David Webb, Geoff Hurst, Alan Hudson and Terry Venables. Terry Mancini, Alan Ball and Rodney Marsh

I don't know this but I seem to recall that the board were seriously considering getting Venables to manage us after Rioch. Again, I don't know for sure and am open to being corrected about it but if so, how well would we have likely done (or rather how badly) under him? Total supposition of course.

Pele with The Arsenal, early 80s. Can you name them? I can't.

Ødegaard, Vieira, Ramsdale, Xhaka, Smith Rowe, Zinchenko, Saliba.

I think I got them all but mighta got one wrong.

L to R:

Brian Talbot, don't know, Tommy Caton(??), John Devine, PEELY, Graham Rix, Kenny Sansom, David O'Leary, Paul Davis

I think 2nd from left is Brian McDermott. 3rd left is not Tommy Caton - he didn't arrive until 1984. Picture is 1981.

O'Leary, I could tell. Paul Davis, I recognized the face but couldn't remember the name.

I bet that Glenn Cockerell remembers his name.

Third from left, maybe Peter Nicholas?

Cheat Sheet:

NLD January, 1934.

Imagine living in the home to the lower left?! What surprised me the most when I visited Highbury was just how close to the stadium the homes were.

LOL...really? Any chance a rendition before the next game in this WC?

https://www.facebook.com/properfootball ... 3020322189

and

I see Raheem Sterling is to re-join the England squad, now that his personal problems - all of which have been detailed and discussed in the media - have been resolved.

I'm by no means social media savvy, nor have I searched the media particularly deeply, but I have seen no trace whatever of an explanation, nor even any comment on Ben White's absence. Does anyone find that strange?

Yes. It seems very odd indeed.

In fact it is surprising in today’s climate that it is possible to keep things under wraps like that.

I did see a suggestion that he is a gay man and being threatened in some way of a public 'outing'. Absolutely unsubstantiated and probably complete bs.

Looks like she could cause a few personal problems.

Might solve a few too.

Alex Ferguson playing for Rangers against Arsenal in 1967. Surreal.

3-0 atm Gabriel 19', Eddie 33', Vieira 39'.

LOL..I assume some of you got it. A few won't

The Jeff is coming on

Not my type but I think that is a girl?

That proves nothing. Just hope that all these vile rumours are untrue.

That would be my guess, although these days you never know

Looks like we have a goalkeeper who can stop penalties. Hein stopped 4 penalty kicks from going in. We scored 2 Marqui and Smith (not Emile Smith Rowe I think).

Just seen a clip of the penalties. Truly dreadful all round.

Hmmm. I think it could be a bit more nuanced than “vile”, Rotter.

Times have changed to a remarkable degree. Wouldn’t be a problem for me, nor I’d hope for this august forum.

I’d go further. I think Gooners generally would be entirely supportive - witness the rainbow banners that adorn the stadium. I think the media would absolutely laud him and the football world would totally embrace and support him. On a personal financial level, he would absolutely clean up.

Who but an obvious neanderthal knuckle-dragger would - or could - criticise, risking getting nicked for doing so? I actually think most crowds would applaud him. To be fair to our nearby neighbours, they applauded Saka in support for the stick he took after missing that pen. I think the whole nation would breath a collective sigh of relief that someone has finally done it.

I actually think I’d love those rumours to be true.

As my father said to me many years ago ‘I don’t care what other people do and neither should you, unless they make it compulsory’ . Good advice about a lot of things. I only want him to be a great player for us. Full stop.

I’ve got a feeling for Vieira in the second half of the season. Technically he’s there and has incredible ball striking. He missed nearly all of pre season and so these 4 weeks with the coaches and in Dubai are huge for him.

So this story has appeared in the UK media about White.
https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/09/ben-whit ... wsnow-feed

I smell a fix in the first 2 quarter final games with only European refs. Brazil get Oliver who sent off Martenelli in the 2 booking stitch up. Obviously has a problem with Brazilians. And a Spanish ref for Argentina Netherlands. I will be interested to see who France and England get.

Interesting games. We've moved on from upsets in the group stages , to seeing real quality in the knockouts, with the odd wildcard still there to spice it up.

I agree with your earlier comment about this WC being very engrossing! Morocco keeping a clean sheet all the way through 120 mins and the penalty shootout was particularly pleasing.

Thanks Gaz - reminiscent of Charlie George.

I was actually warming to the more salacious explanation.

I had read previously that he doesn’t really like football and that none of his family were interested. Also that he doesn’t watch other games. For him it is a job.

If anywhere near true then I would imagine that he wouldn’t enjoy a month long squad environment.

I can recall going away several times for work with several colleagues for an intense ‘brainstorming’ week locked away in a remote hotel. By the end of the week I couldn’t wait to get out. Far too much of a ‘good’ thing.

Rumour about us lining up Evan Ndicka on a free transfer in the summer. The free transfer market is going to be crazy in the summer.
Ndicka is a left sided CB, 6ft 3, a good passer, currently with Frankfurt.

Obviously. The evidence is overwhelming.

From March 2022. Thing is, the girl in this photo looks a little bit different from the Sun photo. Besides, couldn't give a toss. If Ben swings both ways, so be it.

https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football ... s-23217172