It is a ridiculously simplistic analysis to say the whole outcome of last season hinged on the result of the opening loss to Liverpool, as it is equally inaccurate to say we were not ready for the season. After that loss,and any team can lose to Liverpool, we went fourteen league games unbeaten, including matches against holders Leicester, eventual champions Chelsea and also United and Tottenham. During that run we were also unbeaten in six ECL and League Cup ties. To say we were underprepared for the start of the season is just not supported by the facts. Our problems came later in the campaign.

On the transfer ins and outs, didn't the manager say after our FA Cup victory that he wanted to keep the squad together and strengthen it in a couple of positions. Rather than lots of changes, as fuelled by the media and agents, isn't that the most likely outcome? One new man is already on board and it looks like one or two others are being sought. We are not privy to the discussions between clubs, but again to suggest we are not active in the transfer market seems wide of the mark. Although we may not know what is going to happen with certain players that doesn't mean the club isn't clear about it. However we should never forget it takes three to make any transfer deal. Look around, not a lot has happened anywhere yet.

Actually we dropped points to Leicester as well at the start of last season and I am adamant we were not prepared for the season. Obviously you think I am incorrect in this assertion however this was also the view of this bloke who is supposed to run the club:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/0/a ... ue---live/

“We are not ready physically,” said Wenger. “You are in a catch-22 situation with the Euros. The players are not ready and they play this kind of game, and they get injured like Ramsey today. Or you give them the needed rest and you start the season without many of your players.

“We will try to get players back for Leicester, but when they have not the volume of preparation they get injured and you could see we dropped physically today.

“I don’t know (when we will be ready), but we have to be ready next week because we go to Leicester. We will see first what we can do with the players who are preparing and how many players are injured today. Can they recover for next week? I don’t know.

So your view is obviously that we are keeping all the above players even if they don't sign contract extensions. Mind you apparently you are probably correct about Alexis staying because even Wenger has said that is the case.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 70666.html

So there can be no doubt, Wenger is guaranteeing Alexis us will be with us next season. Of course if he is not I would expect that Wenger would do the honourable thing and resign immediately.

To be fair to Gazidis, he is in a very delicate position. He can't very well say bad things about his own boss (Stan) and he can't alienate Wenger who will presumably be with us for the next 2 years. He can't be supportive of Usmanov publicly. His boss and Usmanov are rivals for ownership of the club. He's in a damned if I do, damned if I don't position really.

http://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/n ... s-13260835

As I said crackers to draw a causal link between the result of the first game of the season to our finishing position 37 games later! And in my view more than a tad harsh to see a draw away to the champions Leicester as dropped points.

As to what Arsene Wenger says to the media, you should really know by now he can be elusive. They ask the questions and he gives answers - that's the name of the game. I don't think he takes it as seriously as you clearly do. Sometimes there is more truth or sense in his replies than others. We are not talking the Gettysburg address here, are we?

On transfers you lack realism. Should Sanchez want to leave then that is what will happen. Of course the manager is going to say he will be staying, but we all (except your good self it seems) understand where the power lies in football. The top players rule. There is little upside in retaining somebody who prefers to be elsewhere. Having said that if both Sanchez and Özil stay, presumably you'll give the club and manager a day off stick beating?

Just starting to read up on transfer news, etc. So, it seems we are supposedly bidding for Dalbert Henrique of Nice. So, what about Sead Kolasinac?

http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2017/06 ... he+Post%29

the youtube highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_NR7OhBJpM

To summarise your views basically Wenger is full of BS and you can trust nothing that he says. You will be happy to know I agree with your summary.

Its a summary, but about as accurate as Mitchell Johnson on a bad day.

He's worth something like $7BN so he's not doing too badly out of sports investments.

Ivan is right though there are far easier ways to make money - like being a puppet CEO who is basically a mouthpiece for our absantee 'owner'.

Can't wait for the Kroenke out planes next season, far more interesting than anything that happens on the field.

Dunno about you but I still quite enjoy going, watching the team and having a laugh with those around me. Always a good day out and the day it stops being that is when I'll stop going.

Do I still enjoy going. Well the answer to that is yes. Why? Reasons. I've supported the club for decades so I suppose on that score it's just habitual. I enjoy going with Luke, Neill and his Son Jamie, both home and away. I enjoy some of the games. I go in the hope that the team will perform, even if they lose to a better team on the day. The issue for me is how it's all become so boring and stale. Same old tired football, that was changed when it become necessary. You get the odd good game that you come away taking about with pleasure. Even many of the games we won, we really poor. Ramsey ( a player I like) says they (the players) were all behind Arsene and his new contract. Well they did not play like they were behind him last season until the last 10 games. Two games v City and Chelsea the team played well, you felt they could win. Away games v Stoke and Saints they were on holiday.

Maybe we were fed on some of the best football you and I have ever seen under Wenger that the drop in play, players has made us greedy for more. yet I enjoyed the seasons from 92-95 better than the tosh served up last season and the season before if I honest. Football goes in cycles so our turn will come again, that I'm sure, but I think that would come quicker under new management.

If the club are serious about wanting to reach 85+ points and challenge in Europe then they have to show it. It's no good spinning it every summer, coming out with sound bites to appease the fans, because the fans have heard it all before. The fans want action now. They are not being led up the path anymore. Gazidis thinks we are right mugs, that most apart from the deluded Graham Perry who talks for longer than Katie Perry sings will suck it up. Well the fans won't. If club want harmony on the terraces, put into practice what you preach. Then the fans will show you harmony.

This is harmony!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXnfS5z ... zelhc#t=27

On the other hand, the season might turn out like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XidgJdRs74

Very good vibrations from that. Thanks.

Its Friday - try this something different for size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZFG1yAxjdQ

'Well that goes t’ show you what uh moon can do'

American sports owners don't do too badly. Plus, its a socialistic league. We were doing revenue sharing for decades. The former owner of the LA Clippers was infamous for years of not investing in the club, lowest payroll of players, etc. and would get a check for at least 20 million (years ago) and increasing every year just for his clubs share of all the leagues merchandising. He bought the club for 20 million ended up (in a forced sale) of a few billion.

Kroenke is not in sports because he's a huge fan. Its a good investment. American sports team appreciate well and in value.

You'll like this or you'll not and probably know before you get to the link.

Arsenal photographer David Price* talking about photos and being kind of self taught and becoming an Arsenal photographer.

https://soundcloud.com/arrestallmimics/ep66

(*not that one)

You two guys should start up a forum of your own ... having to sort through all the twaddle posted by others must somewhat of a distraction .

Bollocks to Arsenal ...All Blacks v the British and Irish Lions tonight will be a cracker .

Lions talking it up , taking a hard nosed approach I wouldn't be surprised to see a bit of biff and not sure we'd get the best of it , the Lions have some fairly big units .

Hoy will not be available for comment for the rest of the weekend because I expect he will be at the Messi wedding. Then next week upon his return he will be busy with the submission regarding my knighthood.

In relation to the rugby game I prefer to think of it as Lions v A combined South Pacific Islanders team.

Good morning all. So the transfer window opens today - and I'm sick of it already.
But also today one of my favourite sporting events, the Tour de France begins, so I'll be settling down to 3 weeks of that and hoping that when it ends we've done some significant business.
C'mon Froome!

Yaya Sanogo departs

Arsenal have released 24-year old French forward Yaya Sanogo from the club. He becomes player number 7 to leave the club this season.

I take next to no interest in the Tour de France or other cycling events. The only cyclists I could name are Eddie Mercx from long ago (not sure if that was how his name was spelled as I didn't look it up before doing the post), Bradley Wiggins and some bloke called Lance (was it Armstrong) who was later found to have been taking performance enhancing drugs which tarnished his reputation. I assume there must be some bloke called Froome, but it was only reading your post that alerted me to him.

Yet why in some years does the route cover areas outside France? I'm sure there was a year not that long ago where bits of it were in England, or is that the only example of it not being wholly in France?

EDIT: Apparently one year a stage of it was in Holland as well.

ha ha nice try .......

Quade Cooper ,Narika Koribete , Eto Nabuli , Lukhan Tui , Tevita Kuridrani , Alan Alaatatoa , Sekope Kepu , Silototu Latu . Lopeti Timani , Tatafu Polota-Nau ,Sefa Naivulu

......... guess which team these guys play for .... some outfit based out of Nuku-alofa called the Wallabies .

...... then we throw in Dingo Deans , "Aussie" Kim Clysters , Jelena Dokic ..... what is the criteria these days for decent sportsman to represent Australia .... spend half a day in a Sydney Hotel .

On to the rugby ...terrible game our half back and five eight just would not stop kicking the ball away .
..and as for that moron Money Bill Williams ...... **&^^$%$#$$$ half wit

Well done to the Lions ; I was glad they won ....at least they tried to play rugby .

Cut me some slack here. I was sitting here trying to bait Hoy, you turn up on the forum and like a junkie I have an overwhelming urge to respond. I think I will see how Kiwi is going today. It will tell you how much rugby I have watched recently that I only knew Quade Coopers name.

Still if Wenger got off his arse and actually did something I would not need to resort to these posts. Any comments Hoy?

Morning Bernard. Yes, a bloke called Chris Froome is riding for team Sky. He has won 3 of the last 4 tours, an event that is the pinnacle for road cycling. I must say I am surprised you haven't even heard of him.
I very much enjoy the sport, which once you understand what's going on (it took me a while) can be very compelling. Actually, aside from the football and the more interesting cricket contests, it's probably my favourite sport viewing.

Why didn't we give him some of that Sanchez money to stay? Wenger out!!

LOL

So am I if he's won three of the last four. Suppose it just shows how I mentally switch off immediately I hear anything to do with cycling mentioned.

So what's the issue with parts of the tour sometimes being in countries other than France?

I don't know how that started, but the Tour has visited most of the countries neighbouring France, usually only for 1 or 2 stages over a 3 week race. Being a professional sport, I presume that it's good for publicity, with the sport being very popular across continental Europe.

Sounds like Lacazette is happening then.

Good signing in addition to Sanchez.

Poor signing if he is to replace Sanchez.

Noted post number for about five months into season when your zen-off with Hoy comes to a sharp end.

Anyway listen. guys, I really get it. You're just too calm and sensible to wet the bed over a football team and it's not - you're quite correct - like living under siege in Aleppo. Some people take the whole thing a bit far and are embarrassing. Perhaps they should try a bit of sudoku, make a few lists about long-gone players, some gentle puns involving types of cheese, and express their lust for big bosomed stars of the screen. It might get the blood pressure down I agree.

Doesn't alter the fact Wenger's an arrogant stubborn egotistical d******* and the board are an absolute bunch of incompetent *%^@.

Peter Stilton.

Well, seems we have our striker. A few years too late but at least its a significant buy for a much needed position. If we get the winger and LB, and manage to keep Bellerin, we're going to have a squad that has skill and a shed load of pace down the flanks.

Are you psychic? Any links?

Isn't the bloke from Schalke a left back, or LB as American called the position?

Tony Edams?

As I thought, more regurgitated bolloxs..........

Ornstein is as reliable as they come when it comes to confirming transfers that are nearly done. He rarely breaks any stories early, but if he's saying it's close it probably is close.

I'd love that to be true....................

Arsenal have released 19-year old Swedish defender Kristopher Da Graca from the club.
He becomes player number 8 to leave the club this season.