When I was a boy, Question time used to be on public tv (government) here and I didn't know what they were talking about but found it quite funny. "The right honourable gentlemen..." and I still find it comedy gold
while respecting the seriousness of the topics. Blair was the most humorous PM of the ones I've seen so far.

Absolutely mental, day before the tournament starts.

Apparently, the Spanish FA were only told about the Real Madrid job yesterday just before it was announced. It's classic Madrid to ride roughshod over everyone, even the national team.

Reports saying it's against the players wishes. I get that the Spanish FA are annoyed about the Real Madrid thing, but this sounds like a recipe for disaster for the upcoming tournament. Incredibly short sighted.

PSG need to sell £60m worth of players before the end of June to comply with financial fair play. Forgot FFP was still a thing. Is there anyone at PSG who Emery fancies bringing with him or is this just dealt with by Real Madrid signing Neymar

Hierro looks like a decent solution. Very highly respected figure and the rest of the coaching staff will still have a big input. I won't be surprised if they go on to win it.

Rabiot.

Kevin whitcher at the gooner has been saying for months that we are going to sell Özil

This article definitely fuels that fire

https://www.90min.com/posts/6088818-eme ... senal-star

Yeah both Rabiot and Mbappeé.

Few reports around now saying a move for Soyuncu, the CB from Freiburg is very close.
We may not have heard of the names but it looks like Arsenal finally have a plan in the transfer window and are making it happen early.

We’ve only got 9 players at the World Cup, plenty of big hitters are at home and should have a ull pre season with Emery.

New season fixtures are out tomorrow, really hope we get an easy start. Crucial for the new manager to get some early winnable games

It won't happen probably but I'd love for us to get Martial.
https://metro.co.uk/2018/06/13/anthony- ... t-7629271/

Soyuncu seems fairly quick and strong. But its youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZcM08CEyqw&t=120s

Yes it may be a disaster for this tournament but at some time they need to draw a line and say to RM that they do not run the national team. Long term they are making a point to the Spanish people. By RM disclosing that he was the new RM at this time it would have become just as devisive within the team during the tournament. Any choice of players or dropping of players during the tournament would have been immediately read as favouritism or biased along RM lines. He could have started tapping up players as well.

I hope they do well in the WC just to spite him.

I personally have no problems with Ozils efforts for the team. People want to see a Trevor Hockey effort from our players but never demanded it of Walcott, or Wilshire. If he wants to play Ramsay in his place then he needs to be fit for a season and get the same number of assists as Özil currently provides.

But if we do sell him then we must buy a world class star to replace him. A Bergkamp quality signing, not some good player who has never won anything in any other team.

Yes, and that time would be after the World Cup. Sure, it may not end in disaster, such a good squad of players will always have a chance to win. But it’s a huge risk to take so close to the tournament and seems more like the result of wounded egos than a well thought out move for the greater good.

Yeah, would be mental to sell him. He sets us apart from all the clubs we're trying to compete with. None of them have a player like him, and for the first time since he arrived he'll start the season with two class strikers in front of him.

City at home first game of the season......

Chelsea away 2nd game of the season!

WTF!

First 6
City (H)
Chelsea (A)
West Ham (H)
Cardiff (A)
Newcastle (A)
Everton (H)

Last 6
Everton (A)
Watford (A)
Palace (H)
Leicester (A)
Brighton (H)
Burnley (A)

Not the start we were looking for. However if we get good results in those difficult first games it will build a lot of confidence going forward.

Later in the draw we get Spurs Man U on consecutive games twice. The first only 3 days apart. I still expect we will wrap up the title when we beat Palace at home.

But if we win both those games...................

Just why are you clapping?

Man City first came could turn out to be a fantastic bonus. Emery will have been working with a good number of our squad and should be in a better position that Pep. Was it the last World Cup where we lost a few players in the early games and suffered because of it?

Think positive if we beat Man City it will be excellent there first 6 games are all relatively easy.

So, City and Chelsea back to back and in December Tottenham and Man Utd 4 days apart.

That's a good point. City have 16 players at the World Cup, and most of our big stars will not be there. Might give us an edge.

How can spurs be allowed to play their first home game at Wembley and then the remainder of their home games ta their new stadium? Fulham get to play them at Wembley and everyone else at the new stadium because they haven’t finished building it on time.

If we are in the run in for a top 4 place or heaven forbid a title run...lol..we have a decent schedule for the last half a dozen matches.

I'd like to ask the same question.

Do you think?
Last 6
Everton (A)
Watford (A)
Palace (H)
Leicester (A)
Brighton (H)
Burnley (A)
4 of 6 away from home and all 4 to established prem sides. Ok none of the top 6 but we’re away to the 3 next best teams in the league and Watford

.
I think Man City first up is brilliant ...now it could turn to cack a loss at home under our new man would put a dampener on proceedings BUT with the new buzz that's around the Emirates at the moment I dont think that will happen , Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan finding their feet plus the existing squad will be out to impress the new man .

We'll win 3 - 1 then with this new found confidence we go on to sort out Chelsea next up .

Six points and two of the big hurdles negotiated ...couldn't be better .

Hopefully the Wenger type bollocks of wrapping any returning World Cuppers in cotton wool for six weeks wont happen either .

I think it is symbolic - he once got the clap from a dodgy Russian woman.

We have absolutely nothing to lose from this draw. Last season we lost 2 of the first 3 (Stoke 1-0, Liverpool 4-0). We pick up points all is going well - we lose then we know Emery has still got a lot of work ahead of him. I am looking forward to the new season, a feeling I haven't enjoyed for at least 10 seasons.

And the World Cup starts with a big bang ............. Russia were clinical. They wasted no time to impose their will.

Saudi Arabia seemed to be coached by Wenger. Zero shots on target all through the match. And lots of passing around. Had a higher share of the possession, but no end result.

Week after is Chelsea away so a baptism of fire for our new manager but have complete faith that he'll be prepared rather than swanning into a new season making all sorts of excuses for players before they even lace their boots.

Tiny bloke next to El nenny in midfield is ferocious. Physically makes El Nenny look huge. Effort wise making him look lazy and slow.

With all due respect it was Saudi Arabia and for a fair old while Russia were a bloody mess as well.

Early days but Cavani repeating the same from the last world cup. Interesting tidbit from Schwartzer in the the aus commentary yesterday and he was saying that previous England squad players were telling him they were dreading being in camp and would have preferred to have been on holidays. Explains a lot and if Southgate has their attitude right then the young England squad may be up for it.

First glimpse of Torreira as he came on for Uruguay 3 mins from the end.

First impression is that he’s a midget. Second impression was the same.

Yep he's 5'6" or something. Although Kante is also technically in the midget category.

Kante has been the best midfielder in the EPL for the last 3 seasons - still pisses me off that he went for the same amount we paid for Xhaka.

Torreira didn’t have very long but size apart, he doesn’t look like another Kante. Hope I’m wrong.