Ah, ok, as you were. Seems a difficult thing to judge for an umpire two people running full pelt at each other and the moment they cross compared to the initiation of a throw that could be fully 50m away. But I suppose the third umpire could adjudicate.

Good to see you back on the forum Daz. Cracking game of cricket wasn't it.

It definitely wasn't a wide.

Apparently Arsenal have ‘analysed’ Ziyech and found him wanting. Probably not enough outside to in, third quarter past the stat leading fullback sprint dribble passes per 90. Or something. Also why is Overmars talking him up so much when they’re making 200m from sales so far anyway?? Seems a bit over eager. But yes you wouldn’t say no for less than 30M.

Sorry to bang on but one other small point that reflects extremely well on NZ - check out when Boult takes that rope ‘catch’. It was a potentially explosive and contentious moment but Guptill was very close-by, and immediately- IMMEDIATELY- signalled a six.

That is natural and instinctive sportsmanship - and these days, it’s rare!

Respect to Martin Gupthill, to NZ and to Brendon McCallum whose influence and example pervades both teams.

Brendan McCallum was at Middlesex for a while.

I get the impression the calling of wides is an area of the game that has moved away from the rule book. I’m not saying that’s right. Just that it is what has happened, particularly in one day games, time after time after time.

Considering what seems to be called a wide whoever is playing, not just yesterday’s game, I’d have been astonished if Archer’s delivery had not been called a wide.

Just to reassure you, this definitely didn’t come across as sour grapes.
Best,
Pinocchio

Tricky one Bern

The ump is supposed to use the blue lines as a guide but he’s also supposed to take account of the batsman’s stance at delivery and as the ball arrives.

The point about ‘wides’ is that the batsmen is supposed to be able to reach the bowled ball from a normal batting stance. But we all know that batsmen dance all around the crease these days as the bowler is about to deliver - backwards and forwards but more relevantly, to off and to leg, sometimes by a metre or more. Sometimes this is so he/she can be in a position to hit a ball bowled outside off to leg or a ball bowled outside leg to off. Realistically, there is no such thing any more as a ‘normal’ stance, particularly when the batter switches from a right to a left hand guard.

Archer’s first ball was on the blue line but crucially, Neesham had moved across to be well outside his off stump as the ball passed him. From a normal - static - middle stump guard, he probably couldn’t reach a ball bowled on the blue line, though technically it should still have been a legal delivery. That’s where the bowler’s skill comes into play, and Archer’s was of the highest order.

In the event, from where he was, Neesham definitely COULD have reached that ball so it should not have been called as a wide.

That’s hilarious - have you ever thought about becoming a comedian? Have you got over that humiliation in the semi yet?

I’m not disagreeing with you DHD. But from what you see being called a wide in countless one day games now, whoever is playing, I’d have been very surprised if it hadn’t been called a wide. I see it as the way the game has developed or moved on. Again, I’m not saying it’s right. Just that it is what has happened, for better or worse.

I see that Bern but the point is that no matter where the batter stands, a ball bowled on or inside the blue guideline is not a wide.

If the batter moves to the leg side and the bowled ball is on or inside the offside blue line, the batter looks stupid; that’s brilliant bowling.

But if the batter moves to the off, the ump is supposed to allow a wider interpretation of the allowable width. Neesham moved appreciably to his off side so the notional blue line limit should also have moved.

In my opinion, that wasn’t a wide - though we all know, scorecard says it was.

Mate in a week of bad results it wasn’t even in the top 2. Queenslander Ash Barty lost at Wimbledon, Queensland lost the State of Origin in the last minute and NSW cheat Dave Warner with Australian teammates lost a semi. I don’t think it really even registered much interest. I may be Australian when it suits but I am first and foremost a Queenslander and North Queenslander at that.

We have won a few WC’s so while it is good to win it wasn’t life or death which apparently it is for some of the other second rate nation. Call it the Leicester year and leave it at that.

What is really sad is that instead of talking about our signings and their impact we are talking about cricket and some strange decisions in a sport where betting dominates.

Or we could talk about Josh Kroenke turning up at Arsenal training in LaLa Land wearing a t-shirt saying Rams, even though the colours he had were red/white. Really, have you no shame Josh.
Sorry I couldn't resist Gaz...

And hes the future. Thanks for the photo - didn't exactly cheer me up.

I thought yesterday it's odds on this event will bring you back ...... so I was right ...... again

Didn't watch the match thank God but the son came home yesterday cursing Trent Boult

.... but being the well adjusted model of serenity that I am ; when he explained the situation ; I gave a gallic shrug and said Kurt .. " c'est la vie ...don't begrudge the Poms their day in the sun ... they won , we threw it away ...... move on ".

So if you think you are going to get a rise out of me ; you gloating , gender challenged , microscopic penied Spanish speaking Pommie fairy ........think again

.. "One Carlos Braithwaite , there's only one Carlos Braithwaite "

Oh and by the way to any soft cock lisping ..... "wonderful to see you back Daz " .... I say pull your head in , let the t****er f*&^%**** off for another millenium .

Agreed.

With that being only your seventh post I suppose it’s unlikely you were already blocked. But I think after that it’s a fairly safe bet that you soon will be. A bit safer than saying someone who doesn’t buy, get given, find or steal a ticket is unlikely to win the jackpot for tonight’s Euromillions draw. Unless he’s already seen it and blocked you already.

I would have thought one of the important reasons for posting here is not only that a relatively small number of people will read your views, but debate them with you. That will cover agreeing and disagreeing with you. Yet he’s blocked so many of the members who disagree with him, he must get something else from the forum.

a stiffy when he sees my name...

Saw the highlights. Didn't see anything I didn't expect. Wasn't much of a crowd which is surprising to some extent because you don't get European clubs playing friendlies in Colorado. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago? Yes. Colorado? I'd be surprised if there were any major clubs that played there preceding us.

There is typically good turnouts in Los Angeles. If the crowds are small then, no one really gives a ### about us. Even if you support another PL club, people come to see the rare chance of seeing a major European side. I went to a Man Utd vs. Club America (Mexico) friendly in LA a long time ago and it was well attended and I saw not only other gooners (donning the shirt) but Chelsea, Milan, etc, supporters.

I see in the papers we are linked to Dani Alves. He's what? 36? We might...just might be able to get most of a season out of him. Maybe he'll offer some "leadership", assuming he comes as rumored.

I think we are all destroyed by many years of “false dawns”. We have not seen a player who has been with the club since real youth, like 10yo who has gone on to be a great for many years. Even Fabergas and others were poached from other clubs when they were very near adulthood. The real test with any youths introduced is not the first 10 games, it is when opposing coaches get to watch a number of DVDs of them and look for weaknesses. See Chambers as a classic example.

And that is why Holding could be the be our captain and CB for 10 years or gone at the end of the season.

Regarding Holding, as I’ve said I’m with DHD and think somewhere in between is the most likely outcome. Doesn’t have the personality or ability to be our captain or central defender for the next ten years (unless we really do become rubbish). But I think he’s good enough to be around for a few years yet, even if it’s just as a squad back-up.

If we had that attitude we would never have signed Ian Wright.

Gary Cahill was 25 when he went to chelsea. Holding has shown plenty of promise at 23

However he will fail unless he moves because we are arsenal and all over the place right now.

Boner

You’re one of the people who overrate him in that case. There were games last season when he partnered Mustafi when Mustafi played better.

At least he didn’t turn up in a Tottenham shirt.

Holding never forgot to get goalside during a cup final though.

Ceballos signing on loan. There was a time when we didn’t have to get Spanish rejects on loan

Waste of time. Kroenke couldn't care less.

https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/ ... w-stadium/

Arsenal fans fume as owner pays $2.6 billion for his American football side’s new stadium

If he does well he goes back to Spain. If he does bad we will have wasted a load of our money

No future, no squad building no vision

I thought he’d only played one cup final. Not forgetting to get goal side in a single game hardly makes him the new Bekenbauer.

,
Mustafi is the jizz inside a used condom left discarded outside a boozer in deptford. Disgraces himself most weeks. He’s not the actual Johnny because that’s a useful instrument... he’s the old jizz


Keep trying to defend him

Does anyone really think things will materially change when Stan pegs it? I remain unconvinced.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/footba ... 91356.html

If you think I’m trying to defend Mustafi you haven’t been reading my posts carefully. But there were games when they partnered each other in the first half of last season when Mustafi played better than Holding.

Did you say something recently about having an emotional attachment to Holding, even if they weren’t the precise words you used? If so, maybe that explains your overreaction to my earlier post. He’s good but not great. At best, on occasion, very good. That’s the basis of what I’m saying.

Tim stillman tweeted this which is exactly how I feel about this statement


I can keep telling you I am very ambitious about becoming an astronaut. But you can see it’s not true because it’s very clear I’ve done nothing to achieve it and no amount of words conceal that.


Exactly how I feel about the statement

I think the Josh statement is PR drivel, but when he said fans should be excited by the incoming transfers he is saying something which supporters can and will measure him by. If the signings turn out to be unexciting it will make people even more sceptical.

If the Spanish midfielder Celballos or whatever comes that’s a loan without an option to buy. Why on earth would anyone get excited by that? It’s just cobbling an 11 together. It’s also a written admission the club screwed up with Ramsey

Your 100% right

Why are we getting statements from Josh Kroenke when Stan Kroenke is sole owner of KSE, of which (sadly) Arsenal FC are a subsidiary company?, the man is a total coward and his son is just a mouthpiece for him.

KSE's priority is clearly the LA Rams project, they are spending $5BN on the development of the 'complex', Arsenal are clearly just being used as a form of collateral against the money they are borrowing for this.

We should be excited?, why?, is daddy selling up already?!.

#KroenkeOUT