You can't?

I used to really enjoy listening to Jimmy Armfield when he co-commentated on matches. Always a voice of clear reason without any agenda. It would have been understandable for him to have a little moan at the excessses of the modern game given he was a one club man and a World Cup winner, yet he rarely had a bad word to say.

I wonder how badly Alexis will get booed on his return to Arsenal.
He hasn't really done anything wrong. Then again neither did the Ox who did get booed.
If we do get Aubameyang it will at least make watching Arsenal more interesting

Another positive is he likes dogs. I am a dog person and hate cats - they should all be put down.

I agree that he hasn't really done anything wrong - he is a professional football player and has every right to seek the best deal for himself. That being said, he went to Man United so he should be booed.

Going to a rival football club is not a big crime in the grand scheme of things, but being booed in a football game is hardly the harshest of punishment either. All part of the game.

And he hangs the bait out waiting for a nibble. Nah I just can't be bothered.

After seeing Uniteds introduction video of Sanchez where they have him playing the piano (!) I'm actually kind of glad we sold him. Cringiest video of the year so far.

I really wasn't baiting! Just my personal affinity for two players for various reasons, not much to debate. I'm not saying they're better than Sanchez.

I said he gave his all when he was here, respect to the club is another matter altogether. I don't think "respect" factors into the thinking of many players nowadays. They go where the money is. They go where the club has ambitions which matches them.

He kicked the football very well for a long enough time, until the light went up in his head that others around him weren't. And a conductor who doesn't have the reach to conduct a full orchestra.

Always found this dichotomy weird. I like them both. My cat is decorative, hygienic and easy to live with, my dog is a needy little *%^@** who pees when over-excited.

I do that...

Sanchez has many doggish qualities. Mad energy, barks at shadows, always optimistic that it will work out the way he wants if he just keeps trying over and over again, sometimes comes comically unstuck.

yeah we've all been there...

Jumping on this, I love dogs !

It's that outside-the-box type of thinking that sets him apart and justifies his salary though Daz.

I mean some might find the notion of playing without a defence or with a keeper who can't save penalties somewhat radical but not Wenger.

You see, when you think about it it all makes perfect sense. Playing with defenders who are under no obligation to do any defending removes the pressure and allows them to express themselves. The same goes for Čech, no one expects him to save a penalty so the pressure is not there and he can play with complete freedom. It's genius.

He does at least look as if he's got a bit of tetosterone flowing through his veins , your hero Joachim looks like he's done a blood swap for six litres of weasels p**s

Thanks, Daz. Excellent song.

A physiognomist too? Is there no end to your reach? https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-awe ... techniques

Who says we are? And if we are, we are not alone - even money-dripping City decided not to put Sanchez on about 750 times the average weekly wage earned by Mancunians!

At my age I do it without noticing...

I used to have two Doberman Pinschers. Super breed - clever, fast and loyal. Bit like Georgie Armstrong.

I'm obviously more at home with the lexical repetitions of a sestina but I can tell a hawk from a handsaw...

Gone off him a bit since fingergate tbh. Who doesn't enjoy the odd scratch and sniff but it is one of those few things in life best done alone and unobserved...

Can't imagine Wenger doing it for a whole host of reasons some navigational.

One of a kind ... Hambe gashle, bra Hugh

https://youtu.be/aLSLqpMXFdE

It's probably the induction principle at work.

Sorry, Top Gun but I can't find any evidence whatsoever that Wenger said Ferguson acted as an intermediary and have no memory of him doing so. I thought Wenger refused to say what Ferguson had said to him. My guess is Ferguson would have spoken highly of Welbeck. Not because he was a former academy player or cunningly wanted to get him away from United (especially as the coach said he wouldn't have sold him), but because he rated him.

BBC seem to be implying that Dortmund have told Arsenal the deal for Aubameyang is off unless they get Giroud.

Wenger commented he couldn't confirm what fergusons role was in the affair but one day he would have to include it if he wrote a book. He was acting as liasion to make the transfer happen as they were at a UEFA conference. However you are missing the point and focussing on an incidental detail.

The actual point remains which you are missing united and Ferguson of all people wouldn't enable a quality Manchester United player to go to arsenal. Remember his comments about selling Gab Heinze to Liverpool.

Also my point on Welbeck remains whilst I like his effort and work rate and contribution as a squad player it must be considered that 39 career goals for a 27 year old striker who has played up front for 2 major sides is an absolute shocking record.

Your "actual point" is pure speculation. Believe whatever you want, but you can't really fault anyone for believing Ferguson was being genuine with his comments and that it wasn't all part of an elaborate ruse.

No the actual point has been proved factually. 39 career goals for a 27 year old striker (their prime years) is not the record of an outstanding talent.

For us not to sign Welbeck certainly wouldn't have made us "mad" and united wouldn't have sold him if they thought otherwise. If you think this wasn't the case you must be pretty daft or living in the twilight zone.

Nice try to move the goalposts (as you always do) but no, it has not been proven 'factually' that Ferguson recommended Wenger to sign Welbeck because he didn't believe in his quality.

What are we waiting for?

And just to be clear, Top Gun; it does not matter if Welbeck never scores another goal for Arsenal. Whatever he's achieved or failed to achieve at the club has absolutely no bearing on what Ferguson thought of him back in 2014.

Well yes it is factual as Welbeck has proven to be distinctly average and Ferguson proven to be an excellent manager and judge of character.

They aren't selling Welbeck to Arsenal if they believed he was up to Their standard and anyone who thinks otherwise must be a right idiot.

Ferguson signed Djemba-Djemba, Bebe, Veron, Kleberson, etc. No manager is completely right in his assessment of every player. None of this proves your speculation to be correct.

Course it does if Ferguson and united thought he was keck in 2014 and wasn't going to achieve anything. He wouldn't have been here!

Did your mum drop you as a kid

Top Gun, then perhaps you should wait until Wenger writes his book before making such claims. As things stand, I can't see much evidence for what you claim. Also, I'm absolutely certain that when he joined Everton I saw Walcott described as a good (or other positive words) finisher. I'm not saying you said it, but I saw his finishing described positively on this forum. It might interest you that in club football and full internationals, Walcott has scored one goal every 3.9 appearances. Welbeck has scored a goal every 4.1 appearances in club football and full internationals. They both have played most of their football in wide positions. Does a difference of a goal every 0.2 appearances really justify having some people describe Walcott's finishing so positively, while others (or maybe in some cases the same people) describe Welbeck's finishing so negatively? Furthermore, I personally rate Welbeck's all round game more highly than I rate Walcott's which for me more than makes up for the goal every 0.2 per appearances difference.

Yeah and they flogged them all as soon as they could like Welbeck.


This one was different Welbeck was there for years and came through their academy. They aren't letting him go to us if he was a major talent.

I'm starting to change my opinion here. Maybe if you just repeat your claim one more time I'll be completely convinced?