckon.

• Lots of reports suggesting Chelski may be in for Khedira. Probably bollocks, but if he did end up there, it would be a poor lookout for Fabski – he could end up spending most of next season on the Chelski bench…. Shame!

• I don’t know JB. The question is what sort of role does Verm play with the squad off the pitch, as much as who leads when on it. Its hard to judge what Verm is like to be honest. But clearly its been Arteta and Mert who have been the on-pitch leaders this last year; and Mert has to be the one that continues whenever fit. But beyond that? Dunno – hard to judge how influential these things are.

• couldn’t care less about what Chelsea do or what Fab does or how he suffers on the bench, he is past his best and sell by date – he won’t be the same player as he once was in the Premier league, he will struggle in England next season.

  Jose.Moron has been a big admirer of Kherdira, so there might be substance behind that one as they are looking to offload Mikel and add in that department – mind you, there could be a straight swap involving Ramires to RM / Khedira to Chelsea.

• Arteta for me is a no, simply because our next signing (DM) will be our regular starter, with Arteta rotated and being played as a sub or when required hence the captaincy needs to go to a regular starter and who better than the BFG ? longer term, if JW manages to secure a starting 11 place then he needs to be the captain but I reckon that’s another 2 years away at least, the lad has not progressed as expected due to various reasons , however, he still has time to put that right like Ramsey !

• Agreed JB. My assumption is Arteta is a squad player next season, but probably valuable as a wise, calm head amongst the new folk well as cover in the pivot. So many options for next season. And as I’ve said before, I’m really keeping my fingers crossed for Diaby this year too. If anyone deserves the rub now, its him.

• Jack needs a big season. He could get left behind a bit if he does not pick up this year.

• you’re not alone in wishing Diaby well, would love to see the lad do well – however, I would want him to retire from international football for a bit.

  saying JW could get left behind a bit might be an understatement , if he is not at the races this year since he is running out of excuses and reasons now – plus the OX will be upping his game – so a healthy competition for places and this can only help young Jack to take his game to the next level.

  for now am gone, was a pleasure as always talking footy with you @ AB

  good night !

• JB you sound confident of this DM signing..

  Any hints?? Maybe their current league? Nationality?
  Anything????

• JB, you said:

  re- you thinking I was praising Van Gaal then it’s far from it – my opinion of him has gone down hill in no time and actually am very happy not to have him at Arsenal and see him up north in a land far far away, ha – allow me to make a bold prediction , he won’t take this man utd team/squad very far next season, unless he brings into 2 /3 SQ signings – will wait till the close of window and do the predictions for them.

  NO manager will and ever could take this current United squad far without some quality additions. If Everton can nearly get into the top four, what makes you think Van Gaal and United can’t with a few good signings? The signings would not even have to be SQ but only good and solid.

  I am not sure how your view on one of the best managers in world football today and a top manager throughout recent history has changed after watching one tournament where he had an average squad?

  Van Gaal’s Managerial honours (copy and pasted so it sort of came out weird but you can still read it).

  AjaxEredivisie: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96KNVB Cup: 1992–93Johan Cruijff Shield: 1993, 1994, 1995UEFA Champions League: 1994–95; Runner-up 1995–96UEFA Cup: 1991–92UEFA Super Cup: 1995Intercontinental Cup: 1995BarcelonaLa Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99Copa del Rey: 1997–98UEFA Super Cup: 1997AZEredivisie: 2008–09Bayern MunichBundesliga: 2009–10DFB-Pokal: 2009–10DFB-Supercup: 2010UEFA Champions League: Runner-up2009–10

  You then said:

  ‘on a more serious note, if there is any manager that deserves the praise and a gold statue then that’s Poor Phil Scholari – the guy is a bloody genius for winning the Confederations cup and getting this mediocre or worst ever Brazilian team in history to the semi finals – yet, every tom dick and harry (in south america, mostly) is slaying into him .’

  The Confederations Cup means nothing. That is like Wenger winning the Emirates Cup or Community shield and me trying to say he has overachieved by doing so. Scolari did not get Brazil to the semi-finals, Neymar did with the help of Thiago Silva and Gustavo. Every Tom, Dick and Harry is slaying into him because he was partly responsible for the most shameful and embarrassing event in Brazil’s footballing history. Against Germany there was no defence. David Luiz was doing whatever he wanted basically playing CF and Maicon and Marcelo were playing as wingers, he should have started with Dani Alves and did not, probably should have started with Willian instead of Bernand but didn’t etc. He could not even get his team organised when they conceded the first 2/3 goals, he kept everything the same did not change anything and they got battered. Fred and Hulk were just terrible throughout the entire WC. Fred played like a donkey and was like a lamp post and Hulk was just that overweight kid running around trying to get a touch of the ball. Scolari continued to play them even in the semi-final which were yet more mistakes by Scolari.

  You then went on to say:

  ‘it is Scholari and not Van Gaal who had an average team and squad , took them way too far and overachieved considering they had the home pressure and weight of expectations were sky high.’

  LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

  Scolari had a world class defender in Thiago Silva in his squad and a world class forward in Neymar. He also had good experienced players who play/used to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world. David Luiz plays for PSG and used to play for Chelsea, Dante plays for Bayern Munich, Marcelo plays for Real Madrid, Oscar plays for Chelsea, Dani Alves used to play for Barcelona, Fernandinho plays for Manchester City, Ramires also play for Chelsea, as well as Willian and Lucas plays for PSG etc.

  That squad is world class compared to Holland. You can’t even begin to compare the squads as the gulf in quality and experience is rediculously huge. There was no home pressure but instead home advantage. All the fans were behind Brazil and the team said the crowd were pushing them to perform better.

• AFC :

  NO manager will and ever could take this current United squad far without some quality additions. If Everton can nearly get into the top four, what makes you think Van Gaal and United can’t with a few good signings? The signings would not even have to be SQ but only good and solid. ======================Erm, excuse me but a certain Scotsman not Moyes, took the very same squad to the very heights and won the PL with a 10 point lead not so long ago ? OUCH !

  AFC:
  I am not sure how your view on one of the best managers in world football today and a top manager throughout recent history has changed after watching one tournament where he had an average squad?

  Van Gaal’s Managerial honours (copy and pasted so it sort of came out weird but you can still read it).

  AjaxEredivisie: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96KNVB Cup: 1992–93Johan Cruijff Shield: 1993, 1994, 1995UEFA Champions League: 1994–95; Runner-up 1995–96UEFA Cup: 1991–92UEFA Super Cup: 1995Intercontinental Cup: 1995BarcelonaLa Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99Copa del Rey: 1997–98UEFA Super Cup: 1997AZEredivisie: 2008–09Bayern MunichBundesliga: 2009–10DFB-Pokal: 2009–10DFB-Supercup: 2010UEFA Champions League: Runner-up2009–10
  =========================== You are beginning to sound like a proper liverpool supporter , ask them about trophies and a top notch manager and they give you Kenny daglish , yawns – dinosaurs is the right word there.

  but just because I like you – I will give you my top managers in the WORLD am going to exclude our own manager just to keep this as unbiased as possible !

  1: Pep Guardiola

  3: Carlo Ancoletti

  5: Jurgen Klopp

  7: Roberto Martinez

  9: Brendon Rodgers

  AFC:
  The Confederations Cup means nothing. That is like Wenger winning the Emirates Cup or Community shield and me trying to say he has overachieved by doing so. Scolari did not get Brazil to the semi-finals, Neymar did with the help of Thiago Silva and Gustavo. Every Tom, Dick and Harry is slaying into him because he was partly responsible for the most shameful and embarrassing event in Brazil’s footballing history. Against Germany there was no defence. David Luiz was doing whatever he wanted basically playing CF and Maicon and Marcelo were playing as wingers, he should have started with Dani Alves and did not, probably should have started with Willian instead of Bernand but didn’t etc. He could not even get his team organised when they conceded the first 2/3 goals, he kept everything the same did not change anything and they got battered. Fred and Hulk were just terrible throughout the entire WC. Fred played like a donkey and was like a lamp post and Hulk was just that overweight kid running around trying to get a touch of the ball. Scolari continued to play them even in the semi-final which were yet more mistakes by Scolari. ==================== forgive me, but I stopped reading after your first sentence ” The Confederations cup means nothing “.

  AFC :

  Scolari had a world class defender in Thiago Silva in his squad and a world class forward in Neymar. He also had good experienced players who play/used to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world. David Luiz plays for PSG and used to play for Chelsea, Dante plays for Bayern Munich, Marcelo plays for Real Madrid, Oscar plays for Chelsea, Dani Alves used to play for Barcelona, Fernandinho plays for Manchester City, Ramires also play for Chelsea, as well as Willian and Lucas plays for PSG etc.

  That squad is world class compared to Holland. You can’t even begin to compare the squads as the gulf in quality and experience is rediculously huge. There was no home pressure but instead home advantage. All the fans were behind Brazil and the team said the crowd were pushing them to perform better. ================================ wow – so apparently Neymar at 20/21 is a proven world class forward already ? just because one plays for one of the biggest club in the world, don’t automatically make you a big player or world class player –

  am really baffled by all you have written – you are comparing the finalists of 2010 with the worst possible Brazilian team ever to have played and then you go on to try and justify your point by backing it up with the clubs they play for – if playing for the biggest clubs in the world was a yardstick of quality then Spain should have been given the crown before the tourney started.

  let’s get out of all the circles and loops – and let’s look at it from a slightly different angle – Brazil played the whole tourney with a donkey as you put it, which means they played the World cup without a proper CF/ST – they played without a proper no.10 – they played with only one decent Defender – so in theory , only 2 players were carrying Brazil i.e. Silva and Neymar, yes ?

  now let’s look at the Dutch team – Van Pussy / Robben / Wesley.S / Huntelaar – all big players with experience .

  let the readers decide and make their own minds up.

  last but not least – if you are going to big up Van Gaal and jump up and down with his credentials and achievements then I expect you not to be holding back doing the same for Jose.Moron – his credentials and CV isn’t half bad in comparison to most top coaches, no ?

  in the end, it’s fine if you believe all what you’ve written and believe in – that’s the way you see it and interpreted it but I see it differently and for me, the Dutch were lucky to have made it to the semis

  Either way, it seems that today’s 3rd place game just became a tad more interesting – come on BraaaAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAzil !

• JB, the United squad that Fergie used to win the title was two years younger, players were of better quality at that time. Are you forgetting that Ferdinand and Vidic have left? Two of the EPL’s best defenders in modern years, two captains who formed an amazing partnership.

  Martinez and Rodgers better than Van Gaal. You must be dreaming mate!

  The Confederations Cup is a warm-up tournament to the WC and means nothing. Explain to me why it has significant meaning. It also convenient how you skipped past all of Scolari’s bad decisions.

  I would say Neymar is world class which is why Barca signed him in the first place. He is in the same league as Bale who you would call world class. I never said he was a proven world class forward. I said he is a world class player. Is Bale a proven world class forward? No, but you call him a world class player.

  The Holland team of 2010 which were finalists is different to the Holland current Holland team of 2014. I am comparing the Holland team of 2014 to the Brazil team of 2014 however you are trying to make out if I am comparing the Brazil team of 2014 to the Holland team of 2010 which is entirely wrong. I couldn’t care less if the 2010 Holland team were finalists as that squad is not being compared by me and is not even in the discussion. You have chosen to include it to try and further your own point.

  Your really clutching at straws now. The players I mentioned above are all good-very good players and I am sure everyone would agree. The fact that they play for top clubs only illustrates my point rather than justifying it.

  No JB. The likes of Marcelo, Dani Alves and David Luiz are all good defenders but they played badly in the semi-final. Neymar carried Brazil meanwhile Guatavo and Silva organised the defence.

  Only Robben was really carrying Holland meanwhile RVP and Snejder helped out. Huntelaar? He was on the bench. He is experienced but is way past his prime.

  I have said Mourinho is a top manager. I did not need to point out his credentials as you know how good he is however you do not seem to understand just how good a manager Van Gaal is. By implying that Rodgers and Martinez are better managers than Van Gaal you have disrespected him and his entire managerial career. Rodgers and Martinez ain’t done shit. They are not even fit to kiss his feet. Please don’t mention Van Gaal with such company.

• Rodgers and Martinez ain’t done shit compared to Van Gaal.

• They are not even fit to lick the dirt from underneath Van Gaal’s shoes. *

  P.S. Mourinho is definitely a better manager than Rodgers and Martinez.

• Brazil need to decide to either crap, or get off the pot. You have Marcelo, David Luiz, Maicon, Dani Alves, Neymar, Oscar etc, etc. What exactly are these players??? They can’t fit into a rigid tactical system or formation yet/anymore/ever, and are not efficient enough, yet they aren’t quite skilled, subtle, or intelligent enough to play their opponents off the park through sheer skill and artistry. They are sort of a half-arsed half and half. Brazil was at their peak when European footy had little influence on their domestic leagues, right??? I can see it being a loooooooooong road back for them, without having any real knowledge about their football administration and the accompanying strategy, of said people in high places. Sometimes I wonder whether they should have just recruited a bunch of futsal players, or players from the youth ranks aged between 18-20 and tried that, rather than having a bunch of semi-refined players who don’t know whether to play FUTBOLl or football. You CAN compare them to the sides who won them the World Cup, or reached the final or the famous 1982 side and they wouldn’t carry the boots of any of the past winners and “glorious” losers. Neymar??? PLEASE Give me Pele, Mane Garrincha, Tostao, Jairzinho, Rilvaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Socrates, Rivelinho, Pele, Didi, Kaka, Zico, Juninho (both of them at this point), Ze Roberto, etc, etc. You can tell me that most of them had more experience when they won, but a good few of them came, saw and conquered all at once. We are much too hasty to fete these prima-donna wannabe’s before they have actually done something noteworthy in this game. Neymar????????? WALK ON!!!

  As for van Gaal, I am sooooooooo happy he is not at Arsenal, and hopefully never will be. At times I think he is a bigger egomaniac (read prick) than Mourinho, he just manages to conceal this flaw a bit better, but only JUST. I don’t care what he has won, he’s a jerk in my eyes and I don’t want a jerk as the figurehead of this club.

  I know this is cornball, but seeing Wenger re-iterate the club’s values and traditions (some of which have been a bit skewed or disproportioned, such as our reliance on youth: check how many SCHOOLBOYS we have brought through the ranks during Wenger’s tenure) I still admire him as a person AND as a footballing demi-god!!! 😀 van Gallbladder be damned!!!

• Apologies, Dylan! Just reread the post and completely missed your shout for Morgan S. Disregard my previous comment 🙂

  Doing a bit more “YouTube research” on khedira, am I the only person who thinks he and ramsey might be a bit too similar? They share some exceptional qualities in their vision, fluid dribbling, and all action performances. Both players love bombing forward and being involved in the attack which could lead to some vulnerability in the back. On one hand it could actually be a true blessing if one were to be injured. However, I wonder about the squad’s balance in fielding them in the same XI?

  Surely wenger could coach one to be more defensive minded but would that go against his philosophy of players performing to their strengths? Or depending on how ramsey and khedira’s understanding develops, we could witness a truly devastating double-B2b-pivot?

  Just some thoughts..

• Milo, I really don’t see your point.

  You said:

  ‘Brazil need to decide to either crap, or get off the pot. You have Marcelo, David Luiz, Maicon, Dani Alves, Neymar, Oscar etc, etc. What exactly are these players??? They can’t fit into a rigid tactical system or formation yet/anymore/ever, and are not efficient enough, yet they aren’t quite skilled, subtle, or intelligent enough to play their opponents off the park through sheer skill and artistry.’

  What do you think Oscar is doing at Chelsea right now. He is fitting and playing well in a rigid tactical system or formation right now Chelsea under Mourinho and will continue to do so in the future. He works hard for the team tracking back and making tackles to help his defenders meanwhile creating chances and sticks to his role which is why he is Mourinho’s no.10.

  Gustavo can certainly fit in rigid tactical formation or system right now. As can Fred. All of Brazil’s players are highly skilled. Brazil do not have the right players to play their opponents off the park. Where is their regista or volante? All Brazil seem to have or destroyers (Gustavo) or box to box midfielders (Fernandinho and Ramires)? You can’t want the players to be something they are not. It is clear that passing is not the biggest part of their game but power and pace (in the case of some) is.

  Besides why is it essential that players need to be able to fit in a rigid system or formation?

  ‘They are sort of a half-arsed half and half. You CAN compare them to the sides who won them the World Cup, or reached the final or the famous 1982 side and they wouldn’t carry the boots of any of the past winners and “glorious” losers. Neymar??? PLEASE Give me Pele, Mane Garrincha, Tostao, Jairzinho, Rilvaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Socrates, Rivelinho, Pele, Didi, Kaka, Zico, Juninho (both of them at this point), Ze Roberto, etc, etc. You can tell me that most of them had more experience when they won, but a good few of them came, saw and conquered all at once. We are much too hasty to fete these prima-donna wannabe’s before they have actually done something noteworthy in this game. Neymar????????? WALK ON!!!’

  I know you can compare this current Brazil team to past teams, it has been done already. I was making the point that you cannot compare two teams of two different nations from different years e.g. comparing the Brazil 2014 team to the Holland 2010 team when we are discussing teams at the current 2014 world cup.

  I am not sure why you want to compare Neymar to some of the greatest players Brazil have ever had. Does anyone in the modern era match up to Pele? I don’t think anyone does. Ronaldo and Ronaldinho (and some of the players you have mentioned above) are more than world class players in my opinion, they are legends who have the surpassed the point of just being world class. You imply Neymar isn’t world class but if we signed him tomorrow you (?) and the large majority of Arsenal fans would be saying we have signed a world class player.

  ‘As for van Gaal, I am sooooooooo happy he is not at Arsenal, and hopefully never will be. At times I think he is a bigger egomaniac (read prick) than Mourinho, he just manages to conceal this flaw a bit better, but only JUST. I don’t care what he has won, he’s a jerk in my eyes and I don’t want a jerk as the figurehead of this club.’

  So what of Van Gaal is a prick. Prick or not he is a fantastic manager. So what if he is a jerk. I guess you do not care what Mourinho has won either or what Ferguson has won (?) as they are pricks are well.

• Yes Frozen, they are quite similar, but that is the point. Rather than a proper, classic DM, Wenger seems to be looking for two all round midfielders who can play in front of the back four and can each support the attack. The Germans have a number of SQ players for this and that’s why they have come so far this tournament, IMO.

  I prefer a proper, yet good passer of a DM next to Ramsey or Wilshere, like DeJong or Wanyama, but a Khedira or Vidal could work too. Cesc and Ramsey would have been great too, IF Wenger does not go for a DM type, but, as we know, he blocked the door for our former maestro.

• AFC, is the last comment yours but you accidentally put ‘Milo’ in the name box?

• No TA. I replying to Milo’s comment at 04:46. The early replies were for JB

• But you are called Milo in your comments…..

• Sorry TA. I did. I hope Milo doesn’t get offended as it was purely accidental.

• Really don’t remember myself doing that. 😀

• Well argued throughout last night and well done for bothering.

• I am sure Milo does not mind, AFC. 🙂

• And one more point JB. If Van Gaal is a dinosaur that must make Wenger a dinosaur.

  Wenger’s honours

  MonacoLigue 1: 1987–88Coupe de France: 1990–91Nagoya GrampusEmperor’s Cup: 1995J-League Super Cup: 1996ArsenalFA Premier League: 1997–98, 2001–02,2003–04FA Cup: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03,2004–05, 2013–14FA Community Shield: 1998, 1999, 2002,2004

  Van Gaal’s honours

  AjaxEredivisie: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96KNVB Cup: 1992–93Johan Cruijff Shield: 1993, 1994, 1995UEFA Champions League: 1994–95; Runner-up 1995–96UEFA Cup: 1991–92UEFA Super Cup: 1995Intercontinental Cup: 1995BarcelonaLa Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99Copa del Rey: 1997–98UEFA Super Cup: 1997AZEredivisie: 2008–09Bayern MunichBundesliga: 2009–10DFB-Pokal: 2009–10DFB-Supercup: 2010UEFA Champions League: Runner-up2009–10

  Wenger didn’t win nothing since 2005 before winning the FA Cup whereas Van Gaal has won numerous trophies since 2005 (including the Bundesliga and Eredivisie .

  And Wenger is too years older than Van Gaal!

• Two years*

• You forgot to add Wenger being a CL runner up AFC, and he was also the manager of the decade according to some stataticians. But let’s not compare achievements between managers as each has worked under different circumstances. JB despises Van Gaal and believes he is exactly like Mourinho, which suits his chancer approach to football, and tells you all about how much he knows about him. His comments are fueled by his hatred for the Dutchman and however much you argue your case it will fall on deaf ears, and bring out more chancer comments.

• TA, I know they have worked under different circumstances but I am just trying to show JB that Van Gaal is a good manager who has won things and is no rookie.

  I’m happy to forget about it.

• Wikipedia missed out that AW was a CL runner up. 😀

• The latest news is that AW is looking to sign Khedira AND Bender. I can’t see that happening unless Wenger sells Flamini and/or Arteta but even then… Cockie, what would that be on your BOING! scale? Surely a 10?

• Cannot see that happening, AFC. Where would it leave Jack and Rambo?

• ===

  3rd/4th placing
  Brazil (captain: Thiago Silva, CB) vs Netherlands (captain: Robin van Persie, CF / Arjen Robben, RW/CF)
  *Venue: Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília (Centralwest Brazil)
  Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria) (Prev officiated: Australia vs Netherlands, 2-3; Costa Rica vs England, 0-0; Belgium vs USA, 2-1)

  * 2nd time playing at venue for Brazil. (Prev: vs Cameroon, GS, 4-1)
  * 1st time playing at venue for Netherlands.

  ===

  Finals
  Germany (captain: Phillip Lahm, RB/DM) vs Argentina (captain: Lionel Messi, AM/RF/CF)
  *Venue: Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (Southeast Brazil)
  Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy) (Prev officiated: Spain vs Netherlands, 1-5; Nigeria vs Argentina, 2-3; Argentina vs Belgium, 1-0)

  *2nd time playing at venue for Germany. (Prev vs France, QF, 1-0)
  *2nd time playing at venue for Argentina. (Prev: vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, GS, 2-1)

  ===

• Neither can I TA. That is unless we get Khedira this summer and get Bender next summer to replace Arteta and Flamini with Bender accepting a role at Arsenal where he is rotated at Arsenal. Jack could then be rotated with Ramsey and in the ‘3’ behind the ST as Rosicky is also likely to retire at the end of next season?

  Still can’t see it happening. I would be happy with either but I would prefer Khedira.

• Caulker goes to Palace for £8 million. He would have been good CB signing and he would have been homegrown.

• Wenger talking about Van Gaal.

  “He is going to be a fantastic manager in the Premier League,” Wenger told beIN Sports. “I liked how the decisions he made were clear [at the World Cup], how the timing of his decisions were always right and in my opinion it was the right decision every time.”I am sure that Manchester United will be competitors this year for the championship and that will be more interesting.”

  Wenger’s words not mine.

• AFC

  He’s telling porkies…. underneath I can imagine what he’s thinking.:-)

• Not sure, AFC, about the BOING ! scale rating for both Khedira and Bender !. I don’t know how good Bender is, I only go by comments of other BKers saying how good he is and as for Khedira, he was outstanding against Brazil in what seemed more a B2B roll, not sure how good he is at DM !.
  Now if you were to tell me we are after both Pogba and Vidal , what`s their BOING ! scale rating ?………well the scale would be obliterated and my cock would spontaneously combust !.

  I think Newcastle have done a decent deal if they get Remy Cabella for £12M !…….give it a season and they will want £30M for him !.
  It looks like The Spuds have got the final compulsory purchase order on land nearby to build their new ground with a capacity of 56,000 !………surely under the mental health act they wont be allowed to accommodate so many retards !…..must be in the Guinness Book of Records !.
  To tell the truth, the drawings of the stadium look fantastic and imo will probably look better than our own stadium, this is what happens when you build later after your neighnour, you want to better your neighbours house !, but and this is the big problem with their ambitions, it`s a well known cliché among estate agents…………….”it`s better to have the worst house in the best street, than having the best house in the worst street !”….and another…….”location, location, location !”.
  No doubt it will be a great stadium and the largest Sainsbury`s in London, but it is a shit hole !.
  There`s only 2 clubs that have better locations ( and I mean property price wise ) than Arsenal, sadly it`s the Chavs and Fulham ( the best, sat on the banks of the River Thames !), so we don’t do too bad compared to the rest of the league clubs…..it`s automatic CL position !.
  Of course that’s just my opinion, you may think their are better areas, such as the new Olympic Stadium of West Ham, fantastic site, but not as up market as Islington now is !.
  Right, that`s too much boring sensible talk !. Did anyone`s cock explode on Thursday ?. hahaha

• Ahh…..`69er !. I hear from my mate Redders (RA), that you`re quite an artist !…….good !. You`re the artist !…..VCC is the piss artist !…..and I`m the piss taking artist !……The Three Artists !. 😀
  Any work you can show us on here !…….something like…..Arsene naked with a boner counting our transfer money !. hahaha

• Sorry !……..for all I know, some of you BKers might live in N17 and there`s me calling it a shit hole !…………here`s the dilemma !……….if so, whose going to have the cojones to admit they live in that shit hole !. 😀

• Here’s what I see… A lot of polemics mixed in with a bit of name calling… I don’t like it…

  This post is a good one, however (kudos, Dylan…), and there’s a lot of momentum around the idea that we’re going to augment our squad towards the back of the midfield. Consider me excited. There are some good comments in there too, esp. AB’s regarding his observations about Khedira and similarities to Ramsey. They make me a bit more interested in the younger options whom Dylan mentions. While I’m getting VERY excited about this upcoming season, I think I’m maybe even more excited that we seem to be augmenting with players who can significantly raise the quality of the team for several seasons to come. It’s a balance (of course) but the experience relatively young guys like Sanchez and Ozil can bring to our Brit-Core (of guys about the same age) makes me think we’re really onto something. What we don’t need are mercenary types going in the other direction (Bale, Modric, Ronaldo, Suarez, amongst others…) and the rebuilding it forces…. There are reasons for going to the Spanish giants and I have more understanding for the likes of Mascherano, Alonso and Fabregas. Still, with these two purchases (more than double our previous record w/Arshavin) I’m grooving on what feels like a real shift in power. The next one should be *really* interesting… Even though there’s some turnover in the squad (Sagna, Fabianski), the improvements we’re making feel substantial and obvious…

  Regarding national teams and other managers and the strong opinions there…Wow. I’ll go with 007 and suggest that we might consider ourselves one big Gooner family, so if it’s just conversation and strong opinions and different ways of looking at the game…fine. Arguing and explaining and backing up positions all seems good. I particularly like personal observations (of players or teams over whole matches), but I appreciate guys who know their football history and (obviously) do a lot of outside research…

  On the other hand…Name calling or outright dismissal of ideas seems like longhand for “fuck off.”

  The Van Gaal stuff seems pretty personal for TA (and AFC, maybe…) and I’ve got nothing against a spirited defense of the man. As such, AFC’s long responses and TA’s posts about his history and tactical systems are much appreciated. When it’s explained in light of football I watch (the current tournament) all the better. AW’s comments are just that (cheers AFC…), so, like him, I’m actually looking forward to seeing what he’s able to do up at ManU. I can even accept that some Arsenal supporters would prefer him to the current manager. Others (007) may see things differently and come to alternative conclusions. I don’t want to speak for our Superspy, but I think he was merely a bit put off by the negative tactics he saw and really appreciates managers who are pushing attacking football. He’s been around here a long time so impugning him as a “hater” or a “chancer” who “doesn’t know his football,” seems a tad harsh…

  Our fondness for certain managers seems a sensitive topic. if I was overly cavalier regarding Van Gaal (in the previous thread), I apologize. I was only making observations and questioning some of his decisions in the semi-final, much as I did after watching the Round of 16 and the QFs (I got nothing back on those, but my sense is that TA is awfully busy these days…) That my comments led to an attack on my support for Arsene Wenger seems both overly-defensive and misplaced. I don’t feel like I support our guy without question, but maybe I have pushed for a measure of relenting from (what feels like) constant criticism and negativity. Sarcastically calling him “my hero” or suggesting I cannot see “reality” which “sucks” seems rough. Maybe the smiley meant you were just kidding, TA(?) Still, awfully dismissive, I think…

  Is this why people start blogs? To assert their superiority with each observation and dismiss others? What shall I call mine then?… “17 Says So,” maybe?… Off to WordPress. No way can I keep it less than 140 characters, so Twitter is out… 😀

  I’m just kidding, of course. I’m no angel and I’ve been known to be overly harsh when people say things that seem wrong or stupid to me. Still, for a blog to work there has to be a sense of community and respect and that begins with the idea that people wouldn’t write something if it wasn’t important to them–even if it seems wrong to you… Putting your ideas out there and allowing comments (and responding thoughtfully to them…) and even inviting comment writers to post their own stuff seems pretty cool to me. BKesque has traditionally been very open to some pretty wild ideas (and willing to “agree to disagree”) without too much trouble. Not in this case, it seems…

  Anyhow, just a plug for a bit of group hug around here… Good things are happening for the Arsenal, tomorrow is the final of the World Cup (and, if we keep our expectations low enough, we might see a good match)… and… I like these new gunners (and their ladies…) wearing my number…

• now now AFC has been causing quite the stir and quite the chest beating has since gone on since my secret missions were on going behind the scenes, ha

  AFC, your comments are beginning to remind me of a poster by the name of OMG Arsenal – he kept going on and on like a broken record or still does, was a master of twisting and turning words to suit his own theories and agendas – so tread carefully and play nicely.

  back to the goody good stuff –

  you asked me this : I am not sure how your view on one of the best managers in world football TODAY

  and I gave you my list of managers the ones I rated in the world of TODAY – and yes, as you have noted – I wasn’t comparing Van Gaal with them, I simply just didn’t rate him enough to have him against those managers – l

  for example , Martinez – he has played a 3-5-2 at Wigan and won an FA cup with a championship team of sorts and defeated the mighty man city in the final – not just that , but the way he has built his teams and played football has been a thing of beauty –

  that was just to give you an example as to how I rate managers – these managers may or may not win trophies, but when they go to any club, they change the dynamics of their game, philosophies, culture and leave a blueprint that transforms them –

  then you go on and on making this into a AW vs Van Gaal thing, which it isn’t – you then list all his accomplishments from Wikipidia- how many of those accomplishments , did you personally see take place or how many teams of his have you actually watched play ? : ) the liverpool reference I gave was rather recent – I had a conversation with a scouse supporter on thursday and he was going on and on about how liverpool are the greatest team in history and it’s a mistake by Sanchez to go to Arsenal blah blah blah – I asked him one thing, how old was he when liverpool won their last championship (someone with your intelligence would know, that was game set and match and the scouse didn’t bang the drum on how they never wank alone,ever again in front of me and how Sanchez made the right decision, ha

  anyway back to your verbal diarrhea –

  you want me to explain you why the confederations cup is hot when on the one hand you told me it means “NOTHING” – why would I do that when clearly you have made up your mind on that and it means nothing to you ? : ) however, google it and you might find it under the “FIFA” banner – I rest my case.

  moving on – AFC :

  I would say Neymar is world class which is why Barca signed him in the first place. He is in the same league as Bale who you would call world class. I never said he was a proven world class forward. I said he is a world class player. Is Bale a proven world class forward? No, but you call him a world class player.======================== right, so if you call someone world clsas then that means they are not really world class because he is not a proven world class player ? ? ? ? ? ? I mean really ? oh my days – not so sure I want to be labeling anyone world class then if you are going to be so confused about it.

  however, BALE IS WORLD CLASS , he has carried spuds on his back before moving to Real Madrid, where he won them the Copa Del and Champions league – the Copa del simply on his own with that sensational goal and the champions league , he scored that all important goal – what has Neymar won Barca ? ? ? OUCH!

  AFC:

  The Holland team of 2010 which were finalists is different to the Holland current Holland team of 2014. I am comparing the Holland team of 2014 to the Brazil team of 2014 however you are trying to make out if I am comparing the Brazil team of 2014 to the Holland team of 2010 which is entirely wrong. I couldn’t care less if the 2010 Holland team were finalists as that squad is not being compared by me and is not even in the discussion. You have chosen to include it to try and further your own point.=========================== no, you did not get my point – the point there was that this Dutch team had players who had experience of being in the Semi final and final of the world cup before – Brazil were without such experience and exposure.

  AFC:

  No JB. The likes of Marcelo, Dani Alves and David Luiz are all good defenders but they played badly in the semi-final. Neymar carried Brazil meanwhile Guatavo and Silva organised the defence.==================================== David Luiz is a joke of a defender, am not even sure if he really is a defender or even a MF – he doesn’t have the discipline to be a top notch defender and being in England, watching the PL week in week out, you should know how “Good” of a defender David Luiz really is – then you speak off Dani Alves, who is past his sell by date as well as Maicon – Marcelo is decent, as is Silva, yes. however, you missed the point again which was again highlighted by Milo rather eloquently , So I won’t take it any further.

  and just because someone wears a no.10 shirt then that doesn’t make them a proper no.10 – am talking about Oscar here now – he is not your traditional no.10, and if he was such a good no.10 then Jose.Moron would have trusted him when the going got tough in the latter part of the season – he is just someone who gives more to the MF/defenders and is willing to defend more.

  oh yes, what else is AW suppose to be saying when both the Master (Van Gaal) and Pupil (Jose.MORON) will be playing together in England ? ha

  let’s see how he fares in England, the best league in the world , this way you might actually get to see what he is all about instead of having to see what he has achieved over the years or decades, which was to be a flat track bully : ) : ) : )

  anyhow – am not even sure why we are having this discussion as my initial message was directed at me amigo 17HT – I don’t wish to indulge in the Van Gaal debate any more, you won’t be able to change my mind on Jose’s master and you won’t be able to understand where I am coming from until and unless you see him take man utd to bigger clubs and then parks the bus for the first 80 minutes to keep it down to 0-0, then play a bit attacking and so on.

  until then, it’s on the back burner – fair enough, yeah ?

• I respect all the bastards on here !.

• appreciate that @ 17HT – glad you were able to see the bigger picture and take out what I mean’t from the very beginning and am sure, when this all originally started, AB was on the same wave length / page as me .

  but yes, calling people names and making it personnel is never the way to go , agreed – you would expect better from people of skippers stature but then again , sometimes such things happen in the heat of the moment , so like before, I won’t take it personally, if I were to take it personally – I could have easily said, that People who despise Jose.Mourinho for his tactics and winning ways, shouldn’t display double standards for his master or quiet simply appreciate what Mourinho does the same way as his master – the word is “hypocrite” for those – but did I say that, no sir, I didn’t.

  that was just an example to illustrate : )

• This is the time that a wise man holds his piece – sorry, peace – too much exposure to Cockie there — 🙂 — well maybe not exactly exposure, as such, that would be too terrifying for words.

  But the term ‘wise man’ counts me out, so here I go anyway.
  Having just read 17’s interesting, multi-aspected but puzzling comment, I take it that there is a little discord among two of BK’s most prolific contributors and the boss.

  The problem is that I find it difficult to believe that AFC and TA can have taken any offence at 17, simply because his comments are so long no one gets to the end without falling asleep!! 😀

  Equally, I cannot believe that AFC and TA said anything really bad just because they sometimes speak double Dutch, and in any case that would mean I am a plonker because I missed it – and if anyone says I am a plonker, I will send my attack dogs out to boff them –so stand by for a good boffin expedition Glic, Terry and VCC.

  That’s that sorted then!! 🙂

• Now look JimmyB

  No sooner have I sorted out the misunderstanding, perhaps because of obfuscation, than you type the following;
  — “if I were to take it personally – I could have easily said, that People who despise Jose.Mourinho for his tactics and winning ways, shouldn’t display double standards for his master or quiet simply appreciate what Mourinho does the same way as his master – the word is “hypocrite” for those – but did I say that, no sir, I didn’t.”

  OK, I accept that you think you know what you meant to write, but I hope you realise that what you wrote is not what I understood you to mean.

  Gerrit? 😀

• Hi Frozen,

  course I am – and expect some further movement when the world cup is over.

  oh come on RA – don’t be boring now ! it’s a free world (or so we are told) , every one is entitled to their opinions even if it’s 17HT aka’s voice of reason’s very tactful comments 😉

  speaking of dogs and attacks, where is Gerry and I thought Alcide was meant to be taking a holiday just so he could spend time with us folks on BK ?: )

• Cockie,

  Don’t become too friendly with that Norther, he will almost certainly want to get into a discussion about chorizos, and an innocent like you could have his head or his chorizo turned,

  Let me give you an example. We were discussing art (and he really is very good) and I happened to mention one of my all time favourite paintings called L’origine du monde (something like the ‘beginning of mankind’) and the next thing I know he is posting a link to it – and before you know it half the blogsite had boners bigger than yours — the other half had tiddlers, not unlike yours and Terry’s.

  So be warned – he is wicked!! 🙂

• you should consider changing your name from RA to trouble maker @ RA ahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahha

  All I know is that A Chancer knows nothing –

• Well let me respond to your response re-my verbal diarrhea, JB.

  I wasn’t making the debate an AW vs. Van Gaal debate. I was just comparing the credentials of two managers from the same era which is reasonable. You then ask how many of Van Gaal’s teams I have actually watched, well how many of Van Gaal’s teams have you watched? When you make such bold statements about Van Gaal, which go against the grain of the majority you need to be able to back up your point, so how many of Van Gaal’s teams have played ‘negative football’? I am not of the age to have watched a lot of Van Gaal’s teams but I am also not of age where I could have watched the likes of Pele and seen his achievements. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t one of the best players of all time or didn’t achieve a lot in his career. I have no bearing on the achievements of any players or managers.

  Experience means nothing when you are past your best just like the likes of Huntelaar and Sneijder are.

  Di Maria put the the goal which Bale scored in the CL to help Real win it on a plate for Bale. He did not do much in that match. Bale did score a good goal to win the CDR cup. The goal was not sensational as he beat a young inexperienced CB and a 38 year old Pinto who is Barcelona’s second choice GK. Besides scoring the winning goal to win a cup similar to the League Cup does not make you world class. You do not have to win things to be a world class player. Also carrying the Spuds does not make you world class and is hardly an achievement considering how long he done it for. He only done it for one season and a bit. If he done for 2, 3, 4 seasons then yes that is an achievement.

  The Confederations Cup only means something to FIFA and does not mean much to international teams. It is a warm-up tournament which only really allows teams to try things out and see where they are. No team that has won the Confederations Cup one year before the WC has won it after, if I am correct.

  Oscar plays behind the ST for Chelsea making him a no.10. By the end of the season Oscar was knackered just like Ozil was. David Luiz, Maecelo, Dnai Alves etc, are all good solid defenders. Milo was comparing them to some of Brazil’s best ever defenders. I did not say that they were in the league of some of the names Milo mentioned.

  Again you act like Van Gaal is EXACTLY like Mourinho when he isn’t. You then call him a flat track bully despite winning the CL and the Bundesliga and Eridivisie. Pep has never won the EPL or managed in England. Does that make him a flat track bully? No.

  JB, there is no point in debating this anymore. I could reply to you again and again and again but I can’t be bothered.

• AFC says:
  July 12, 2014 at 08:38
  And one more point JB. If Van Gaal is a dinosaur that must make Wenger a dinosaur.

  Wenger’s honours

  MonacoLigue 1: 1987–88Coupe de France: 1990–91Nagoya GrampusEmperor’s Cup: 1995J-League Super Cup: 1996ArsenalFA Premier League: 1997–98, 2001–02,2003–04FA Cup: 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03,2004–05, 2013–14FA Community Shield: 1998, 1999, 2002,2004

  Van Gaal’s honours

  AjaxEredivisie: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96KNVB Cup: 1992–93Johan Cruijff Shield: 1993, 1994, 1995UEFA Champions League: 1994–95; Runner-up 1995–96UEFA Cup: 1991–92UEFA Super Cup: 1995Intercontinental Cup: 1995BarcelonaLa Liga: 1997–98, 1998–99Copa del Rey: 1997–98UEFA Super Cup: 1997AZEredivisie: 2008–09Bayern MunichBundesliga: 2009–10DFB-Pokal: 2009–10DFB-Supercup: 2010UEFA Champions League: Runner-up2009–10

  Wenger didn’t win nothing since 2005 before winning the FA Cup whereas Van Gaal has won numerous trophies since 2005 (including the Bundesliga and Eredivisie .

  And Wenger is too years older than Van Gaal!

  AND THEN AFC SAYS THE FOLLOWING :

  AFC says:
  July 12, 2014 at 17:36
  Well let me respond to your response re-my verbal diarrhea, JB.

  I wasn’t making the debate an AW vs. Van Gaal debate. I was just comparing the credentials of two managers from the same era which is reasonable.

  confused.com is the way to go.

• JB,

  It’s actually not a ‘free world’ – not that I mentioned any such thing.

  If you meant ‘Free Speech’, then, yes, I am a firm believer that everyone has the right to express his opinions or ideas provided that they are not socially unacceptable, provided the person(s) you are talking to want to hear them.

  That is not what I was trying to gently say to you – I have no idea what you lot are getting so hot under the collar about, so I was attempting to rationalise what seemed to be a misunderstanding between normally very rational bloggers.

  Quoting part of your 17:05 comment was a light-hearted attempt at showing you that sometimes what a blogger thinks is crystal clear, does not make much sense to others, and certainly that made no sense to me – although those who you addressing might have some idea.

  Anyway, go ahead and ignore my advice, if you wish, there are none so deaf as those who do not wish to hear.

• No, JB I am not confused. I was pointing out that your point about Van Gaal being a dinosaur was silly and lacked logic. Comparing his credentials to AW’s proved my point. One small point in a big debate. Yet you try to make out as if the entire debate is about AW vs. Van Gaal when it isn’t.

• no no, it’s not that at RA – I appreciate you trying to defuse the situation of sorts but you are not alone in trying to make sense of it all either – but rest assured, those involved know rather well what it’s all about – had you been following the discussion from the early days of the world cup then you may have had a better idea of what we are on about (usually rubbish anyway) , so don’t worry, all this will be a thing of the past when our season starts (let’s put all of this down to the lack of Arsenal action).

  am just looking forward to 17HT next Avatar, am hoping it has something to do with our latest signing Mrs.Sanchez 😀

• Well, you both seem to agree that it is pointless to continue, and so — what is the point? 😀

  Let’s change the subject.

  Actually, I sometimes see the blogger OMG on other sites – is that your alter-ego? I would never have known, if so. 🙂

• Thank fcuk for Redders !……………I thought I was the only one who was confused by the end of some of 17sanchezterrace`s comments……it must be something to do with the brackets !……however, he is no way as confusing as Fozzie B !, he takes the fcuking biscuit and there are definitely nuts in the recipe !. He is alien to this world !……………most likely from Uranus !.

• yawns @ AFC.

• All I know is with all this long winded arguing about van gall , you won’t be pulling to many birds in a hurry hahaha

• yawns @ JB. 😀

• yeah, he sometimes pops in here as well, especially -whenever there is something remotely anti- AW in a post – he used to go by the name of WEE-Donald back in the day but ever since I started calling him Wee, he changed his name to OMG or along them lines – I do miss him sometimes though, ha

• hi5 @ AFC

  what are your thoughts on Fellaini at Arsenal @ AFC ? for 12-15 million, would you want him down south /

• How the fcuk do you fcukers type so fast ?. By the time I write something, you fcukers have written a novel !……….bastards !

  PS
  As I said before, I respect all you bastards !…….no smileys needed !. hahaha

• ahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahaahahahaa

  Glics, you run fast and we type fast : )

• All us bastards respect you too, Cockie, you bastard. 🙂

• No JB. No way. He has played poor whenever he has been in the United squad and for Belgium in the WC. The problem with Fellaini is that he is only best utilized in teams that play long ball in my opinion. I also think his best position is as a SS where he can act a focal point for teams.

  I would rather bring Somg back who knows how to play Wengerball and who already knows the players.

  Besides we can sign big names now so why not just get the likes of Khedira, Bender etc?

• To be totally honest, I read all comments, but something must have flew over my head as I have no idea whatsoever what has transpired between AFC, 17 and Hamez Bond !…………..which with hindsight, I`m glad I still have no idea !. hahaha

• I know WeeDonald from a while back on BK but even further back on AA. 🙂

  He always seemed to have his heart in the right place but was very intense.

• Thanks bastard !. 😆

• I also forgot to welcome NB69. Welcome to BK. 😀

• Me too, Cockie, I was utterly confused, but as long as they were enjoying it that’s OK – it becomes something else when they fall out though.

• yeah, but the trouble with him playing as a SS is that he himself wants to play as a DM and likes doing the dirty work – he has stated it himself that he wants to play in them positions and so on – so he if he brought in to do just that, you wouldn’t want him even for a 15 million ? don’t think of him as an attacking player or focal point for our attacks – think DM for protection and presence ?

  @AFC

  ah, Glics – like I said to RA , both of you lot are not the only one , I still have no idea why AFC decided to have all that here when I was simply addressing 17HT from the last post and clarifying something he thought I mean’t .

  let’s all blame the lack of Arsenal matches for this , ha

• I find the word, “bastard !” a great diffuser !. My missus quite often uses it when addressing me !….whether directly or about me as the third person !.

• course he had his heart in the right place @ RA

  it’s not the heart I was worried about though, it was the head that concerned me the most.

  🙂

• I blame it on Arsend !……….lack of transfer activity !…………….apart from Mrs Sanchez !…….who I expect to soon be calling me…..bastard !, but with added , “you”……”you bastard !”……much more affective !…..plus a few more you expletives…….”you fcuking bastard ! ” etc`. Which will almost certainly end with a….” Oh Oh Oh OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you bastard ! “. Who can blame her, I am a bastard !. hahaha

• I have allowed myself to relax about the transfer market after the purchase of Sánchez, and especially when I read Gazidis’s interview when he said that there was a lot more to do before they were finished in the market.

  He was also asked if it was true that Arsenal were trying to sign a defensive midfielder, perhaps Khedira, and he naturally refused to comment until players were signed.

  For me that meant if it was not Kedira that they were trying to get someone else in — and then I read elsewhere that the Chavs wanted khedira, and that Manure wanted half the world and Paris St Germain wanted what was left, and it made me realise all over again how difficult it is for a club like Arsenal to compete with these bar-stewards and their humongous money — and I started to worry again that we will have to rely on an ageing and slow Arteta next season – much tho I love him.

• yes, you bashtard 🙂

• Cockie, this debate between myself, JB, 17 and TA started on the last post. It seems so long ago. I saw JB’s comment on Scolari and Van Gaal and decided to comment as it was related to what we were discussing in the previous post.

  Anyway that debate is now over.

• Well I’m fucking well confused……….. but I’ve still got a boner thinking about Alexis and my chorizo has never tasted better! It’s on offer if some of you bastard pseudo heterosexuals want some. 🙂

  RA has already had a taste!

• She does the same with me, Cockie.

• Thanks for the welcome AFC….. much appreciated, I feel very at home here on BK.

• All the gristly bits in your chorizo put me off, NB, and anyway you ran off when I offered you a teensy bit of my salami — just like Glic did. 🙂

• No doubt Redders, but she probably calls you …..”Big Bastard ! “. hahaha

• Hi RA 🙂

  I am confident that we can get Khedira. It seems like he doesn’t want to stay at Real and only Chelsea are in for him. But we have the likes of Ozil, Mertesacker and Podolski who can persuade him to join Arsenal. The signings of Ozil and Sanchez show Khedira that we are serious about challenging. We should also just be able to pay his wages as well.

  If that move falls through we can go back in for Bender, no one else seems to be interested? The only obstacle would be the club, whether they want to sell and for how much.

• Cockie… here is a little taster from one of my paintings, Winnie was very happy that AW had signed Sanchez.

• bollo it didn’t post… try again.

  

• Look, James, Jimmy, Bond,

  You are trying my patience! Your 18:02 is a deliberate provocation.

  When you say; “both of you lot are not the only one” now how can any right thinking blogger understand your two into one prose? 🙂

  Are you trying to insinuate that TA’s disappearance when I come on BK is somehow linked to my disappearance when he comes on? A matter of déjà vu, all over again – “both of you lot are not the only one”. Oh yes we are!!

• Gristly bit`s, Redders !……I`d be more worried about `69ers cheesy bit`s !.

• Excellent `69er !……please, paint my suggestion of Arsene with a boner !. 😀

• Salut, AFC, mon ami, 🙂

  I really hope you are right. I think that Khedira would be a fantastic signing for us — but I do not want to get my hopes up, as they have been dashed too often in the transfer windows in the past.

  Bender would be a very welcome addition too, but he has consistently said he wants to stay in Germany. Anyway, let’s hope Gazidis was being genuine and we get someone of the right calibre.

• Actually Cockie, I may do that….. give me a few days!

• JB, even then no. £15 million is still a lot of money for him. We would also have to give him a long term contract. I would rather we put that money towards a better midfielder to play in the DM position.

  There are players better than Fellaini who would offer presence and protection for the back four e.g De Jong.

  If one of our midfielders got injured and was going to be out for a months then I wouldn’t mind taking him on loan.

• I`m curious 69er !………..how did you manage to get Winnie to pose so long with the boner ?. Was it a photo of honey dripping from Arsene`s Hampton ?. hahaha

• Cockie… here’s the whole painting. Titled, ” Winnie got really excited when he finally saw the honeypot”
  

• That`s fcuking brilliant !, `69er !. You are a very talented Gooner, superb !.
  I know you are the artist, but I have this idea for the masterpiece !. I have no doubt you will be able to visualise this………….” Arsenal boardroom….Wenger, Gazidis and Kroenke all naked with blazing boners !…….Stans syrup overfilled with dosh, whilst they count the millions from Cesc and Vela`s buy back clauses, with contracts on the table and Stevie Bould serving them drinks wearing stockings, basque and suspenders !….or something on them lines !. hahaha

• Here`s a link I put up a long time ago, some have moved on, but Arsene`s still there !.
  http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/pictures-the-sexy-managers-calendar-2013-ft-wenger-guardiola-mourinho-avb-dalglish-ferguson/

• Cockie

  I’ll start with the Wenger painting, I’ve actually already started the sketch on canvas…. give me 3/4 days and I’ll post it on here for it’s first showing. Very much like the style in those sexy manager paintings. LOL

• ahahahahahahahahah – you might be on to something there @ RA

  but that’s funny as many moons ago, I actually thought both GERRY and JGC were the same 😀

  it’s good of you to come out and put me out of my misery though 🙂

  fair enough @ AFC

  that’s marvelous @ NB69 @ 19:07 and welcome to BK.

• Hahaha …….a BK exclusive, cant wait to see it !. Judging by your work, a lot of humour and imagination will be dripping off the canvas !.

  Yes, I loved them calendar paintings when they first came out, but it`s funny to look back on them and see that a few of my recent comments are strangely apparent in them, must be in my sub-conscience somewhere !…………………Capello naked on the bed rolling in money !………Sven on beach in very similar trunks as Arsene has been wearing in Rio !…………Maureen in a Broke back pose !. etc`

• Cockie…. latent homosexuality! be careful mate 🙂

• Right, I’m ready for the 3rd/4th place final. Sorry to say this TA, but I’d like to see Brazil regain some pride. Not really for the team but for the people. The Netheregions can do it next time 🙂

• hahaha, nothing latent about it 69

  Cornwall (Cockie) is always accusing me of enjoying Arsenes cock, but the truth is, the mere mention of wengers name means he is forced to inject his member with liquid nitrogen.

  Brilliant work by the way 69. Have you got a site were we can view your work? I would be interested in commisoning you to do some work for me. A nude portrait of myself, and another of my wife, preferably with a treble 20 slot and bullseye.

  This is no joke, but about 10 years ago I was a nude model. Most of the time I was painted by Artist clubs, mostly women.

  My main problem was when I spotted a fit bird in the group I would instantly get a boner. I tried everything before hand to dull the senses, a good stretch, ice, etc, but nothing worked.

  Eventully I discovered that by summoning an image of ex Tottenham wanker Steve Archibald, i could contain any problem.

  Of course, the images of Archibald caused some psychological problems, but in those days I was so skint I had no choice.

• Holland get a pen and Van Persie scores. 1-0 to Holland.

• Hair Transplant

  Bromide works well….. just put in your cup of tea 🙂

  Send me a photo of your missus naked and I’ll do painting of her bulls eye and treble twenty

• AFC,

  Robben is just brilliant. Shame he is a natural born diver. His dribbling skill and pace is phenomenal.

  That was never a penalty, the foul on Robben was committed outside the box. But that is football I guess.

  Holland will win this at a canter.

• Just as I said that, 0:2

• Holland score again. Blind makes it 2-0 to Holland.

• hahaha, aint that what they give you in nick 69? My brothers been in so many times that when hes out I ask if he wants sugar and he asks wether Ive got any bromide.

  You dont know my wife 69. Mick Macmanus once bottled out of a bout with her claiming she had an unfair size advantage. hahaha

• I think Thiago Silva fouled Robben just out of the box. Surely Silva should have been sent off as he is the last defender and he is denying Robben a goal scoring opportunity?

• Am I the only one who thinks Robben deserves to win the best player award? Apart from the diving he has played really well this WC.

• I hate to say this, but Brazil remind me of us when we got those spankings last season.

  You can see the quality, but there is an openess and tactical naivity about them

• Why not AFC. In 86 Maradona was a right weasal scoring with his hand, but there was no doubting he was player of the tournament, so why not diving Robben?

• My top three

  1) Robben
  2) Suarez
  3) Alex Song

• Haha Terry. I thought you was serious until you mentioned Song. The openness and tactical naivety is down to Scolari the coach. He makes the system and decides on the tactics and formation for matches.

• I actually think playing with a false 9 would have benefited Brazil a lot as Fred and Jo just do not do it for me.

• I would add Giroud to that list for his elbowing. 😀

• Brazil games are great… lots of puppies jumping up and down in T shirts, with there little noses poking out

• TMHT

  Perhaps that’s why Giroud had a bad second half to the season, AW was putting bromide into his tea!!!

• Brazil getting booed.

• Those bet365 adverts alway get me cracking up for some weird reason.

• Oi, AFC,

  My 21:16 says it all, and beats your 21 21. 😀

• Anyway, TA will have a big smile on his face — but if Holland had played at this pace against Argentina they would have been playing tomorrow night instead.

• RA, it most certainly does. 🙂

• 3rd goal by Holland. 3-0 to Holland.

• Van Gaal bringing on Vorm. That’s good of Van Gaal, making sure every one of his players get on the pitch.

  More boos for Brazil. Holland finish 3rd.

• Listen bastards, although I spend a lot of time in the closet/wardrobe around Stretches gaff, along with his builder neighbour and Mr Shah from the corner shop, it doesn`t mean that when I come out of it that I`m coming out of the closet/wardrobe !. I`m the most heterosexual guy on this Broke Back site, it`s the men I shag who are gay !.
  Supposed to be the “Supermoon” tonight, but I`ve got fcuking cloud cover, although there is the usual glow emitting from the direction of Bounds Green 250 miles away !….so Stretch is outside blinding the neighbours with his teeth !. They are money making dentures!, he`s the only person I know who gets a government tariff payment for the electricity his teeth produce, his fcuking nashers are like solar panels !. Bounds Green would be in the dark ages without them !.

  Well done The Oranje on your bronze medal !.

• World Cup 2014 bulletin (as of 13 July):

  Overall total points won: Adidas
  WC title won (with bragging rights): Adidas (Germany vs Argentina)

  Adidas – 64 pts (Argentina /16, Colombia /12, Mexico /7, Germany /16, Nigeria /4, Russia /2, Japan /1, Spain /3, Bosnia and Herzegovina /3)

  ———-

  Knocked-Out:

  Nike – 56 pts (Brazil /11, Netherlands /17, France /10, United States /4, South Korea /1, Croatia /3, Greece /5, Portugal /4, England /1)

  Puma – 30 pts (Côte d’Ivoire /3, Chile /7, Italy /3, Switzerland /6, Uruguay /6, Ghana /1, Algeria /4)

  Burrda – 12 pts (Belgium /12)

  Lotto – 9 pts (Costa Rica /9)

  Marathon – 4 pts (Ecuador /4)

  Uhlsport – 1 pt (Iran /1)

  =================

• To Dylan’s 3 questions:

  “As usual, I will leave some questions to spur discussion:”

  1. Who are your main targets for the defensive midfielder and goalkeepers positions?
  2. What other positions might we need players in?
  3. How much do you predict Wenger to spend this summer and on how many signings?

  Just for the entertainment value:

  1.
  “Volante” / holding midfielder position
  Sami Khedira(Real Madrid), Morgan Schneiderlin(Southampton), Matthias Ginter(SC Freiburg), Geoffrey Kondogbia(AS Monaco)

  Goalkeeper position
  Brad Guzan(Aston Villa), Asmir Begovic(Stoke City), Federico Marchetti(SS Lazio), Stéphane Ruffier(Saint-Étienne)

  2. Centre-back

  3. £50M – £70M, between 3 to 5 signings.

• Great post Dylan as always.

  AFC . Your mention of Shawcross really bothered me.
  Really.

  I will stop now before I say anything unpleasant.

  Am I the only one ?

• Jnyc, as I said above I am pretty sure Shawcross has apologised to Ramsey and Ramsey has said he has no problem playing with Shawcross for Wales after the peg break. They have both put it behind them and have moved and we should do the same on my opinion. Did Shawcross intend to break Ramsey’s leg with his tackle? I don’t think he did.

• Leg break*
  In my opinion*

• And have moved on*

• I sincerely hope all Arsenal supporters cancel their BT Sport subscription after watching this:

  Cunts

• Good morning BKers…. my Sunday supplement is on the newstands this morning, Hair Transplant man will understand how I know about Bromide :-)… you can read here: http://wp.me/p4FeF9-aa

  Don’t be afraid, I’m keeping my chorizo in my pants today

• hahaha, brilliantly funny Cornwall

  I should start charging the f*uckers. I light and heat there homes yet they still turn up outside my gafe with Pitchforks and fire.

  Typical BT 69. They have Mcmanmanmanam , up his own arse James, and threat to civilisation Owen as pundits, so ime not surprised.

• Dylan

  Wow! In a post about sweat DM should we buy you got 8M hits on Van Gaal (not our coach) vs Others (also not our coach) …. So some quick commentary to you, then others:

  A. DM – any of your cals, any of them, or De Jong, Pogba or Kondgo-nayama … Any ONE of them.

  B. any reasonable keeper cuz after A we are mostly sorted. Another loan deal if nothing else. A homegrown wouldn’t hurt tactically for squad composition.

  C. I think we now have the depth and variation to mount a serious challenge. And yes I’m hoping for Diaby to come right too! 🙂

  As for the riff-raff … Well, your mostly from the U.k and Europe filled with class based hierarchies etc… So, I’ll remind you I’m not only a full, real actual professor but a “Distinguished Professor” which is to say that you’ve both the freedom of your opinions as long as you recall that I’m always going to be right!! 😛

  Ps: I am not Gerry as my kids are allergic to dogs!

  Pps: great post Dylan. More HS next year or off to university?? I’m good for advice on the latter, and on the former, good luck!! 🙂

  Cheers — briefly from a very busy — jgc

• Aha professor of distinctness, you might have a specialised area but on this blog we are open to the wider science of sport. And although signings are of course important, the tactical battles will determine who will go top in the PL this year. The arrival of Van Gaal is both exciting and a worry to us Gooners, make no mistake about that.

  Tell us a bit about Kondgo Nayama. 🙂

• I find that fascinating TA, “the tactical battles will determine who will go top in the PL this year”.

  Last season Chelsea and Liverpool were certainly tactical. different forms of counter attack, change in shape and formation, distinct selection of personnel etc.

  However, in my mind, the eventual winners City were not. Ok, they switched from 451 to 442 quite often, but overall there approach to each game was offensive with the emphasis on playing in the oppositions half.

  I am not disputing what you say. It could well transpire that we are not good enough to approach every game like City, so in essence it could be our downfall. Or, perhaps Arsene could take a more pragmatic approach when playing the better teams away, who knows?

  Never the less, your right. Taking away the signings etc, Arsenes approach this year will be fascinating.

• what a legend :

• “Every defeat is a scar in your heart which remains for life” Arsene Wenger, passion and dedication to the club.

• Hi Terry, it depends on what we mean with tactics. It deserves a full post at some point. There is the general style/ system of play and there are game specific tactics. Citeh did indeed rely a lot on their general approach of attacking, dominating play, but they also made tactical adjustments for some of the key games which have helped them to win the title, albeit only just. Liverpool have been far more reliant on their blue print, general style IMO.

• Hamez Bond.
  Seen it before, but love that video of Arsene, he is indeed a legend, but I am a piss taker and he is always ripe material !……deep down though I love him !. hahaha

• ahahahahahhaahahahahahahah

  so it’s Arsenal (Germany) vs Man City (Argentina) in the Final – a rehearsal of the community shield !

  let’s hope it’s 5-0 to the Germans at half time then comes on Prince Poldi and scores a goal as well – he’s hardly played in the tourney, hasn’t he ? will be fresh for Pre-season 😀

  Per got some rest as well and I think he might be on the bench again tonight –

  it’s Messy vs Messi (as me amigo 17HT would say it) – our Messy to come on top and to assist or score today, I reckon

  come on Messy (Ozil).

• Firstly I’d like to make it clear that I’m going no where near Cockies closet 🙂

  And a message for Cockie…. my new patron, painting is going well, I would like to say ready to publish tomorrow, but being on the safe side, for any final little touch ups, Wednesday should be ok for Wengers boner 🙂

• I`m really struggling with my new found German love in !…..is it right ?….fcuk, if Germany were to invade today, they would probably be welcome with open arms !. hahaha

  Nice one `69er, cant wait to see it, just a little word of advise though ……if it`s a little on the rude side ( obviously, ruder the better imo !. hahaha ), put a ..”Warning adult material ! “….or something like wise in front of the link .

• Yeah, I’ll put a Health Warning and Parental Guidance on the link lol don’t want to upset the Hair transplant.

• Good advice Cockie! 🙂

• Don’t care who wins tonight but have fiver on 2-1 to Argentina.
  When the Germans have to play a well drilled and structured team they tend to struggle and the Argies were very well structured against the Dutch. The wall of Biglia (?) and potential MOTT Macherano, and brilliance of the best footballer around, Messirschmitt, might prove too much. The Germans were outplayed by the Italians two years ago, and so also by the Spanish four years ago, and I expect them to lose out again today.

• I want zee Krauts to win, I`m fed up with listening to Hammers fans saying West Ham won the World Cup in 1966 !……..I want us to be able to say….Arsenal won it in 2014 !………although we did win it in 1998 for France !. hahaha

• I`ve been painting today as well, but the fcuking `orrible kind !…..a 21M X 2M wall, it`s the cutting in which takes all the time and it`s got to have a second coat, but that should be quicker as the first coat was being absorbed by the render !. Knackered !.

• TA

  It’s not Arsene naked with a boner… it’s a bit more subtle, it’s in his shorts lol

• Subbuteo……Suarez style !.

  https://mtc.cdn.vine.co/r/videos/55ACD0E72E1093553318225154048_2d6e93fb5d4.0.4.532721471986501569.mp4?versionId=vtxBPfDDD6h6d9H_dqeRIGNTBLhYiUVk

• 69 Oohlala 😳

• TA, you got to help me.

  Looks like 69 and Cockie are ganging up on me as they reminice about the good old days. Tobbaco as currency , tooth paste wars, and 23 hour bunk ups with some bloke called Mandy. hahaha.

  The only time i committed a crime, apart from overcharging clients, was when aged 12 i nicked a fredo chocalate bar form the corner shop. I felt so guilty that I returned the empty wrapper to the shop keeper. Should have probably given it back before eating it, the bastard kicked the shit out of me.

  Get your point about City and the scousers TA, but i find Pellegrinis approach very similar to Arsenes. This gives me hope that with the right players we can overcome the more stifling counter attacking teams.

• I hope so too Terry and yes Arsene will need the right players to do so.

• Shouldnt been saying this, but I really hope the Argies do the Germans

  I know its only football, but the stories I used to hear as a kid about there occupation of Crete beggers belief.

• Don’t worry about them, Terry. Just show your teeth and slice a carrot very quickly; they’ll leave you alone after that 🙂

• Know what you mean Terry, but we have to try and move on. Argies to win anyway. 🙂

  Guess who Mourinho thinks is the best manager at the World Cup? Hahaha 🙂

• hahaha, cheers TA.

• Got to be Van Gall aint it TA?

  By the way, Holland played very well. If you had just one more top quality player playing around Robben and Persie, you would probably have won it.

• Stretch is the first person ever to have to put planning permission in before he was allowed to go to the dentist and have the new teeth fitted !. If the neighbours could have controlled their selves from their fits of laughter, they may have had the teeth extensions referred to appeal but with Stretch leaving his front door every day with a pink planning notice stuck to his face, they were in stitches !. hahaha

• Remember bastards !, There could be a two sided impact resting on tonight`s game which could affect Arsenal !.
  A Germany win will be good for us, without doubt, Ozil, Per and Pod will come back feeling on top of the world if they win, yet a loss could take them ( Ozil, Per and Pod ) into a depressive state of who knows how long !.
  With no Argie interest a Germany win is good for Arsenal FC !.

  The wise wisdom of Cockie !. hahaha

• hahaha, sod the neighours, they all hate me anyway.

  The bastards are really lucky that as a reformed carachter, I will not be seducing there wives

• I was gonna leave a comment but it seems as if it’s got a bit out of hand on here! So I daren’t say anything now…… and put me knickers back on 🙂

• hahaha 69, a bit out of hand? Its always like this on here

• You might be right, Terry. Depay, or the injured Strootman, could have been that player.

• Good open 1st half, this could go anyway, your guess is as good as mine !.
  I can see why Mertesnailer is not playing, Messi is making Hummels look like a statue !.
  Ozil is looking easy and ticking over like a comfortable Rolls Royce !.

• Sorry for my lack of personal responses! My town is hosting a soccer tournament this weekend so I’ve been busy playing, watching, and working! I will try to respond to more individual comments later! Thanks for all the comments so far. 🙂

• Coyg
  Silent reader for a while. Awesome sight

• Would you Adam and Eve it, Wenger is still there in Brazil on the tele for french tele, earning a bit of extra dosh, looking tanned and relaxed….. why ain’t he out there doing a few more deals to get the players we need…. lazy fucker, get your finger out. 🙂

• Brilliant TV shot shot of the sun setting behind that statue thingy on the hill in Rio. 🙂

• TA

  You have mail at 92 mins .. Other reasons one wins cups or titles..

  — jgc

• 69, that was not the sun! 😳

• Cheers jgc 🙂

• Thanks Martin, and welcome. 🙂

• TA

  No doubt that Van Gaál will be a step up from Moyes and very good, but still, circumstances (not good at ManU just now) and other factors play a role. For me, his success may well depend in part on how his temper and EPL egos (just slightly larger than others) interact … IMO, it’s the right match of coach, team, club, players and the philosophy of all four..

  Regarding the elusive but SSQ Kondgo-Nayama … Well he’s the mystical combination of all DMs weve ever pursued that aren’t Khedbendlin… 🙂 … Ie I’d be happy with any of them, really! They’ll all ad something to the team!

  Cheers — jgc

• TA

  Was it Cockies arse then… a big moon 🙂

• All agreed, Geoff.

• Like the sound of your all in one DM 😛

• For cockie’s arse you need more than two hands to hold it 😉

• Dylan, cheers and take your time.

• Probably, and even then it would slip about a bit 🙂

• How much is Neuer worth? Lol £100 million lol

• Come on ze Germans, superb move for the goal, it needed something like that. The French commentators and Wenger had got bored and were talking about how pretty the women were in the crowd 🙂

• Mertesacker coming coming on.

  I am happy Germany have won the WC.

• Come on Germany. Hang on for 2 more mins.

• And it’s our Messi… !!

• Germany were the slightly more form team IMO.. By that same slim margin…

• I am actually really annoyed with Messi. What a stupid thing to do with that free kick. The chance of Messi scoring from that distance and beating Neuer were incredibly slim. He was selfish. Messi should have put that ball in the box and given his teammates a chance to score.

• Was incredibly slim*

• Wengers gonna go down to the dressing rooms now and after the players have collected their medals, he’ll have a little word with Ozil, Per and Pod…. and Khedira 🙂

• The team to have played the best football in the tourney has won – surprise surprise

  well done to the Germans, worthy winners and great for football !

  congratulations to Arsenal for winning the football world cup .

• Some of those wag birds are well fit. I wouldnt mind a piece of that

• The argie birds in the crowd were class, but the german wags have the edge

• Well done to Neuer for winning the Golden Glove. He deserved it.

• I am sorry but I do not think deserves the Golden Ball award. I would have given it to Robben ahead of Messi.

• Messi deserves*

• If it wasn`t the Sun, it must have been Uranus !.

  Great WC win for Arsenal !. The German boys should get a thingy of honour when they come out in the first game against Palace !.

• yeah, Messi doesn;t deserve it , I would have given it to Hamez Rodrigues or even Muller .

  yep, some fit fit birdies on display , no doubt @ TMHT !

• Neuer would make a decent back-up for Szczesny !.

• Too right James. Mind you, Angela Merkal spoils it a bit

• Stretch has plenty of fit birds in his Loft conversion……..he has his Pigeons on the treadmill, doing Pilates, Yoga and circuit training !

• I’ve always had a thing for German birds, ever since my first visit to Benidorm when I was 17…. god she kept me busy 🙂

• don’t be shy now @ TMHT – come clean, deep down inside you really fancy Angela Merkal don’t you ? grapevine has it that she reminds you of your ex (first )wife , the one with the massive thighs and what not .

  🙂

• Angela Merkal looks like Rod Hull having a stroke after being shafted by emu !.

• Cornwall, Ive had the loft done. Going to email John some pics this week so will pencil you in.

  Just for you, i will include one of me layed out on the couch in my speedos hahaha

• actually when I think about it, she looked a bit like Angela 🙂

• Transplant

  Send one to me and I’ll do a tasty painting

• James, why not. Less atractive birds are very grateful

  I once went out with a women 10 years older than me. She looked like Martin Keown but showered me with gifts and upon my request wore a mask in bed. hahaha

• Nice one Stretch……hope it`s better than this photo of you giving `69er an ultimatum in Benidorm !.
  

• Looked like Keown !……..I bet she went hard in on the “tackle” !. hahaha

• ahahahhahahahaaahhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahaha

  I met you 10 years too late @ TMHT

• May be this one will work !.

  

• Fucking hell, Wengers still on French TV doing his pundit thing, get down to that fucking dressing room and talk to Khedira….

• Best team in tournament won. Argentina had the chances to win it, and as Seedorf said, if you don’t take them you get punished. It was the battle of Schweinsteiger and Macherano and it has highlighted to us once more how important the DMs are in modern football. Great goal by Gotze and a worthy winner. Shame Holland did not get a chance to take on these Germans, but there will always be another chance. Macherano my player of the tournament.

• Die Mannshaft !…………………………………and that`s nothing to do with VCC !.

• Boateng played really good in the final.
  I think best defensive display from him ever.
  Rojo was also impressive. But sad that james was no player of the tournament.

• *not

• Oh nb , znt that called tapping up. I thought that was a no no.

• World Cup 2014 bulletin (Completed):

  Overall total points won: Adidas
  WC title won (with bragging rights): Adidas (Germany)

  Adidas – 67 pts (Argentina /16, Colombia /12, Mexico /7, Germany /19, Nigeria /4, Russia /2, Japan /1, Spain /3, Bosnia and Herzegovina /3)

  ———-

  Knocked-Out:

  Nike – 56 pts (Brazil /11, Netherlands /17, France /10, United States /4, South Korea /1, Croatia /3, Greece /5, Portugal /4, England /1)

  Puma – 30 pts (Côte d’Ivoire /3, Chile /7, Italy /3, Switzerland /6, Uruguay /6, Ghana /1, Algeria /4)

  Burrda – 12 pts (Belgium /12)

  Lotto – 9 pts (Costa Rica /9)

  Marathon – 4 pts (Ecuador /4)

  Uhlsport – 1 pt (Iran /1)

  =================

• Congratulations to Germany on their 4th WC title, and to our Arsenal players (Mertesacker, Podolski & Özil) with their contributions.

  Myth No.2 is still intact (up till this year’s edition – WC2014*):

  – On 11 occasions (since 1970), the WC is won by a team captained by a defensive player (GK, CB, FBs, DM/CM)

  {
  1970
  Brazil (C: Carlos Alberto, DF/RWB) vs Italy (C: Giacinto Facchetti, DF)
  Brazil won 4-1

  1974
  Netherlands (C: Johan Cruyff, CF/AM) vs West Germany (C: Franz Beckenbauer, CB/SW)
  West Germany won 2-1

  1978
  Argentina (C: Daniel Passarella, CB) vs Netherlands (C: Ruud Krol, SW)
  Argentina won 3-1 (after extra time, full time 1-1)

  1982
  Italy (C: Dino Zoff, GK) vs West Germany (C: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, RW)
  Italy won 3-1

  1986**
  Argentina (C: Diego Maradona, 2nd ST) vs West Germany (C: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, CF)
  Argentina won 3-2

  1990
  West Germany (C: Lothar Matthäus, DM/CM) vs Argentina (C: Diego Maradona, 2nd ST)
  West Germany won 1-0

  1994
  Brazil (C: Dunga, DM/CM) vs Italy (C: Franco Baresi, CB)
  Brazil won 3-2 on penalties (full time 0-0)

  1998
  Brazil (C: Dunga, DM/CM) vs France (C: Didier Deschamps, DM)
  France won 3-0

  2002
  Germany (C: Oliver Kahn, GK) vs Brazil (C: Cafu, RWB)
  Brazil won 2-0

  2006
  Italy (C: Fabio Cannavaro, CB) vs France (C: Zinedine Zidane, AM)
  Italy won 5-3 on penalties (full time 1-1)

  2010
  Netherlands (C: Giovanni van Bronckhorst, LB) vs Spain (C: Iker Casillas, GK)
  Spain won 1-0 after extra time (full time 0-0)

  *2014
  Germany (C: Phillip Lahm, RB/DM) vs Spain (C: Lionel Messi, AM/RF/CF)
  Germany won 1-0 after extra time (full time 0-0)
  }

  We can even go back further down the years (that is some 84 years timeline, since the first WC in 1930), when a smaller group of teams were involved in WC:

  1966 (England, Bobby Moore, CB) won against (West Germany, Uwe Seeler, CF)
  1962 (Brazil, Mauro Ramos, CB) won against (Czechoslovakia, Ladislav Novák, LB)
  1958 (Brazil, Hideraldo Bellini, CB) won against (Sweden, Nils Liedholm, IL/Inside Left Mid.)
  1954* (West Germany, Fritz Walter, IL/Inside Left Mid.) won against (Hungary, Ferenc Puskás, CF)
  1950 (Uruguay, Obdulio Varela, CH/Center Half) won against (Brazil, Augusto, RB)
  1938* (Italy, Giuseppe Meazza, IR/Inside Right Mid.) won against (Hungary, György Sárosi, CF)
  1934 (Italy, Gianpiero Combi, GK) won against (Czechoslovakia, František Plánička, GK)
  1930 (Uruguay, José Nasazzi, RB) won against (Argentina, Manuel Ferreira, IR/Inside Right Mid.)

  – The exceptions were 1938, 1954, 1986 but even on those occasions, the winning side’s captains were against opposition captains who were not defensive types.
  i.e.
  Giuseppe Meazza’s, Fritz Walter’s & Maradona’s “mystical aura” seemed the stronger than György Sárosi’s, Ferenc Puskás’s & Rummenigge’s on the respective WC finals.”

  – In every final since 1930, an offensive-type captain has not won over a defensive-type captain, for 84 years (latest WC final being in 2014*).

  WC2018 (Russia) is the next edition for testing & beating the myth, though anyone who might still be living for close to a century could have been anticipating for 84 years and counting (20 WCs finals) for the myth to be broken.

• – A likely (& possible) reason is that the burden & pressure of being an offensive-type captain is doubled. He has to take more risks in either creating chances for team-mates or scoring goals to win matches (& tournaments), and sometimes he has to do everything when his offensive team-mates are off-form. All these at the same time while organising and leading his team by example, while being less aware of his team’s defensive shape when they are defending. The team morale drops when the offensive-type captain is shackled by the opposition or is off-form himself.

  A defensive-type captain fore-mostly organises his team-mates into the proper shape from the back to the front, either in defending or attacking. He sees the whole pitch in front of him and his defensive work is helped(shared) with his team-mates. The burden & pressure of being an defensive-type captain is halved. He does not need to create & score the winning goal in the match (or tournament) while leading his team; preventing goals helps to boost overall team morale.

  Overall view:

  Having defensive-type captain(s) helps teams to win more matches/titles/tournaments than offensive-type captain(s), both in club football & national sides.

  As an example, season 2013-2014 in Europe (major leagues & cups) & WC2014:

  PL – Man City (Kompany), FA Cup – Arsenal (Arteta), League Cup – Man City (Kompany)
  Bundesliga – Bayern (Lahm), DFB-Pokal – Bayern (Lahm)
  La Liga – Atlético (Gabi), Copa del Rey – Real (Casillas)
  Serie A – Juventus (Buffon), Coppa Italia – Napoli (Hamšík)*
  Ligue 1 – PSG (T.Silva), Coupe de la Ligue – PSG (T.Silva)
  Eredivisie – Ajax (Moisander), KNVB Cup – PEC Zwolle (van Polen)

  CL – Real (Casillas), Europa L – Sevilla (Rakitić)*

  WC – Germany (Lahm), U-20 WC – France (Pogba), U-17 WC – Nigeria (M. Muhammed)

  * Offensive-type captains, the rest are led by defensive-type captains.

• Interesting stuff, JM, worthy of a post?

• New Post New Post

  Geoff has a theory and it will get your brain in gear this morning. Enjoy. 🙂

• Martin, yes Boatang was brilliant.

• @ TotalArsenal, July 14, 2014 at 09:48

  Some afterthoughts on this WC and the past few editions mainly. Depends if you want like to add into other posts where necessary.

  {There was a little error in my earlier post, July 14, 2014 at 03:00. Should read as below than the original lines}
  {
  *2014
  Germany (C: Phillip Lahm, RB/DM) vs Argentina (C: Lionel Messi, AM/RF/CF)
  Germany won 1-0 after extra time (full time 0-0)
  }

  Captain Messi looked more burdened and pressured to produce a better offensive performance as the match remained goalless, while witnessing his attacking team-mates squandering chances after chances. Mascherano was organising Argentina’s defence.

  Captain Lahm was more composed as the match wore on with the German defence holding firm, and he has help from Neuer, Boateng & Schweinsteiger performing the necessary defensive workload. While Özil, Klose, Schürrle, Müller & Götze were given the freedom to express themselves offensively and take more risks in creating chances and taking shots on goal.