Post from me years ago warning about this Usmanov thing

You're quite correct Bernard - once he exceeds 75% ownership, the Club can be de-listed from the Stock Exchange and becomes a private company.

Once he exceeds 97.6% (who decided on that number?) he can compulsorily purchase your shares and those of all all the other small shareholders.

Could we eventually be travelling the route of others? Restarting as Dial Square at the bottom of the pyramid.

Dartford will do a pre-season friendly to help out...

I grew up with Arsenal as an institutional pillar. Never for one moment did I believe that it would be owned by one bloke to be treated as his very own.

Let's hope Usmanov, if he does sell, sells to Dangote rather than Kroenke. I know next to nothing of Dangote, but at least it would delay, or ideally stop, Kroenke getting to the 75% he needs to load his debts onto the club.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba ... 6.html?amp

Two weeks to the end of the transfer window. I think Ramsay should have declared his hand by now. He should go on the market today IMO. We need to get him out and someone new in if he has not signed by now.

The Gazidis rumours are interesting. Perhaps he had a project to reorganise the club as his number one priority and he has achieved his goals. He may need a new challenge and living in Milan may give him a perspective and challenge.

The friendly with Athletico is about to start on Premier sports for anybody in the UK who's not at work and has the channel

Cricfree usually show Premier but it's not opeing up.

Arsenal Player says it will have it at will have it at 2:30 am I presume that's tomorrow.

It should be on the player sound only but it's not opening up. Fingers crossed it'll come on at 12:35.......................

Leno and Guendouzi make their first starts for the Gunners
Aubameyang and Lacazette lead the line
Academy prospects Nelson and Smith-Rowe both start
Follow live text commentary on Arsenal.com and the Arsenal app


From Arsenal Player

Smith-Rowe, Guendouzi and Nelson all looking bright.

And against the run of play 1-0 down. Holding beaten too easily on the right, should have stopped the cross.

Don't think Holding has had a good first half even ignoring the goal. Mustafi has looked much the better central defender. As you said, of the youngsters Nelson and Guendouzi have both done well.

Wow an absolutely cracking goal from Smith-Rowe 1-1

Has anything changed other than the quality of players we bought?

Thought things slowed down again in the second half when the old regulars came on. Is it just me or too early to say. Don't know what I expected but all I can see so far is more Wengerball

Me too LTG. Although there were always major stakeholders in the past, from Norris through to the Hill-Woods and the Bracewell-Smiths, it felt like the club was in safe, if sometimes rather conservative, hands. The idea that it would ever be owned by one person never entered our heads. We could blame Gordon Brown, Abramovich or most obviously Arsene Wenger, but the fact is the club ownership is where it is now due to the share sales agreed by David Dein, Lady Nina and Danny Fiszman. Nobody forced them to take the millions on offer from Kroenke or Usmanov, though in the case of the dying Danny, whose family was not as interested as he, it was at least understandable.

I abhor the influence of the oligarchs, sheikhs and other massive-moneyed interests in football, but sad to say it looks as if they have won the day. And lots of fans don't have a problem with that. All the more traditional Arsenal supporter can hope for is that whoever owns Arsenal looks after it well.

I didn’t see the game but it is going to take time for Emery to get his methods across the to players. These games will be invaluable to him. If we believe what we’ve read I’m sure the team will be in watching video reels of today’s game to show good and bad points. Emery has only really had the players for 4 weeks or so.

I’d love to see us back in the top 4 but that is a big ask considering the strength of the rams who finished above us. At best you could say Chelsea may take some time to gel and spurs may stand still but the other 3 still look strong. We should have a good shot at Europa League again.

Couple of RIPs, if you’ll allow.

JT Murray - best wicket keeper of his generation and a stylish bat. Never played enough for England because there were better wk/batters, and batting was more valued than wicket keeping. I grew up watching him.

Paul Madeley - fine player in a host of positions but essentially a utility defender. Acquired a reputation as the acceptable face of Leeds cuntiness. I grew up watching him too. Good player but I never liked him. Nobody did. Team of *%^@.

Very good post.

The idea that Usmanov no longer being a part of The Arsenal is a cause for regret is absurd

Not really ... if one sleazebag still owning a large lump of shares , stops the other sleazebag from gaining complete control ... surely that's a win .

One is a bit more than a sleazebag.

In my view you're absolutely correct kiwipete. If Usmanov selling his shares ends up in Kroenke getting a big enough percentage to load his debts onto Arsenal, I find this celebration that Usmanov is selling indicative of desiring what's damaging to the club.

I saw the fag end of Murray's career at Middlesex, as I did the spinner Titmus. From memory Knott of Kent was England's wicket keeper at the time, though I think he was younger.

I still remember that Leeds team. Sprake in goal, Reaney right back, Cooper left back, Charlton and Hunter central defence, Lorimer right midfield, Gray left midfield, Bremner and Giles central midfield, Jones and Clarke up front. Madeley seemed to cover every outfield position and Harvey was the back up keeper. Hated them.

Jeff Reine-Adelaide departs

Arsenal have sold 20-year old French midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide to Angers for a £178k initial fee.
He becomes player number 9 to leave the club this season, taking Arsenal's net spend to -£70.5m so far.

I'm no lover of Usmanov but I also think your point is a fair one Kiwi. If he's selling then I hope it's to someone other than Kroenke, however that seems highly unlikely. Now it seems we may get Kroenke Jr taking over from Gazidis. It looks like we're never going to get rid of these creeps at Arsenal.

My memory is that a lot of positive fuss was made about Adelaide after he shone in the Emirates Cup a few years back. He turned out to be the tallest skilful midget I've ever seen. Had the physical presence of an underweight 80 year old disabled granny.

It's also a general warning about youngsters who shine in pre-season games. However well Nelson, Guendouzi and Rowe did yesterday, they still have it all to do to make it. More than all. So does Maitland-Niles, still.

If it's the only realistic way of stopping Kroenke from reaching the percentage he requires to not just load the outstanding debt from his original takeover onto the club but also the money he'll borrow to buy the Red & White shares, I would rather have Usmanov keep the 30% if nobody else will buy them.

Where is the report Josh may take Ivan's job?

I think it was Jim Parks who kept Murray out of the Test team Bernard - a better batsman than Murray but not as good a keeper.

Everyone hated that Leeds team.

Before looking him up, my memory tells me Parks played for Sussex.

EDIT: I was right about Sussex, although Wikipedia says he finished off at Somerset.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Par ... _born_1931)

All I've seen is speculation. It appears clear that Kroenke Jr wants to be involved somehow and Sir Chips' pronouncement the other day doesn't fill me with any confidence that Gazidis will stay. I wish they'd all *%^@ off to be honest.

I see a few predictions of the season online and most have it 6th. Not surprising but I think we will surprise people this season. We have a great opportunity from the start. Pep may be reluctant to start some of his World Cup players. Can't see it because we are a big game but you never know.

As far as the Atletico game, I hope some fans don't read more into it than is there. Its a preseason game using a lot of young players, against a well coached side that is among the best in Europe.

Hope Ramsey signs. Haven't kept up with the 'why' he's not signed but I remain hopeful.

Murray was a great stylist. As a glove man he seemed to invite the ball towards him rather than catch it. I was fortunate to see him score a match-changing century against West Indies at The Oval in 1966. He joined Tom Graveney with seven wickets down for not many and they put on over two hundred - Murray got 112. England won by an innings against a top West Indies side.

Interesting piece on forums , focuses on Brighton’s NSC which I often lurk on https://www.theguardian.com/football/wh ... e-facebook

True Bernard ... you've have to suspect Dec had had a couple too many poitins when he made that statement .

Hmmm .... I reckon this maybe a little bit of newspaper fabrication written by a Spurs loving reporter on a slow day .

Okay let's analyse the facts ..... Kroenke rejects a billion and something takeover bid from Usmanov , quoted as wont sell at any price , blocks Usmanov's getting on the board ....... so they are hardly the best of mates .

So why would the Uzbek help the Hairpiece in any way . ?

The former has twice as much money as the Yank so isn't exactly strapped for cash plus there is Africa's richest man Dangote who also has a sh*tload more than Stan who wants piece of Arsenal [ loves the Club ] why not sell to him ....?

Get all the Arse supporters fretting and stressing ... great result .

Take heart Brom ... the Berlin Wall came down , the Communist bloc disintegrated so anything is possible .

Food for thought...Gazidis. If true.
http://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/peopl ... -e-gazidis

I do like our new third kit. Hope we see plenty of it. Prefer it to the second kit.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/arsenal-an ... -singapore

Can you explain what you mean?

Any sites anyone?

I looked back for the second link Soc posted on Wednesday but his posts have vanished? Very strange?

Someone else gave a link, that's missing as well.

Have I entered another universe?

Pls help me Roger.....................