I don’t think it is an act. I presume Arteta doesn’t see Xhaka as a world beater and would be happy to see him sold for a good price. But he appears to rate him and I don’t think it’s remotely guaranteed he’ll be sold, even though I personally hope he is. Mustafi is prone to bad errors but I have little doubt Arteta would see your views on him as ridiculous.

Well you have enough time to post bollocks on this forum. I bet they did play together more often than you. If you can’t prove it, don’t claim it.

4 central midfielders in a row. This is your fantasy. This is entirely inside your head. Your mind is creating an alternate reality you live in.

I wouldn’t argue with your moderate criticism of Xhaka socrates. I’d be happy to see him sold for a good price, as I’ve said repeatedly. My point is Top Gun goes ludicrously over the top about how bad he is. Worse than Hillier? For Christ’s sake that’s stupid. Xhaka’s quite slow, makes silly tackles (but at least makes tackles), but does pass the ball well and quite intelligently, and shows leadership qualities. Not a play who will win you the league, although he played well in a cup final we won. But not as bad as Top Gun pretends.

Morrow often played wider. Stop being stupid. Anyway, George’s team selections were often crazy over that period.

Hillier had a title win in a team that only lost a single game. A lifetime away from Xhaka

Morrow was mostly a left back. Another reason all this stuff is inside your head.

No he was not. He started at left back but mostly played in midfield.

Not in a central midfield 4

You have created an alternate reality. Like science fiction. Maybe inception where Di caprio can’t tell what is real or reality anymore

I went to that single defeat, at Stamford Bridge if you’re not sure. From memory I seem to remember it was Hillier who lost us the game.

Yeah me too, incredibly he was playing at centre half cause Bould was injured and Adams was nicked if I recall

They would have played together in midfield. Okay we’re comparing my four against your definition of the worst ever Arsenal midfield you’ve seen. If you’re narrowing it down to central midfield who are you comparing my choices against? Torreira, Guendouzi, Xhaka are the main three you must be talking about, although Ceballos Willock and Özil have also played. Name your central midfielders then. Because I would rate any of them higher than those I named.

Anyway I’m off to bed. I’ll see what you say in the morning.

I’ve Already said this not going to repeat myself

Liverpool is known for the variety of players who can score on you but their goals against is great and miles better than the rest of the league. They are very difficult to score on.

So are you saying it’s good to have a solid defence? It’s a wonder that others have never realised how important this is. George Graham could have used this to our advantage if he had known.

Quite enjoyed that episode of "After You, Claude" starring Pete and Bernard.

Anyway, today in 1940...

i'm reading articles where players said Emery's instructions were 'confusing'. Seems a lack of communication. Maybe the translation from what he wants into English wasn't accurate enough.

Pretty interesting the ownership of the clubs. I hadn't realized some were so rich. I've always had a soft spot and its cemented because the owner also owns my hometown Philadelphia 76ers
Also had no idea West Ham's owner made his money in soft porn.

https://talksport.com/football/666456/r ... er-united/

It was common knowledge of sorts from players on various media outlets that Emery's instructions didn't exactly translate well. Language barrier? Quite possibly among other things.

Rich clubs....that's also quite common knowledge. Plenty of them around in varoius levels.

Well if it's any consellation to you I'd say the All Blacks have had their 'day in the sun' .

Retirement of a lot of top players and the appointment of what I think is a very average coach .

Your arse backwards mob have snared Dave Rennie ; I'd like to have seen him coaching the All Blacks

Slight difference though Zed ; Ferguson went out a winner , managed to drag an ailing threadbare Man Uted side to a title and I'd think he still has a lot to offer
in the advice department .

Arsene by comparison in his last few years made terrible decisions , buying midgets , not selling Sanchez , awarding Özil [ choke ] 350k a week , bought Mkhitaryan , insituted a bloody awful playing style which we are still paying for today .

I'd be very disappointed if Wenger came back in any capacity .

I think there is a tendency to bash Selley , Hillier , Morrow , McGoldrick , Jensen as a midfield because of George Graham misguided disamantling of the Rocastle , Davis , Thomas triumvirate beforehand and a comparison with the illustrious names that followed .

I could be wrong , but didn't we beat Parma , Sheffield Wednesday twice in Cup Finals with that same motley collection .

They mightn't have be stellar names but from memory we had a lot more cohesion than we currently display .

It is said on paper we should have a decent midfield which is true ; the only problem the game isn't played on paper .

At the moment we have a collection talented individuals who could fare well swapped out one for one into other sides but as seen when we get the run around by the likes of 'minnows' Brighton , Burnley , Palace , Watford our current side are a bunch of square pegs in round holes .

A lot of our players look worse than they actually are because they don't operate as a team .

If you live in the UK, then sure it would, but not to me. Matches are on tv, I watch them..lol. The intricacies of the various clubs? No, as far as the ownership, such as promoted clubs, other things. The bigger clubs I knew of as well as some of the PL clubs but not top to bottom. And certainly not the ownership of the lower divisions in part because those of us half way around the globe don't get an opportunity to see the matches.

Didn't realize how many billionaires owned clubs. Not so when I first became a fan.

As would I.

Just looked it up Davis was actually playing in the Parma match along with Morrow and Selley in midfield so I've achieved a bit of a mix amd match with the previous post Hillier was injured

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8GYlYXVfzw

I agree with these points too. The midfield is underperforming, made up by decent players who don’t function as well as their abilities imply they could. There have been exceptions like Man Utd at home. Unless I’ve miscounted, Arteta has been in for nine games now. Rather than performances like Man Utd being a one in nine rarity, I hope he soon makes it a frequent eight in nine event.

I hope Arteta gets the money to recruit players. But even if (a) Kroenke doesn’t or (b) Stan does but Arteta decides to spend the money on other areas of the pitch, I will expect Arteta to get more out of the midfielders he has available.

I know what you're saying Kiwi. The comparison was only as both players played for each of their respective managers. Therein would-could be open to whatever guidance or advice that manager wished to impart. No, personally I would prefer AW not return to the club. Returning to a PL club at all as a manager or n whatever capacity is whole different scenario.

Oh, but for that very very determined and disciplined defence again! And for a Captain like Adams!

This is great everyone thinks Bernard and I are constantly at loggerheads but deep down behind the Mancini / Mertesacker banter we are great mates .

Along with Kazakh Boy and Niall think we are the longest serving posters .

Agreeing on two things in one day if I wasn't off to bed I'd be breaking out the

Very heartwarming Kiwi, time for a forum group hug.

Press saying Ramsey will be sold in the summer by Juve. Like I said when he left they never would have signed him if he wasn’t free.

He’ll probably end up at chelsea or United this summer.

and Juventus will pocket the substantial transfer fee

I read the huge majority of Juventus fans have written Ramsey off as crap. That wasn’t the exact term in the report. I can’t recall what the actual word was, just that it was a synonym of crap. Apparently he’s had injury issues and when he has played, he’s routinely been poor.

He’s only started 6 games. I’m not really surprised but I thought he would do ok in Italy as they are quite defensive and a midfield player good at running between the lines would do well.

Can’t see many teams going for him although a Pogba ramsey swap probably would make sense for United.

To be honest Bromley I think it was always really about that, he didn’t really seem to be the type of player they need. It’s essentially free money

Indeed. But who is Kazakh Boy? A number of members have been on the forum a long time. I first joined in the last three months of 1998, so over 21 years. I know it was around then because I started a new job on 1st October 1998 and it was the first time I’d had access to the internet. One of first things I did on the internet was look for Arsenal chat rooms and decided this one was the best. I think it still is even though many of the posters from that time no longer use it. Hence it is largely made up by newer members.

I started using the forum in 1997 around the time we signed overmars I think, the first time I had access to the internet. At the time I had no idea how the Internet would shape my life, my career or the world.

RIP Robert Conrad. Tough guy on and off camera.
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/rob ... 50139.html