That’s a really annoying habit that modern players have. Commit a foul and then raise hands in complete innocence.

Do I think all English people are revolting all the time? No of course I don’t. The huge majority of my friends and all of my family are English. But do I find the idea of England winning this competition abhorrent. Absolutely yes. If it happens, I would genuinely hate it. Do I think the English are bad losers? Yes, most definitely. Having said that, I’ve never lived in any other country when they’ve won the World Cup or European National Cup. So I accept other countries could be as bad as I have little or no experience of the media including newspapers, television channels and radio stations elsewhere.

But not having that wider experience enables me to be fearful of England winning this tournament. I know what the reaction of all those media outlets will be because I’ve seen what happens when England have won big games in earlier rounds. Make no mistake, I genuinely hate the idea that England will win this competition. I am being completely genuine when saying that. If you think I’m not being serious and indulging in a charade when saying that, then you’re hopelessly wrong.

It’s a good joke Bernard but it’s only funny once.

Just as annoying are the theatrics from slightly fouled player

Do I think all English people are revolting all the time? No of course I don’t. The huge majority of my friends and all of my family are English. But do I find the idea of England winning this competition abhorrent. Absolutely yes. If it happens, I would genuinely hate it. Do I think the English are bad losers? Yes, most definitely. Having said that, I’ve never lived in any other country when they’ve won the World Cup or European National Cup. So I accept other countries could be as bad as I have little or no experience of the media including newspapers, television channels and radio stations elsewhere.

But not having that wider experience enables me to be fearful of England winning this tournament. I know what the reaction of all those media outlets will be because I’ve seen what happens when England have won big games in earlier rounds. Make no mistake, I genuinely hate the idea that England will win this competition. I am being completely genuine when saying that. If you think I’m not being serious and indulging in a charade when saying that, then you’re hopelessly wrong.

It’s not a joke. Do you honestly think I would really be pleased if England win this tournament? Because if you do, you are hopelessly wrong.

That’s all fine it’s just the fake loathing of British people “I’m germany” Clayton bigsby type stuff whilst living here. I mean come on.

So to quote Dave POWWWWWW WU TANG ! I see you.

That’s all fine it’s just the fake loathing of British people “I’m germany” Clayton bigsby type stuff whilst living here. I mean come on.

So to quote Dave POWWWWWW WU TANG ! I see you.

Its fair to disagree with Bernard's position, but you are entirely in the wrong and gratuitously insulting when you claim it is a fake one. You can't read his mind, and Bernard's position is not psychologically implausible. In fact, it is entirely understandable.

You are starting another pointless and unwinnable argument again.

It’s not an argument. Just wanted to point out this ridiculous charade every time there’s an international competition . If you believe he’s genuinely revolted by the behaviour of British people I don’t know what to say. It’s an old joke.

You know what happened this morning in Britain after that monumental win last night ? Nothing

Everyone got up and went to work to pay their mortgages

Bernard, I think it's ridiculous to suggest that your long-established loathing of England national teams is a charade. No-one could accuse you of being a fake. Just out of interest, though, have you analysed how obnoxious other countries are when they win? If Germany had won the Euros, would they have been genial and magnanimous and compassionate in victory? History indicates they would, of course.

No I haven’t. As I say, maybe other countries are just as bad. But even though I’ve been to all the European countries that have won the World Cup or European Nations Cup, it wasn’t when they won them.

Perhaps you were being a little (or a lot) sarcastic when saying the Germans would be genial, magnanimous and compassionate if they’d won it. I actually don’t think it’s impossible they would. A reason for me thinking that is the Bayern chat rooms I look at (translatable to English). When they win the Champions League or Bundesliga, to a man (covering both genders) the Germans always show a lot of humility. They give credit to the opposition they’ve defeated.

The ones I find obnoxiously cocky are the non-German Bayern fans who turn my (and the German Bayern fans) stomach, who are commonly asked to modify their behaviour on the forum. I accept it’s easy to be compassionate in victory. But that’s a characteristic the non-German Bayern fans fail dismally to show.

Tavarees deal agreed, Lokonga very close. Combined fees for the pair are 25 million euros. Both 21 provide competition and squad depth. The right profiles we should be signing.

Interestingly there are reports that Juve are no longer leading the chase for Locatelli. Juve wanted a cash plus player deal and his club want a straight 40 million euro deal - which aparently Arsenal and Dortmund are willing to pay

No I haven’t. As I say, maybe other countries are just as bad. But even though I’ve been to all the European countries that have won the World Cup or European Nations Cup, it wasn’t when they won them.

Perhaps you were being a little (or a lot) sarcastic when saying the Germans would be genial, magnanimous and compassionate if they’d won it. I actually don’t think it’s impossible they would. A reason for me thinking that is the Bayern chat rooms I look at (translatable to English). When they win the Champions League or Bundesliga, to a man (covering both genders) the Germans always show a lot of humility. They give credit to the opposition they’ve defeated.

The ones I find obnoxiously cocky are the non-German Bayern fans who turn my (and the German Bayern fans) stomach, who are commonly asked to modify their behaviour on the forum. I accept it’s easy to be compassionate in victory. But that’s a characteristic the non-German Bayern fans fail dismally to show.

You know what happened this morning in Britain after that monumental win last night ? Nothing

Everyone got up and went to work to pay their mortgages

What I believe, and what my prejudices are, is beside this point. The point is that in this case, you are making a strong claim which essentially baseless.

And of course you are starting an argument. Walk up to any large bloke in a pub and proclaim loudly that what he is saying is 'fake', and see what ensues.

Finally, what most people in England did today is beside the point. As you have conceded, a sufficient subset of any national population is t^%@sh. For example, I have also been bottled by an over-enthusiastic fan (in my case during the 1995 rugby World Cup by a Polish lout whose motive remain unclear) ... so it is hard to know why you find the stated aversion of the likes of Bernard, McQuilkie, and myself implausible.

You didn’t read the newspapers then.

At midnight tonight Özil will no longer be costing Arsenal money. Reports suggest we were still paying him 90% of the £350k per week he was on with us while he was at Fenerbahce (so £315k per week). That commitment ends today.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... dium=email

This might not be the end of this one ..

https://theathletic.com/news/arsenal-ai ... 9kPb0qzpdV

So Rich (ltg, omoh, soc,...) if the 3 players we are strongly associated with end up being the only ones we get and the expected players leave, how optimistic or pessimistic would you be in the upcoming season?

Personally I have no idea. Quite some time ago I developed an approach of ignoring info about players that we were supposed to be buying. I used to waste an enormous amount of emotional capital in angst and analysis about players who simply never arrived. In fact most of the players that we are linked with fail to arrive.

So I find it simpler to wait and see.

So Rich (ltg, omoh, soc,...) if the 3 players we are strongly associated with end up being the only ones we get and the expected players leave, how optimistic or pessimistic would you be in the upcoming season?

Personally I have no idea. Quite some time ago I developed an approach of ignoring info about players that we were supposed to be buying. I used to waste an enormous amount of emotional capital in angst and analysis about players who simply never arrived. In fact most of the players that we are linked with fail to arrive.

So I find it simpler to wait and see.