But for the big majority of that season and a half Guendouzi has been excellent. The same stages of each season as it happens, the earlier bits before an arguably unsurprising (considering his age) drop in form. There’s far more reason to have doubts about Willock and Saka if you expect so much of youngsters. Both talented but have experienced big drops in form after bright starts. Indeed, I would say less impressive starts and in Willock’s case, worse drops in form.

Guendouzi is still only 20, he's been thrust in to a disfunctional and failing team and has had some good and some poor performances - many of his more exeperienced team mates have had worse seasons and have shown less desire and attitude than him.
Many of Guendouzi's problems at the moment can be fixed on the training pitch, and Arteta seems like a coach who will do that. Guendouzi's energy can make his positional sense a bit ragged.
I'd like more end product in terms of goals and assists but it is rare for CM at his age to have that. Fabregas had very little output at a young age but flourished later - now Fabregas was a once in a generation talent, I'm not putting Guendouzi up there but the comparison on output v age stands.
The reality is Guendouzi shouldn't HAVE to be first choice, he should be shielded more and be allowed time to develop his game. He is one to stick by and help. My biggest concern with him is pace, if you don;'t have pace you need to be an absolutely exceptional reader of the game, perfect positionally and never be caught out. He will have to learn these things because I doubt he can make himself faster physically

The pass I hate is that straight vertical pass from a CB in to a CM feet as he's running towards his own goal usually with an opponent right behind him. It is asking for trouble and requires our CM to be alert, quick, strong, perfect first touch - and unless he can perform some kind of Pepe-esque turn (very risky in that area of the pitch) the only pass he has is back to the CB.
I remember Vieira being able to take these passes in his sleep, he'd almost let the opponent close him tight because he was so strong and long limbed they were never getting anywhere near the ball, he could then easily roll them to set us up going forwards. No-one in our team is capable of that - not many in the entire league are capable of that. I wish we'd stop making those passes, we were caught against Leeds so many times

Ceballos was on the bench for the Leeds game

I think one of the big problems with young players is they get shifted about the team in different positions.

Willock seems good technically but when he plays rambles all over the pitch. Does he know what his role is and how to behave ?

Saka looks good on the left flank? Certainly. what happens ? he is shoe horned into left back after an injury occurs.

Maitland Niles has an outstanding game at old Trafford but oh look Hector’s done his cruciate, Ashley get in that full back position.

It must be tough for them. It seems to help when young players are blooded from a position of strength

I’m not much of a fan of the monarchy whilst not being againest it but goodness me that couple doesn’t deserve the grief they get.

It’s quite bizarre the way the media go after them and quite seemingly want to hurt a young couple trying to start their life. No wonder they want out.

That said Prince Harry is undoing all the great work Prince Andrew has been doing recently.

We are an oddball country these days, everything is all over the place.

Mate don't knock Prince Andrew.

Apparently he's quite the athlete who has competed in a number of marathons and places quite well.

He usually ends up coming in the teens.

It’s a huge relief that he’s now taken time away from his royal duties to spend more time with the daughters. Just a shame their not his own.

Not sure about that.

Theres something distinctly British about this and the other messes we create for ourselves

Bellerin must be approaching fitness as Arsenal.com says he’ll be assessed before the game at Palace. Also says that Chambers’ rehabilitation is expected to take six to nine months and that it’s hoped Tierney will return to full training in March.

With his lack of game time I find it difficult to see Tierney as yet being up to Monreal’s standard (I’m hopeful he will get there), let alone a Sansom or Cole type level. However, I did think he looked pretty good before his injury. But sadly the delay in his return to fitness at the beginning of the season and then his recent long term injury does nothing to show that the views of Gaz from Oz about his proneness to injury were overly or unnecessarily negative.

Having said that I’m still quite glad or at the very least not disappointed we signed him. The upside potential is there with him, as long as he can maintain an acceptable measure of fitness.

I think just as important as who we buy is equally who we sell. The usual suspects that have been discussed, such as Mustafi. Freeing up wages is also another incentive. I'd like to see Chambers moved out. I like Holding though. We can do better than Sokratis. I like Kolasniac as a back up to Tierney. Kols is a tough MF.

The jury may be out on Özil. It was pretty much certain he would be shopped around but now he's gotten a new lease on life under Arteta. Do we keep him? Or keep him for now and sell him in the summer?

Aubameyang is another one that although we won't want to be rid of him, the stories are that he wants out and he's a target in Spain. Does he still want to go? If not, do we sell him anyway?

If Torreira's heart is not in it, lets sell him as well. He'll fetch a pretty penny and we can spend that money on a better fit.

Xhaka looks here to stay. I think we can do much, much better. Arteta and others see something I don't so be it. I do wish he'd take more shots on goal. That booming kick is one of the good things I see about him that I think he should employ more. That 'knuckle ball' (baseball reference) kick is tough for keepers if he has a clear shot on goal from distance. We don't have a lot of players who are threats from beyond the 18 yard box.

Indeed. Brexit is quintessentially British. A self-inflicted cock-up accompanied by mass hysteria, and then somehow muddling through quite well in the end!

Might have *%^@*** guessed it. Bournemouth tie has been shifted to 8:00 pm on the Monday. Last train to London leaves at 22:12 and the station is a good half-hour's walk.

Who gives a *%^@ about supporters? About as many as give a *%^@ about sustainable transport I suspect.

*%^@ers.

No because they haven’t played as much and are further from the first 11.

I'm hoping we get Upamecano as soon as possible and not do the Arsenal thing of waiting till the last minute. That said, he's 20. I know he's playing first team football but he's 20. Young, strong, lots of upside, but will need time to figure out the attackers in this league. Basically, he will be asked to help out immediately without much time to sit on the bench. That said, crossing my fingers and hoping we get him soon.

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/ ... e-16391326

Another player I would love to have, Lille's Soumare. We really don't have a dominating center mid. Torreira is more terrier than dominating. He would do well partnering with someone bigger and mobile. To me, it seems like Xhaka's main advantages are his leadership qualities than anything else but that's me. Not saying he doesn't put in the effort. He just doesn't seem to have the skills, speed, to make the midfield his own.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/footb ... e-21248486

The earliest signs is that Arteta is a change that was needed. I've been a supporter of Emery on here but will concede Arteta is changing things. That said, I just read that Saliba is set to return 6 months earlier than the deal we made. I just wonder if Emery had still been the manager if this would have been negotiated for him? It just appears (and it may not be the case) that Arteta is getting what he wants (I certainly hope so by the way) but Emery was held in check more. I don't know, it just appears that way.

Anyway, up The Arsenal. Hoping we can win on the road Saturday.

...and thinking out loud, we may have a back 4 of Bellerin, Saliba, the Juve CB and Tierney at some point this season.

But they’ve also been much less impressive than Guendouzi so shouldn’t have played as much and they should also be further from the first team, if they are. They have played a good number of games so if any youngsters deserve your criticism it’s one or both of them, not Guendouzi. Sorry, I think you’re being very unfair on who I consider the best young player we’ve had in ages.

Guendouzi is almost 3 years older than Saka. It’s not really the same at all.

Also surely Martinelli is the best young player we have had in ages. Look how he’s affecting matches, he’s the type of player you could have the big Spanish sides chasing in a few years.

Check their dates of birth again, or your adding up. If you’re rounding things up or down to the nearest full year, Guendouzi is closer to two years older than Saka than three. Moreover, in my view Saka hasn’t produced the form Guendouzi did a season and a half ago. Is the comparison as unfair as you appear to suggest?

I’ll have to wait and see more of him before I rate Martinelli more highly. Moreover I can see the big Spanish sides chasing Guendouzi in a few years. Weren’t there rumours PSG wanted him last summer?

What?
http://dailycannon.com/2020/01/olivier- ... tottenham/

So, the latest rumor of a Brazilian teenage right back. Yan Couto

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footb ... ement.html

A former Tottenham defender who spent two years there from 2006 to 2008 thinks Giroud would be a good signing for them to cover for Kane while he’s out injured. But is there a credible source that the move might happen? I didn’t see one. So at the moment it looks a non-story to me.

But even if it happens I can’t say it would bother me. He’s getting old and lacked pace in his prime so will surely be even slower now. Anyway, he wouldn’t be the first player to play for both clubs (by a long way) and I very much doubt he’d be the last. I don’t think it’s a big deal.

Injury prone or not, we're going to get a defender of Umtiti's quality for this price any time soon.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/01/09/r ... lable-20m/

Don’t they have 2 decent forwards already. I don’t care. I think they also need a CB. Mustafi is available. What they really will need is a new manager. Isn’t Mourinho just sowing the seeds. ‘ I told them we needed a brilliant forward to cover and they wouldn’t buy one. It’s not my fault we are sliding down the table, playing negative football & the fans are revolting. How much is my payout from this job? I don’t understand why they want me to take cheese as a payment.’

A win at Palace will be great. With Arteta, I think this team can do it.

A big away test, being a London derby. We are still a work in progress. I'm not going to get overly excited about a win over an out of form Man Utd side. It's more of a psychological win. A huge boost beating Man Utd no matter what form they are in. But let's put it in its proper perspective. We are visibly better. First half against Chelsea and the 2nd half, Man Utd, 2nd half of Leeds. We aren't close to being there yet, we will have bumps in the road on the way there. A draw at worse I think though is what I think may happen. But thinking win quietly.

Think WIN loudly Make it happen

Ah. We’re back online. Nice one Rog.

Yeah sorry - I was away down the South Coast at a gig tonight and got home after 3:30 am and noticed it had crashed again.

Different table this time. Odd.

So before going to bed you just thought that you’d do that. You deserve a pay rise.

I have a few suspects.

This scout, Orlandelli is coming back but frankly, he doesn't exactly have a great transfer record with us.
https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/10/edu-poac ... wsnow-feed

Uncle Bob doing This is Your Life.

https://youtu.be/zRQQrAhrSCA

FFS Rog - please don't mention different tables until we've got a few more wins under our belt this term. Put the wind up me, that did!

Anyway, today in 1953 we played Doncaster Rovers at home in the FA Cup.

This one should have come up first.

That would be a cracker for a "spot the ball" competition.

I knew it, I bloody knew it........out partying again instead of concentrating on the very thing that pays for his hedonistic partyboy lifestyle.

Jeez haven't seen a spot the ball coupon in years. I remember when the man used to bring them round for my Dad, with the pools coupons, in his brown leather satchel. They all seemed to have brown leather satchels. Every Thurday if I remember correctly.

You saying that reminded me of this photo from the slightly more niche Spot the Head coupons.