Hi all, hope yis are all keeping well.

I've just seen the news regarding Bernard's passing back in November. I am shocked and would like to belatedly pass on my condolences to his friends on here and his family. I had spoken to him briefly last year about getting tickets for the Emirates on FB messenger and although the plans didn't progress from there - Bernard was very keen to help out. A gentleman I would say.

Obviously, he was an absolute legend on here and will be and I'm sure already has been terribly missed. It must have been around 2000/2001 when I first had a good "debate" with Bernard when he reacted incredulously to my belief Gilles Grimandi was rubbish. Little did I know that innocent observation would lead to such outrage. Before I knew it though, I was really enjoying arguing with this bloke on the internet and would refresh repeatedly for the next installment. Of which there were many. Fun times.

RIP Bernard.

Yes, very sad news about Bernard. We'd been a bit concerned about you too, Niall - a long time since you'd been online. Glad to hear you're still out and about.

Berlimey - he lives!!

More than can be said of your Creative Zen.

Been in jug?

Lionel Messi, Neymar, Bukayo Saka, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Randal Kolo Muani

Are the only players in Europe's top 5 leagues to have hit 10 goals and 10 assists this season

Gidday Gaz .... yeah well in fairness although it sounds like I am angling for drunk of the month I was playing on line chess , the rum just honed or destroyed the skills needed .

Did you watch the game Eels v Panthers last night ....? talk about high drama . The Broncos v new franchise Dolphins tonight promised plenty

Saka and Trossard are nominated for player of the month. Bizarrely Martinelli with 4 goals in 4 games not nominated. Can only think its because they didn't want too many Arsenal players - but if they've genuinely been the best then all the nominations should come from a single club if needs be!

Missed the game but will watch a replay or highlights. I am up early to walk the dog ( because of the heat) so try and go to bed early and not get invested in the sport on TV.

Can anyone explain to me why Southgate took Foden off after 3 mins when Saka, the most similar type of player, had been on for 70 odd mins? Then he brought Saka off a few minutes later! How is sacrificing a player with fresh legs the best solution?

Hey Niall,

Great to see you back, we were all a little worried.

Hi Chris
I prefer the yellow one actually. Seems there may be gold lettering on the new home kit as well.

Well done Harry Kane and England.

“I speak with people in my team outside of football to evaluate my games," he says. "We see what I’ve done well and what I need to improve on. That’s been a constant theme throughout my career so it’s nothing new to me. The games I haven’t done well are the most useful games. I evaluate my games a lot and I’m very harsh on myself which is good for me to develop.”

This is from Balogun. Very matured.
Please Arteta, bring him into the first team next season.

Niall !

Probably shows the trust Southgate has in Saka defensively, or the lack of trust in Foden. Agree that it was then strange to sub Saka off a few minutes later. Southgate did manage to finish the game with 3 RB on the pitch - he must have been delighted

I thought Declan Rice was superb last night. The goal was a bonus but it’s his all round game in that defensive midfield shield. He anticipates danger, is physical, rarely gives the ball away and is comfortable running with the ball when gaps open. 24 years old and 40 international caps. Played at euros and world cups and some European games with West Ham. If he is our top target for the summer I’d be fully behind it.

Bellingham was also fantastic especially in the first half, he’s ideal for the role Xhaka player but we’d be priced out of that nice I think

Good to hear from you Niall.

I knew there was a 'debate' before the epic Wiltord one but I'd forgotten it was about Grimandi of all people. Absurd in retrospect but very entertaining.

2nd half they were in knackered. It’s pretty crazy Southgate hasn’t given Maddison any minutes. He doesn’t really regain the the initiative in games when the other team gets a foothold in matches. Saka is his starboy too isn’t it.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... mas-tuchel

Tuchel off the spudz list.

Just a thought, if Balogun chooses to play for the USA he has the potential to become their leading star player (strikers gravitate that way if they're good) for a country who host the World Cup in 2026. The marketing potential for Arsenal is huge. I think there is no way we should sell him in the summer, it is a crazy thought, here is a guy we've sent on loan so we can test him at the top level and hopefully bring him back to be a first team player for us - that's the goal with every loan really. He's exceeded expectations so far.

Is there room for Jesus, Eddie and Balogun in the squad? I don't know, but you could spend a season finding that out rather than potentially lose the wrong guy.

This is the most interesting dilemma of the summer because there isn’t room for the 3 of them in the squad. 1 of them would rarely even start in the league cup. Remember you also have Trossard.

I think the club should keep him and give him a proper blooding, he’s been with the club since 8 and he’s another hale end product. To sell him would be mad and my gut feeling from watching him is he has a better all round game than Eddie, more strength and can lay the ball off as well as get in behind.

Quite bizarre really, I’ve been a fan for of the club since the 80s and the only decent strikers that made it though the academy were Kevin Campbell and Andy Cole in 40 years. Now we have 2 in the same space of time.

Stapleton and Quinn had decent careers.

Stapleton before my time but we’re going back to 1974 to find a youth striker that came through.

Quinn was decent but really not good enough for the highest level really.

Thanks mcquilkie, hope you are doing well.

I don't normally do cryptic but I've seen things and been to places that make the jug sound like paradise.

Ah the creative zen. Truly a pioneering and utterly magnificent piece of technology favoured by men of principle.

Hope you're keeping well DHD.

Cheers Soc, great to see you're still posting. Hope you're well.

Cheers Decaf, good to hear from you too. Hope you're well.

Good to see the Irish lads doing well.

Haaland and Rashford were out. Who wants to bet that they will have a miraculous recovery? I'd like to see a rule that if you are unfit enough for national team selection then you are unfit for the first game after the game. So you miss the game immediately after it.

I thought the same as did the commentators on Irish TV. Very strange and not great for Foden's morale or Saka's energy levels.

Hi Niall,

Great to see you back here.

Your lads had a big win against the mighty San Marino last night.

Thanks Dec. It's great to see you're still around as well.

I have to admit you got me there. I did not know San Marino were playing last night.

https://www.planetfootball.com/trending ... k-denmark/

Already dubbed the next Haaland....even his name sounds the same. Apparently we're tracking him. He'd be a plan B centre forward at least

The next Saka?

Very worried that this may be .... no I'm not going to say it.

A third time is embarrassing, abhorrent, criminal, let alone detrimental to the club this player represents. Your guess is probably correct who this is.

But they say he has been on bail. Does that not mean he has been charged and not just under investigation?

If it is Tommy he shouldn't be playing for us. If it isn't then the club should clarify that.

Can't love him and loathe him at the same time ffs.

This is a really bizarre situation.

The law in this land says innocent until proven guilty and I suppose that legally the club is doing exactly the right thing. What else can they do? Until he is actually charged with something they can't suspend him, nor should they.

How would these offenses even be proven after such a long time has elapsed? Without witnesses or physical evidence such as pictures of bruising, hospital or doctors records etc is it not just his word against hers?

Rape/sexual offences are despicable crimes and, if guilty, he deserves everything he gets and more but I can't see how the club could handle this any differently than they are at the moment.

The lad at City was actually charged and Mason Greenwood's alleged offence was backed up by a fairly damning video online so I am not sure their respective clubs could do anything else but suspend them.

Good question bubble, do you need to be actually charged with a crime to be released on bail or can you just be suspected and released on bail pending further enquiries/investigations? I think it may be the latter.

After being charged is bail set by a judge. During investigation is ‘police bail’. Similar to Andrew Tate in Romania where he hasn’t been given bail as he’s an obvious flight risk I would imagine, so is in custody whilst being investigated instead